How Ajit Doval Outwitted A Spy Queen And Brought Sikkim Into India

Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 16:57 IST

Sikkim’s fate shifted as Hope Cook, an American queen with alleged US ties, influenced politics until Ajit Doval empowered locals, leading to Sikkim’s merger with India in 1975

Ajit Doval played a key role in Sikkim's merger with India in 1975.

History often records tales where conspiracy, love, and espionage meet in dramatic fashion. The story of Sikkim stands as one such saga. It is a tale in which a royal prince fell into the trap of beauty, a foreign spy queen nearly captured power, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval quietly altered the course of history.

Author D Devdutt, in his book Ajit Doval: On a Mission, recounts how the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim, ruled by the Chogyal dynasty since 1642, became the setting for one of the most mysterious intelligence stories of Northeast India. Under British rule, Sikkim functioned as a subordinate princely state, but the monarchy’s existence remained intact. After India’s independence in 1947, the state became a protectorate, India retained control over foreign policy and defence, while the Chogyal family continued to wield internal authority.

The delicate arrangement shifted after the death of Sir Tashi Namgyal in 1965. His son, Palden Thondup Namgyal, ascended the throne. Educated in India and considered broadly pro-India, he appeared to offer stability. Yet fate introduced an unexpected twist.

Two years earlier, in 1963, the young crown prince had fallen in love with a striking American woman named Hope Cook. Charismatic, elegant, and widely rumoured to have links with US intelligence, she soon won his heart. Their romance culminated in marriage, making her the Queen of Sikkim.

But marriage did not remain a matter of the heart. Hope Cook abandoned her American citizenship to take Sikkimese nationality, presenting herself as a devoted queen. In reality, she began to influence policy in ways that aligned with Washington’s interests. Behind the glitter of royal ceremonies, America’s hand grew more visible in Gangtok’s politics.

By the early 1970s, tensions escalated. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the US opposed India’s moves, and even senior US leaders were reported to have used disparaging language for India’s prime minister. Inside Sikkim, American influence deepened. Local pro-India voices felt sidelined, while Hope Cook increasingly tilted toward anti-India positions. A rift widened between the people and their royal rulers.

India could not ignore the growing danger. At that time, a young intelligence officer, Ajit Doval, already credited with defusing the Mizoram rebellion, was dispatched to Sikkim. Doval did not arrive with noise or headlines; instead, he worked in the shadows, reading the political pulse with precision.

According to Devdutt’s account, Doval reached out to grassroots leaders and began strengthening the Sikkim Congress. That party soon emerged as the voice of ordinary citizens. Their slogan grew louder with every passing month, “Merge Sikkim with India".

In 1975, a historic referendum was held. A clear majority of Sikkim’s people voted in favour of becoming part of India. The government responded swiftly, passing the 35th Amendment to the Constitution, which formalised Sikkim’s entry as the 22nd state of the Union.

Thus, a state that once appeared on the brink of falling under the sway of a “spy queen" was secured as an integral part of India.

For Hope Cook, it was the end of her Himalayan chapter. After the merger, her influence collapsed. She divorced Palden Thondup Namgyal and returned to the United States. President Gerald Ford restored her American citizenship, almost as if, in Devdutt’s words, “the agent has been called back after completing a failed mission".

The story carries a larger meaning. It underscores how beauty can indeed serve as a weapon in espionage, how a royal prince lost himself in love, and how strategy from India’s “super spy" Ajit Doval reversed the tide.

Location :

Sikkim, India, India

First Published:

August 25, 2025, 16:57 IST

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