There is a general misconception in the minds of people at large that the era of the zamindars or the landlords In Sikkim was very despotic and the citizens were subjected to all kinds of hardships. It is with this concept in mind that terms like "kalo-bhari" and "jharlange" were coined, which is nothing but a luggage packed in black tarpaulin and free-labour which at times the British sahibs resorted to. Much ink has been flown to describe and highlight this not so important aspect of the zamindari-raj. It is done by those people who are jealous and have adverse notions towards these privileged classes of people enjoying powers given to them by the King. Of course, there could have been few such instances, but the good deeds of this era do overshadow them. Therefore, there is no rhyme or reason to make clamour for this negligible part of history. However, it is unfortunate that even some of the learned and well-versed people fail to understand the benefits derived by Sikkim and its people during this era.
The purpose of this short article, therefore, is to focus the readers’ attention to what exactly the zamindari system was and what its achievements were, especially in the Newar landlords’ context. We must accept the fact that the present Sikkim we see is an outcome of the efforts and foresights of our ancestors, in a land where even as late as 1835, was covered by dense forests with little or sparse population. It is only because of the foresight of our ancestors that large number of settlers, mostly Nepalese, came in. Large tracts of virgin forests was cleared, lands brought under cultivation, mines were worked, coins were minted, townships were established and trade and commerce were developed which led to the economic development of Sikkim.
The purpose of this short article, therefore, is to focus the readers’ attention to what exactly the zamindari system was and what its achievements were, especially in the Newar landlords’ context. We must accept the fact that the present Sikkim we see is an outcome of the efforts and foresights of our ancestors, in a land where even as late as 1835, was covered by dense forests with little or sparse population. It is only because of the foresight of our ancestors that large number of settlers, mostly Nepalese, came in. Large tracts of virgin forests was cleared, lands brought under cultivation, mines were worked, coins were minted, townships were established and trade and commerce were developed which led to the economic development of Sikkim.