Palden Thondup Namgyal
Encyclopedia
Palden Thondup Namgyal (May 23, 1923 – January 29, 1982) was the 12th and last Chogyal
(king) of Sikkim
.
At six, Namgyal became a student at St. Joseph's Convent in Kalimpong, but had to terminate his studies due to attacks of malaria. From eight to eleven he studied in order to ordain monkhood under his uncle, Rimpoche Lhatsun, and was subsequently recognized as the reincarnate leader of both Phodong and Rumtek monasteries. He later continued his studies at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling and finally graduated from Bishop Cotton School in Simla
, in 1941.
Namgyal served as adviser for internal affairs for his father, Sir Tashi Namgyal, the 11th Chogyal, and led the negotiating team which established Sikkim's relationship to India
after independence in 1949. He married Sangey Deki in 1950, a daughter of an important Tibet
an family, and together they had two sons and a daughter. Sangey died in 1957.
Namgyal married Hope Cooke
in 1963, a twenty-two-year-old American socialite
who was a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
. The marriage brought worldwide media attention to Sikkim. The couple, who had two children, Palden and Hope Leezum, divorced in 1980.
Shortly after their marriage, his father died and Namgyal was crowned the new Chogyal on an astrologically favorable date in 1965. In 1975 Sikkim joined the union of India
through a referendum receiving a 97%-majority election vote, thus ending his rule.
P.T. Namgyal was an amateur radio
operator, callsign AC3PT, and was a highly sought contact on the airwaves. The international callbook listed his address as: P.T. Namgyal, The Palace, Gangtok, Sikkim.
Palden died of cancer in New York City
, in the United States
on January 29, 1982. Upon his death, 31 members of the State Legislative Assembly offered khadas
to the Chogyal upon his death as a mark of respect.
His son from his first marriage, Wangchuk Namgyal
, was named the 13th Chogyal, but the position no longer confers any official authority.
Chogyal
The Chogyal were the monarchs of the former kingdoms of Sikkim and Ladakh, which were ruled by separate branches of the Namgyal family. The Chogyal, or divine ruler, was the absolute potentate of Sikkim from 1642 to 1975, when its monarchy was abrogated and its people voted to make Sikkim India's...
(king) of Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
.
At six, Namgyal became a student at St. Joseph's Convent in Kalimpong, but had to terminate his studies due to attacks of malaria. From eight to eleven he studied in order to ordain monkhood under his uncle, Rimpoche Lhatsun, and was subsequently recognized as the reincarnate leader of both Phodong and Rumtek monasteries. He later continued his studies at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling and finally graduated from Bishop Cotton School in Simla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
, in 1941.
Namgyal served as adviser for internal affairs for his father, Sir Tashi Namgyal, the 11th Chogyal, and led the negotiating team which established Sikkim's relationship to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
after independence in 1949. He married Sangey Deki in 1950, a daughter of an important Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an family, and together they had two sons and a daughter. Sangey died in 1957.
Namgyal married Hope Cooke
Hope Cooke
Hope Cooke is an American socialite who was the "Gyalmo" of the 12th Chogyal of Sikkim. But Palden was to be the last king of Sikkim as a protectorate state under India. By 1973, the country and their marriage was crumbling; soon Sikkim was annexed by India. Cooke returned to New York City...
in 1963, a twenty-two-year-old American socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
who was a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
. The marriage brought worldwide media attention to Sikkim. The couple, who had two children, Palden and Hope Leezum, divorced in 1980.
Shortly after their marriage, his father died and Namgyal was crowned the new Chogyal on an astrologically favorable date in 1965. In 1975 Sikkim joined the union of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
through a referendum receiving a 97%-majority election vote, thus ending his rule.
P.T. Namgyal was an amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
operator, callsign AC3PT, and was a highly sought contact on the airwaves. The international callbook listed his address as: P.T. Namgyal, The Palace, Gangtok, Sikkim.
Palden died of cancer in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on January 29, 1982. Upon his death, 31 members of the State Legislative Assembly offered khadas
Khata
A khata, khada, khadag, or hada is a traditional ceremonial scarf common in Tibetan and Mongolian culture. It symbolizes purity and compassion. It is usually made of silk. Tibetan khatas are usually white symbolising the pure heart of the giver, though it is quite common to find yellow gold khatas...
to the Chogyal upon his death as a mark of respect.
His son from his first marriage, Wangchuk Namgyal
Wangchuk Namgyal
Chogyal Wangchuk Tenzing Namgyal is the second son of Palden Thondup Namgyal, the last sovereign king of Sikkim. Educated at Harrow, he is also the present heir of the Namgyal dynasty and claimant to the Sikkim throne....
, was named the 13th Chogyal, but the position no longer confers any official authority.
Titles
- 1923-1941: PrincePrincePrince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
Palden Thondup Namgyal - 1941-1947: Maharajkumar SriSriSri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...
Panch Palden Thondup Namgyal - 1947-1954: Maharajkumar Sri Panch Palden Thondup Namgyal, OBE
- 1954-1963: Maharajkumar Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
Sri Panch Palden Thondup Namgyal, OBE - 1963-1965: His Highness Muwong ChogyalChogyalThe Chogyal were the monarchs of the former kingdoms of Sikkim and Ladakh, which were ruled by separate branches of the Namgyal family. The Chogyal, or divine ruler, was the absolute potentate of Sikkim from 1642 to 1975, when its monarchy was abrogated and its people voted to make Sikkim India's...
Padma Bhushan Sri Panch Chempo Palden Thondup Namgyal, MaharajaMaharajaMahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
ChogyalChogyalThe Chogyal were the monarchs of the former kingdoms of Sikkim and Ladakh, which were ruled by separate branches of the Namgyal family. The Chogyal, or divine ruler, was the absolute potentate of Sikkim from 1642 to 1975, when its monarchy was abrogated and its people voted to make Sikkim India's...
of SikkimSikkimSikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
, OBE - 1965-1982: Major-General His Highness Muwong Chogyal Padma Bhushan Sri Panch Chempo Palden Thondup Namgyal, Maharaja Chogyal of Sikkim, OBE
Honours
- Indian Independence Medal-1947
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)-1947
- Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
of IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
-1954 - Commander of the Order of the Black Star of BeninBeninBenin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
(France)-1956