The correct answer is: a) Sikkim was a protectorate, not a direct colony.
Sikkim was a protectorate of British India from 1861 to 1975. This meant that Sikkim was a self-governing state under the protection of the British government. The British did not have direct control over Sikkim, and the Chogyal, the hereditary ruler of Sikkim, retained a great deal of power.
The British East India Company was a private trading company that was granted a monopoly on trade with India by the British government in 1600. The company gradually came to exercise political control over much of India, and in 1857, a major uprising against British rule broke out. The uprising, known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or the Sepoy Mutiny, was largely motivated by resentment against British rule.
Sikkim was not directly affected by the Indian Rebellion of 1857. This was because Sikkim was a protectorate, not a direct colony. The British did not have direct control over Sikkim, and the Chogyal retained a great deal of power. As a result, there was no widespread resentment against British rule in Sikkim, and the uprising did not spread to the region.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
- Option b: The Chogyal maintained good relations with the British. However, this does not explain why there was no widespread resentment against British rule in Sikkim. The Chogyal was a powerful ruler, and he was able to maintain good relations with the British because he was able to protect Sikkim’s interests. However, this does not mean that the people of Sikkim were not resentful of British rule.
- Option c: Sikkimese people were unaware of events elsewhere in India. This is unlikely to be the case, as Sikkim was a relatively open society, and people were aware of events in other parts of India.
- Option d: The British military presence in Sikkim was minimal. This is true, but it does not explain why there was no widespread resentment against British rule in Sikkim. The British military presence in Sikkim was minimal because Sikkim was a protectorate, not a direct colony. The British did not have direct control over Sikkim, and the Chogyal retained a great deal of power. As a result, there was no need for a large British military presence in Sikkim.