Monday, Aug 18, 2025 23:00 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Aug 17, 2025 17:26 [IST]
On August 14th, 2025, in a historic
first, Sikkim sealed its maiden time capsule an ambitious project envisioned as
a love letter to the future. The initiative, conceptualised by the Information
and Public Relations (IPR) Department and spearheaded by data analyst Karma
Lama, aims to preserve the essence of Sikkim’s present for the generations of
2075.
The idea took shape earlier this year, with the first set of
letters from Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang
placed into the capsule on Statehood Day, May 16, 2025, at Paljor Stadium.
Citizens of Sikkim, including those living abroad, were invited to contribute
memorabilia, messages, photographs, and cultural mementos to create a rich
record of the times.
Installed at 2 p.m. on August 14th
under the grounds of the Tashiling
Secretariat in Rustomji Deer Park, the Time Capsule 2025 will remain sealed
until the state celebrates its centenary of joining the Indian Union in 2075. A
prototype is on public display at MG Marg, encased in glass near the statue of
Mahatma Gandhi.
The capsule’s contents are as diverse as the state’s
heritage. From handwritten messages by leaders, schoolchildren, and citizens,
to seeds of rare and endangered species collected under the “Mero Rukh, Mero
Santati” initiative, the collection offers a glimpse into Sikkim’s culture,
progress, and aspirations. It also includes developmental documents on
education, healthcare, infrastructure, and governance; photographic archives of
Sikkimese citizens in traditional attire; and rare cultural artifacts representing
indigenous knowledge and practices.
Designed with a scientific preservation process, the 32 kg
rose-gold plated, surgical-grade stainless steel container is engineered to
withstand corrosion, extreme temperatures, and environmental wear for over 50
years. Inside, acid-free paper, archival ink, silica gel, oxygen absorbers, and
borosil glass seed jars ensure the safe storage of physical artifacts. Four 1TB
M-Discs capable of storing data for a century safeguard the digital archives.
The project has received an overwhelming response from the
public, with submissions pouring in via email and the dedicated website. The
government has also been urged to include official documents for posterity.
Contributions closed on June 30, 2025.
Marking the golden
jubilee of Sikkim’s statehood, the Time
Capsule 2025 stands as a symbolic bridge between past, present, and future.
When opened in 2075, it will offer
not just artifacts, but the heartbeat of an era, preserved for generations yet
to come like sending a message in a bottle, except the bottle is unbreakable,
and the ocean is time. Fifty years from now, it will show who we were, what we
valued, and the dreams we carried.
