Aritar gained its significance with the signing of several Trade Convention with China.
BRITAIN- CHINA CONVENTION which was sighed on 17.03.1890,
SIKKIM- TIBET CONVENTION sighed on 05.12. 1893 which decided one of the following declaration
"I.A trade mart shall be established at Yatung on the Tibetan side of the frontier, and shall be open to all British subjects for purpose of trade from the first day of May 1894. The Government of India shall be free to send officers to reside at Yatung to watch the conditions of British trade at that mart.
GREAT BRITAIN- TIBET CONVENTION which was sighed on 07.09.1904
These convention, under the leadership of Lord Younghusband resolved to establish a trade mart at Yatung on the tibetan side of the frontier.However, the task was not a bed of roses, when the British started building roads in Sikkim, it was suspicious for Tibet and in 1886, some Tibetan militia occupied Lingtu in sikkim near Jelepla pass. In May 1888, the Tibetans attacked Gnathang below Jelepla but were driven away. In September of the same year the British called for reinforcements and the Tibetans were pushed back from Lingtu. A memorial was built at Gnathang for the few British soldiers who died in the engagement.The British sent an expedition led by Col. Younghusband to Lhasa via Jelepla in 1904. The expedition met with resistance from the Tibetan army, which was defeated, and a treaty was dictated by Younghusband on Tibet. The Treaty secured monopoly-trading privileges in Tibet for the British The route started from Kalimpong, Pedong which is located in Darjeeling District and further to Nathula via Rhenock, Aritar and Jaluk. As the trade were carried on mule, some remnants of these tracks were present till 80s, until it was black topped to enhance modern communication.
Facts do not change with time however values do. Historic events are interconnected to form an infinite chain and it is for us to interconnect these facts to its novel form. With the increasing numbers of British making their venture towards Sikkim, there was also change in the social and economic sphere of Sikkim. The only motive for the British making explicit inroad towards Sikkim was that they wanted to establish a trade mart with Tibet. The increasing population had breed increase in the crime and robbery rate in the then society. Further, Sikkim was also under territorial disputes with Tibet. In 1886 some Tibetan militia had occupied Lingto below Jelepla Pass on the eastern border of Sikkim. In 1888 the Tibetan made campaign against Sikkim at Gnathng but were driven back with the might of British troops. Frequent outbreak of such uncertainties were posing threat to the peace and security of the protectorate, hence the British felt a police outpost must be established somewhere at the strategic point on the Kalimpong- Rhenock- Aritar- Jeleplatrade route.
When the first expedition was launch to find the trade route to Tibet, it became an essence to establish a police outpost, hence Sir.James Claud White the first British political officer of Sikkim, established the first police outpost is sikkim at Aritar, on the due course a rest house was also built for a night halt, therefore, it is known that Aritar had its commercial signifance more than that of Gangtok in the past. It is said that four of the British had died in their way to the expedition, whose cemetery can still be seen at Aritar.
It was on 27th of November 1897 that a force was posted at Aritar near Rhenock on the authority if resolution passed by the king of Sikkim in the council. Sikkim Police was thus born.
Late Dhan Narayan Pradhanson of Raey [Southey] newar from Aritar was first recruited as sentry by Sikkim Darbar at Maneydara Police Out- Post in the year 1897, just a year after the construction of famous Aritar Bungalow by the chief Commissioner of Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Five more other person, one of them being his own elder brother Man Bahadur Pradhan, owned land and property at Maneydara, Aritar which he relinquished nder he care of his sister once he was transferred to Gangtok residency [Raj Bhawan] and permanently settled hereafter.
Hence, towards the late nineteenth century, the first political officer of Sikkim J.C .Claude White gave account of the function of the police force as follows. Collection of land revenue and rent Treasure guard Arrest and conveyance of offender carrying out orders of Durbar Maintenance of orders of in troublesome villages and to maintain security of the border even after the removal of the British troops from Gnathang.
THE FAMILYLINE OF LATE DHAN NARAYAN PRADHAN AND AMRITMAYA PRADHAN [WIFE]
DHAN NARAYAN PRADHAN’S FIVE SONS:
1. Padam Narayan Pradhan
2. Gau Narayan Pradhan/ wife: Krishna Devi Pradhan
3. Deo Narayan Pradhan
4. Mani Narayan Pradhan
5. Prabhu Narayan Pradhan [expired issueless]
PADAM NARAYAN PRADHAN’S FAMILY
1. Indra Kumar Pradhan- son [now Lucky Watch Company, Gangtok]
2. Kashi Kumar Pradhan- son [popularly known as Gaindey]
GAU NARAYAN’S FAMILY
1. Chandra Prakash Pradhan- son
2. Ramesh Chandra Pradhan-son
3. Asok Kumar Pradhan- son
4. Robin Kuar Pradhan- son
5. Kamala Pradhan- Daughter
MANI NARAYAN PRADHAN’S FAMILY
1. Durga Samsher Pradhan- son
2. Deo Kumar Pradhan- son [served Forest Department]
Mr. You Narayan Pradhan, who happens to ne the father of Khambu Pradha, was the sone of Late Dhan Narayan’s Sister. Mr You Narayan Pradhan served under Police Department in the capacity of an Instructor of new recruits and Officer- in – Charge of a police station. Mr. Sura Madan Chhetri ex havaldar of Police Department from Aritar is the grandson of lae Dhan Narayan from maternal side of relationship as he happens to ne the grandson of Dhan Narayan’s Sister.
The Lampokhari Lake at Aritar served to quench thirst of the mules and merchants on their tiresome journey to Tibet. Goods were usually packed in black tarpaulin in order to protect from rain and snow, hence the term Kalo Bhari in colloquial gained popularity among the people.
KALO BHARI [Black Loads]was the name given to a special consignment compactly packed in black tarpaulin, which gave the name. Huge quantities of these packages were transported over land to China via Tibet during the later part of the war. Such as the demand for transport for these purpose that the wages offered reached unprecedented heights. The cupidity of the landlords also rose in unison and they stooped to swindling. They falsely requisitioned for forced labour “on the authority of the state” who carry these packages, which they represented as government stores which the ryots were bouned to carry. The ryots would receive the prescribed rates of hire for forced labour whereas the rates offered for these goods were five times the amount or even more. In fact, the goods belonged to private concerns, and the ryots were not bound to carry these goods. But the ignorant ryots were completely deceived. Those who could afford to buy off their liability preferred to suffer extortion and paid through the nose. The poorer ryots were obliged to carry out filthy task. They were paid as forced labour and the landlords pocketed the gains. By such despicable means the landlords concealed for long. When they learnt about it, the victims of the swindle approached the powers that be for redress of the wrongs suffered by them. It was, however, to no effect. As the culprits were all highborn Kazis, the matter was hushed up, and the aggrieved ryots were sent away with a facile advice to “Let bygones be bygones and forgive and forget.” The slightest offence, so much as alleged, against a ryot exposes him to severe punishment whereas even such downright swindling by the privilege class is treated as of no account.
It is said that people were often dragged from their home by the despotic heads, they had to work reluctantly for construction of the mule tracks else they were put behind the bars or faced heavy penalties. Conequently, with the increasing number of British making their venture towards Sikkim also gave emphasis to education. Thereby, constructing numerous elemantary schools in Sikkim widened the knowledge of Sikkimese. The people of Aritar and Rhenock goded with the lights of education gradually started to revived their outlook towards their society. With the changing political scenario of Sikkim the people statrted to prefer Democracy rather than Monarchy. Gradually, with such waves of changes taking place throughout Sikkim, a new Era of prosperity started in sikkim.
