Treaty of Titalia
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Titalia was signed between the Chogyal
(monarch) of Sikkim
and the British East India Company
. The treaty, which was negotiated by Captain Barre Latter in February 1817, guaranteed security of Sikkim by the British and returned Sikkimese land annexed by the Nepalese over the centuries. It followed the Anglo-Nepalese War, 1814-1816. In return, the British were given trading rights and rights of passage up to the Tibet
frontier. The treaty was named after Titalia
, a place in current-day West Bengal
-Bihar
border. In the Gazette of Sikkim, 1894 by H.H. Risley, it was written that "by the Treaty of Titalia, British India has assumed the position of Lord's paramount of Sikkim and a title to exercise a predominant influence in that State has remained undisputed."
ARTICLE I: The Honourable East India Company cedes, transfers and makes over in full sovereignty to the Sikkimputtee Rajah, his heirs or successors, all the hilly or mountainous country situated to the eastward of the Mechi river and to the westward of the Teesta river, formerly possessed by the Rajah of Nepaul but ceded to the Honourable East India company by the treaty of peace signed at Segoulee.
ARTICLE II: The Sikkimputtee Rajah engages for himself and successors to abstain from any acts of aggression or hostility against the Goorkhas or any other State.
ARTICLE lll: That he will refer to the arbitration of the British Government any dispute or question that may arise between his subjects and those of Nepaul or any other neighbouring State and to abide by the decision of the British Government.
ARTICLE IV: He engages for himself and sucessors to join the British troops with the whole of his military force when employed in the Hills and in general to afford the British troops every aid and facility in his power.
ARTICLE V: That he will not permit any British subject nor the subject of any European and American state to reside within his dominions, without the permission of the English-Government.
ARTICLE VI: That he will immediately seize and deliver up any dacoits or notorious offenders that right take refuge within his territories.
ARTICLE VII: That he will not afford protection to any defaulters of revenue or other delinquents when demanded by the British Government through their accredited agents.
ARTICLE VIII: That he will afford protection to merchants and traders from the Company’s province and he engages that no duty shall be levied on the transit of merchandise beyond the established custom at the several golah or marts.
ARTICLE IX: The Honourable East India Company guarantees to the Sikkimputtee Rajah and his successors, the full and peaceable possession of the tract of hilly country specified in the First Article of the present Agreement.
ARTICLE X: This treaty shall be ratified and exchanged by the Sikkimputtee Rajah within one month from the present date and the counterpart when confirmed by His Excellency, the Right Honourable the Governor-General, shall be transmitted to the Rajah.
Done at Titalia, this tenth day of February 1817 answering the 9th of Phagoon 1873 Sumbut and to the thirteenth of Maugh 1223 Bengallie.
Sd/- Barre Latter
Sd/- Moira
Sd/- Nazir Chaina Tenjin
Sd/- N.B. Edmonstone
Sd/- Macha Teinbah
Sd/- Archd. Seton
Sd/- Lama Duchim Longadoo
Sd/- Geo. Dowedswell
Ratified by the Governor-General in Council at Fort William, this Fifteenth day of March, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventeen.
Sd/- J. Adam, Acting Chief Secretary to Government.
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...
(monarch) of Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
and the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. The treaty, which was negotiated by Captain Barre Latter in February 1817, guaranteed security of Sikkim by the British and returned Sikkimese land annexed by the Nepalese over the centuries. It followed the Anglo-Nepalese War, 1814-1816. In return, the British were given trading rights and rights of passage up to the 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...
frontier. The treaty was named after Titalia
Titalia
Titalia, a place on the current West Bengal - Bihar border in India, was the location for the signing of the Treaty of Titalia in 1817 between Sikkim and the British East India Company....
, a place in current-day West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
-Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
border. In the Gazette of Sikkim, 1894 by H.H. Risley, it was written that "by the Treaty of Titalia, British India has assumed the position of Lord's paramount of Sikkim and a title to exercise a predominant influence in that State has remained undisputed."
Treaty
TREATY, COVENANT or AGREEMENT entered into by CAPTAIN BARRE LATTER, AGENT on the part of HIS EXCELLENCY, the RIGHT HON’BLE, the EARL OF MOIRA, K.G., GOVERNOR GENERAL, etc., and by NAZIR CHAINA TENJIN and MACHA TEINBAH and LAMA DUCHIM LONGADOO, deputies on the part of the RAJAH OF SIKKIMPUTTEE being severally authorized and duly appointed for the above purposes - 1817.ARTICLE I: The Honourable East India Company cedes, transfers and makes over in full sovereignty to the Sikkimputtee Rajah, his heirs or successors, all the hilly or mountainous country situated to the eastward of the Mechi river and to the westward of the Teesta river, formerly possessed by the Rajah of Nepaul but ceded to the Honourable East India company by the treaty of peace signed at Segoulee.
ARTICLE II: The Sikkimputtee Rajah engages for himself and successors to abstain from any acts of aggression or hostility against the Goorkhas or any other State.
ARTICLE lll: That he will refer to the arbitration of the British Government any dispute or question that may arise between his subjects and those of Nepaul or any other neighbouring State and to abide by the decision of the British Government.
ARTICLE IV: He engages for himself and sucessors to join the British troops with the whole of his military force when employed in the Hills and in general to afford the British troops every aid and facility in his power.
ARTICLE V: That he will not permit any British subject nor the subject of any European and American state to reside within his dominions, without the permission of the English-Government.
ARTICLE VI: That he will immediately seize and deliver up any dacoits or notorious offenders that right take refuge within his territories.
ARTICLE VII: That he will not afford protection to any defaulters of revenue or other delinquents when demanded by the British Government through their accredited agents.
ARTICLE VIII: That he will afford protection to merchants and traders from the Company’s province and he engages that no duty shall be levied on the transit of merchandise beyond the established custom at the several golah or marts.
ARTICLE IX: The Honourable East India Company guarantees to the Sikkimputtee Rajah and his successors, the full and peaceable possession of the tract of hilly country specified in the First Article of the present Agreement.
ARTICLE X: This treaty shall be ratified and exchanged by the Sikkimputtee Rajah within one month from the present date and the counterpart when confirmed by His Excellency, the Right Honourable the Governor-General, shall be transmitted to the Rajah.
Done at Titalia, this tenth day of February 1817 answering the 9th of Phagoon 1873 Sumbut and to the thirteenth of Maugh 1223 Bengallie.
Sd/- Barre Latter
Sd/- Moira
Sd/- Nazir Chaina Tenjin
Sd/- N.B. Edmonstone
Sd/- Macha Teinbah
Sd/- Archd. Seton
Sd/- Lama Duchim Longadoo
Sd/- Geo. Dowedswell
Ratified by the Governor-General in Council at Fort William, this Fifteenth day of March, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventeen.
Sd/- J. Adam, Acting Chief Secretary to Government.