Dr. HP Chhetri’s ‘Samjatiya Sandhan’ expands study on Sikkim’s indigenous communities

GANGTOK,: Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa on Saturday released ‘Samjatiya Sandhan’, a research-based Nepali book authored by eminent educationist Dr. Hari Prasad Chhetri. The book explores the rich history, cultural heritage, and identity of various indigenous communities of Sikkim.

The book release function, held at Harkamaya College of Education here, was organised by the Nepali Sahitya Parishad (NSP) Sikkim. NSP Sikkim president Hari Dhungel, prominent litterateurs, scholars, and other personalities attended the event.

‘Samjatiya Sandhan’, described as a historic study of native Sikkimese communities, is an expanded translation of the English edition ‘The Ethnic Quest - A Historical Study of the Native People of Sikkim’ written by Dr. Chhetri. The English version was released on May 22, 2025 while the Nepali version was translated by senior journalist Khagendra Mani Pradhan.

Both books are the result of extensive effort and dedication, during which Dr. Chhetri studied over 300 books and articles, some of which were not easily accessible in Sikkim. He also referred to published works, including those from the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, to provide a comprehensive view of Sikkim’s historical and cultural landscape.

In her address, Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa appreciated the extraordinary efforts made by Dr. Chhetri to document the history of Sikkim’s ethnic communities and present it in book form. She described him as an invaluable asset to Sikkim and urged the present generation of scholars to take inspiration from him and continue chronicling the region’s rich history.

Thapa observed that Dr. Chhetri’s book enables readers to learn about Sikkimese communities and their history in a reader-friendly manner within a single volume. She further urged upcoming scholars to build upon his work on the indigenous communities of Sikkim.

The event also featured a panel discussion on ‘Samjatiya Sandhan’ with the participation of the author, academician Dr. Rajan Upadhyaya, and senior journalist Joseph Lepcha, with journalist N.B. Ghimirey as moderator.

During the discussion, Dr. Chhetri shared that he began studying the history of Sikkim and its indigenous communities during the COVID-19 lockdown period. As information on Sikkim’s ethnic groups was limited locally, he explored sources beyond the region and examined over 300 books and articles to compile his work based on extensive references.

Dr. Rajan Upadhyaya and Joseph Lepcha shared their views on the book, noting the importance of also consulting southern-region sources alongside conventional references on Sikkim’s history.

The programme also featured poetry recitations by Prabin Khaling, Dawa Yonzone, Gopal Dhakal, Neelam Gurung, Rekha Sharma, Abigal Rai, Ranjana Karki, and Sabina Rai.