The announcement to bring the international artist for the 50th Golden Jubilee of Sikkim’s statehood celebrations has unfortunately overshadowed a historical milestone for Sikkim. One side of the debate has questioned whether it is financially viable for Sikkim to bring an international star and whether the state’s priorities are misplaced. On the other hand, the pro-government voice has defended the announcement, saying that it will boost tourism and create employment opportunities. Amid mounting criticism, the Chief Minister has also made a u-turn on his earlier announcement that the government would be bringing the singer, now stating on 12th Jan that the singer would be brought to Sikkim solely with the help of sponsorships.
However, the issue is not whether to bring or not to bring Ed Sheeran. With the hyper focus on the musician, we are missing the point that completing 50 years as a state is a historical event which gives us an opportunity to take stock as a state, review the issues that are pending and plan for a future where Sikkim’s unique status and identity remains protected. The misplaced public focus on the international artist is exactly an outcome of the “Roman Circus” or “Bread and Circuses” policy that has been implemented by the SKM government since the beginning of its tenure in 2019.
The Roman Circus Analogy
The idea of a “Roman Circus” is when a government distracts the public from real issues with entertainment and direct benefits. “Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt”, said the Roman poet, Juvenal, who is credited for the name of this theory. The poet saw “bread and circuses” as being symbolic of the loss of political liberty. Meeting the public’s immediate needs with entertainment, food, money, etc, governments divert the populace from real issues of governance, while preventing revolt or dissent. The fact that the entire state is focused on Ed Sheeran debate today is a win on the part of the “Roman Circus” approach of the SKM government, an approach that has been implemented since 2019.
We have seen this theory in action when the SKM government decided to hold a State Level Fish Mela in the middle of MG Marg on 20th April 2021, a time when Sikkim was grappling with the second wave of COVID-19. To provide context, in late April 2021, India was leading the world with new and active cases. Currently, the entire government machinery is focused on planning and promoting Maghe Sakranti celebrations, which are to feature a line-up of national and international musicians. Meanwhile, the dilapidated condition of the roads remains unchanged, salaries yet remain to be paid on time, and serious patients in need of urgent tests wait for months for an available date at the New STNM hospital.
In recent days, Sikkim has been engulfed by a wave of robberies. In the first week of the New Year, more than Rs. 7 lakhs worth of construction materials were stolen from MG Marg. It has become daily news to read about house break-ins and unfortunately, even temples have not been spared from theft. The alarming rise of robberies in Sikkim signals severe economic distress. While unemployment and economic hardships prevail, the modus operandi of the government has been to keep the public busy with shows, festivals and Tambola. In a populist move, an announcement was made on 4th Jan 2024, to much applause, limiting the operating hours of discos and pubs to 11 pm. Yet, Tambola nights continue on without any curfews or oversight. While economic hardships abound, Tambola events organised by ruling party members serve as the main form of entertainment in villages.
50 years of Statehood: The Real Issues
50 years of statehood is a grand event that warrants a wider look at how far we have come as a state, how we have transitioned into democracy, what our approach for Sikkim’s pending political issues are and whether our rights as guaranteed by Article 371F are protected. It is also a time to take stock of the progress we have made in 50 years and to honour those who contributed to the democratic movement that led to the merger of the erstwhile Kingdom to India.
As members of the SDF party, we campaigned during the 2024 elections on the issue of protecting the special rights and identity of the Sikkimese people guaranteed by Article 371F. The Sikkim-centric campaign of “Sikkim Bachao” was focused on “revisiting” the conditions of the merger as guaranteed by the Constitution of India and safeguarding our special rights for posterity. The SDF party took this stand as within the first tenure of the SKM government, we witnessed a blatant attack on our special identity with a redefinition of what it means to be “Sikkimese” via the Supreme Court Judgement of AOSS vs Union of India case.
The judgement was later given constitutional cover by the passing of the Finance Act 2023 which amended Section 10 (26AAA) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, thus inserting a 5th category of “Sikkimese”. This category of Sikkim would be anyone not domiciled in Sikkim before 26th April 1975 but who can establish beyond doubt that their father, husband, paternal grandfather or brother was domiciled before the aforementioned date. With the mounting public anger, the SKM government held a Special Assembly session and formed a committee to recommend ways and means to protect the special rights and identity of the Sikkimese people. The committee did not convene a meeting even once.
Less visible but equally damaging encroachments were the implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card according to which, one does not need a Sikkim Subject certificate to make a ration card in Sikkim. On the basis of the ration card, one can make a voter card and become a voter in Sikkim. Furthermore, the Registration of Birth and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023 ensures that anyone born in Sikkim will gain equal rights as Sikkimese people. Similarly the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and National Register of Citizens are other laws which have been implemented without a single discussion in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. Even though our Old Laws, as protected by the Constitution exist, these centrist policies have been implemented without much forethought on the delicate balance of our unique identity and rights within the federal structure of the country. This signals a future where migration and influx will erase our unique culture, society and political safeguards.
In the last few years, the demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit was often heard in the public domain. The SKM government formed a nine-member committee vide Notification No 04/Home/2023. The report of the committee is yet to be made public or implemented. The people of Sikkim are worried about the dangers of influx and demographic change. However, the laws implemented under the SKM government, far from checking influx, are actively promoting it. In 2018-19, the number of Sikkim Subject voters was 3,46,000. It is probable that Sikkim’s population today is well over 7 lakhs today. Needless to say, Sikkim Subject holders are on the way to becoming a minority.
Furthermore, there are also many pending political issues such as the Limbu-Tamang seat for which a formula is yet to be shared, despite the SKM party campaigning in 2019 that they would bring the LT seat within 10 days of forming the government. Scheduled Tribe recognition for the 12 + 1 Left-Out Communities is yet to be achieved. There is no clear plan of the government in bringing the Karmapa to the state. These are the things that we should be thinking about and debating as we approach 50 years of statehood.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Looking back at our 50 years of statehood, Sikkim, rapidly progressed from being one of the poorest states in India to one of the top states on many indicators. Sikkim contributed to the nation with world renowned policies such as the first organic state in the world and gained international fame with Lonely Planet recognising Sikkim as the number tourist destination in 2014. Achievements like the first Nirmal Rajya, the Greenest state, and the fastest poverty reduction from 41.43% in 1993 to 3% in 2019 have established Sikkim’s image as a progressive state. While Sikkim has seen rapid social and economic progress, the political safeguards for the Sikkimese people as guaranteed by the Constitution have been blatantly violated in the last few years. At the same time, many of our long pending political issues remain unsolved. These are the things that need our valuable attention as we approach 50 years as a state.
Unfortunately, Sikkim is a deeply divided state; political leanings so strongly define our opinions that in the push to one-upping another political front, we often miss the issues that actually matter. Furthermore, the “Roman Circus” approach of the SKM government has captured the imagination of the public so strongly that the crucial debate on our 50 years of existence as a state of India has been reduced to Ed Sheeran. In these 50 years of democratic exercise as Sikkimese people, it is time to think deeply about what we have gained and what we have lost. Have we used or misused this hard earned democracy? As we go through complex political transformations, what does the future hold for Sikkim? In this extravagant “Roman Circus” that we find ourselves, let us not forget what actually matters.
