This is a colonial interpretation of the two sides of the Sikkim struggle refracted through the lives of two western women who were on the scene but for less than dozen years but somehow came to define the struggle of a dynasty that has existed for five hundred years and a state for far longer. Both Tibet and Bhutan's recorded history goes back to the 7th century and I expect Sikkim to be similar (edit: Sikkim's current dynasty dates back to the 17th century but its history is far longer).

The Kazi was the head of Rumtek Monastery which is not a simple achievement [1]. He subsequently led the formation of the Sikkim National Congress and was then the first Chief minster of Sikkim for 5 years. He was awarded the Padma Vibushan, the second highest civilian honor by India. But the Kazi is reduced to the status of a noble brute in the article who just utters two sentences: "marry me" and "ignore my wife". The Chogyal gets a bit more ink but as an instrument of his wife who glamorized Sikkim, was a probably CIA/State department plant but was not on the scene for more than a dozen years.

This story would have been very different if written by a Sikkimese or an Indian not beholden to Western framing. Digging deeper, the author is Indian but her bio states: "Write on social justice, gender, culture. Medienbotschafter Fellow. Reporting Grant by European Journalism Centre. Reporting Fellow at Dart Center, Columbia University".

Schooled in the West and bringing civilization to the natives.