Gangtok: Captain Sonam Yongda, a former Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Palden Thondup Namgyal and a witness to Sikkim's transition in 1975, passed away on April 4, 2026. He was among the last surviving individuals associated with the royal establishment during the final years of the monarchy.
Captain Yongda served in the palace guard and was part of the Chogyal's inner circle during a period marked by political developments that led to Sikkim's integration into the Indian Union. As ADC, he held a position of proximity and trust, which provided him with a direct view of events unfolding at the time.
He was known for his recollections of the events surrounding 1975, when the monarchy ended. His accounts, often referenced in discussions and writings on Sikkim's political history, described the changes within the palace and the circumstances in which the royal guards were disarmed. These accounts contributed to alternative perspectives on the merger, outlining the experiences of those within the royal establishment.
Although not widely known in the public sphere, Captain Yongda remained a reference point in historical and academic discussions for documenting a first-hand account of a significant period in Sikkim's past. His reflections have been cited in analyses examining the nature of the transition and its geopolitical context.
In later years, he lived a largely private life, with occasional participation in discussions and anecdary accounts related to Sikkim's pre-merger history. His death marks the end of a direct link to narratives associated with the palace era of the state.
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