Sikkim Geographical Perspectives

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This book on Sikkim is authored by a geographer with an eye for new trends in the discipline. The book covers both traditional and modern subjects studied by the physical and human geographers. On the one hand, it deals with such traditional topics as physical landscape, demography, economic profile, urbanization, etc. and, on the other, it focuses on modern and post- modem developments such as human development, tourism, amenities and infrastructure, and quality of life.

The book outlines the physical landscape features such as mountains, peaks, passes, glaciers, rivers, lakes, hotsprings and climate of Sikkim to provide a general idea about the physical geography of the state. It unfolds the cultural landscape of the state through human population trends, ethnic diversities and urbanization processes in pre- and post-merger periods. It deals with human development in terms of education, healthcare and employment, economic profile, tourism development, availability of amenities and infrastructure. And lastly, it takes stock of the quality of life in Sikkim.

The book is a product of research spanning over a decade and belongs to the genre of works that can be comprehended by general readers as well as the studends of geography.

MAITREYEE CHOUDHURY (b. 1959) teaches at the Centre for Himalayan Studies, North Bengal University. She studied geography at the University of Calcutta and was awarded a doctoral fellowship by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). She served as the Head of the Department of Geography, Sikkim Government College, Gangtok, for seven years. Later she joined the Centre for Himalayan Studies as a Reader (1996) and had been the Director of the Centre for three years. She had been the Principal Investigator of a major Research Project on Sikkim sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and several minor projects on the Eastern Himalayas. Dr. Choudhury is working and writing on the Himalayas for over two decades and has authored numerous research papers, articles and project reports. She has also edited a journal and two books on the Eastern Himalayas.

The state of Sikkim that became a part of India some thirty 6 years back deserves thorough geographical investigation. A large part of the state still lies unexplored. The peaks and valleys, mountains and passes, glaciers and rivers, forests and grasslands, and the people who inhabit this mountain state attract people from far and wide. But till date, not enough has been written on the geography of Sikkim. Although the topographical maps prepared by the Survey of India in the past and remote-sensing imageries in recent times revealed much of the physiographical facts about the state, the field studies are scant and the gaps in information are still to be filled.

Sikkim reminds us of the famous book "Small is Beautiful". Contained within an area of 7096 sq. km. Sikkim is one of the most fascinating states in India. It not only has a great variety of landform features, it is also fortunate to have a very rich collection of floral and faunal species. This tiny Himalayan state is widely acclaimed for its peaks, mountains and glaciers as well as its orchids, ferns and butterflies. Great environment and rich biodiversity of the state attracted natural scientists from distant lands since early nineteenth century. It was due to the early enthusiasts like J.D. Hooker and his followers that the world has come to know Sikkim as a land where nature is at its best.

The inhabitants of the state too are highly captivating. The ethnic diversity of the state and the socio-cultural and socio-economic dynamics of the ethnic communities have inspired many social scientists to take a closer look of the people of Sikkim. Scores of theses have been written on the Lepchas, the Bhutias, the Tsongs, the Nepalese and even the plains people residing in Sikkim. It is of particular significance for a human geographer to study the interplay of the indigenous and exogenous populations and their levels of adaptation in Sikkim.