Gangtok: On a quiet morning in Gangtok, history was carefully placed inside a container — not to be seen again until 2075. In a ceremony rich with symbolism and sentiment, the State Government sealed a time capsule marking Sikkim’s 50 years of statehood.
The capsule has been sealed at the Rustomji Deer Park near the Tashiling Secretariat of the State Government. When future generations open it on the State’s centenary, they will discover not just documents and artefacts, but also the voices, memories, and aspirations of today’s Sikkim.
The idea for the time capsule was first suggested earlier this year by the Information and Public Relations Department’s data analyst, Karma Yonzon, during discussions on how to mark the golden jubilee of statehood.
From there, the proposal gathered momentum and was discussed among departments, including the Home Department, before being placed before Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay). According to IPR Secretary Annapurna Alley, the Chief Minister was very open and excited about the project from the beginning.
The capsule itself was specially procured from the United States and is NASA-approved, ensuring durability and scientific credibility.
Archival pens, certified desiccators, oxygen absorbers and other materials were sourced to guarantee preservation. With a certified shelf life of 100 years, it is expected to safely hold its treasures for the next five decades.
The project was formally launched on May 16, 2025, during State Day celebrations, when the capsule was announced as a symbolic bridge between Sikkim’s past, present, and future. Contributions soon began pouring in from across the state.
More than 534 citizens sent personal messages — letters to family members, notes to future generations, and reflections on life in 2025. The Civil Services Batch of 2022, filmmaker Ugen Chopel, cultural organisations, and schoolchildren also sent their contributions, including letters addressed to the “Sikkim of 2075.”
Government departments added records of achievements, reports, and visions for the future. The Forest and Agriculture Departments placed seeds of paddy, medicinal plants, and trees inside, offering a living legacy that could be replanted by future generations.
Cultural contributions included ornaments, musical instruments from the Tamang and Limbu communities, recipes, rituals, and even detailed instructions for making the Lepcha hat.
The IPR Department ensured that all 13 recognised languages of Sikkim were represented through written materials, photographs, and audio-visual content. To capture the everyday world of 2025, mobile phones, gadgets, and other familiar technologies were placed in the capsule — objects that will likely appear as relics by 2075.
Academic contributions came from Sikkim University, which provided geographic maps, while the government laboratory preserved a soil sample for posterity.
Messages from leaders and public figures added a personal dimension. Among the contributors were legislators and ministers including GT Dhungel, Bhojraj Rai, Raju Basnet, LN Sharma, Tenzing Lamtha, and Aditya Golay, alongside ministers, secretaries, and civil servants who also sent reflections to the Sikkim of tomorrow. Chief Minister Golay himself penned a message, remarking, “What Sikkim was in 1975 is very different from 2025. Our names, culture, and traditions are evolving. This capsule will ensure that future generations know who we were, what we valued, and how we lived today.”
The government admitted that not all voices could be captured, as some legislators, secretaries, and organisations missed the deadline to contribute. To allow greater participation, the sealing ceremony was delayed until more submissions could be included. Still, the final collection represents a broad spectrum of Sikkimese society, from schoolchildren to senior leaders, from traditional communities to government institutions.
The time capsule will remain sealed until 2075, when Sikkim will celebrate 100 years of statehood. Inside are not just objects but also hopes, memories, and the heartbeat of a generation. For today’s citizens, it serves as a reminder of how far Sikkim has come since 1975, when it joined the Indian Union, and how much continues to change.
As the final NASA-approved seal was placed, a sense of solemnity marked the occasion. “Fifty years from now, when this capsule is opened, people will not just read about history — they will feel our voices, our values, and our vision,” said Secretary Alley. Until then, the capsule will rest silently, guarding Sikkim’s collective memory for future generations to rediscover in 2075.
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