Control, the chogyal asked the government of
India to take over the administration. India
prepared a constitution for Sikkim that was
approved by its national assembly in 1974. In a
special referendum held in 1975, more that 97
percent of the electorate voted for the merger
of Sikkim with India. Sikkim became the 22nd
state of India on May 16, 1975.
CULTURAL LIFE
Sikkim's cultural life, though showing strong
Tibetan influences, retains a character derived
from the various tribes of Sikkim and their pre-
Buddhist customs. The most important festival
of the year is the two-day Phanglhapsol festival
in August or September, in which masked
dancers perform in honour of Kanchenjunga,
the presiding deity. The Namgyal Institute of
Tibetology (1958), in Gangtok, has one of the
largest collections of Tibetan books in the world.
Many monasteries are repositories of wall
paintings, thang-kas (religious paintings
mounted on brocade), bronze images, and
other artworks.
Fruits, and tea also are grown, Sikkim is one of
the world's principal producers of cardamom.
Many of Sikkim's farmers also raise livestock,
including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry.
Cattle and buffalo are limited mainly to the
subtropical humid belt, while yaks and sheep
are herded in the higher elevations in the north.
Resources and Power
Copper, lead, and zinc are mined in Sikkim. The
state also has deposits of other minerals,
including coal, graphite, and limestone. Only a
fraction of Sikkim's mineral resources are
commercially exploited.
The hydroelectric potential of Sikkim's Tista
River system is considerable. There are a few
large hydro electric stations and many smaller
plants that provide energy to Gangtok, Rangpo,
Singtam, and Mangan. Rural electrification has
remained a government priority.
Manufacturing
Until the early 1970s. Sikkim had only cottage
industries - producing handwoven textiles,
carpets, and blankets - as well as traditional
Agriculture
handicrafts, such as embroidery, scroll paintings,
Sikkim's economy is based predominantly on
and wood carving. since that time, several
agriculture, with the sector engaging more than small-scale industries have developed. Theses
half of the working population. Corn (maize),
produce, most notably, processed foods
rice, buckwheat, wheat, and barley, are
(including liquor), watches and watch jewels,
produced in terraced fields along the valley
and small electronics parts.
flanks, Beans, ginger, potatoes, vegetables,
ECONOMY