Palden Thondup Namgyal
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Palden Thondup Namgyal (May 23, 1923 - January 29, 1982) was the 12th Chogyal (king) of Sikkim.
At six, Namgyal became a student at St. Joseph's Convent in Kalimpong, but had to terminate his studies due to attacks of malaria. From eight to eleven he studied in order to ordain monkhood under his uncle, Rimpoche Lhatsun, and was subsequently recognized as the reincarnate leader of both Phodong and Rumtek monasteries. He later re-continued his studies at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling and finally graduated from Bishop Cotton School in Simla, in 1941.
Namgyal served as adviser for internal affairs for his father, Sir Tashi Namgyal, the 11th Chogyal, and led the negotiating team which established Sikkim's relationship to India after independence in 1949. He married Sangey Deki in 1950, a daughter of an important Tibetan family, and together they had a son and daughter. Unfortunately, Sangey died in 1957.
Namgyal married Hope Cooke in 1963, a twenty-two-year-old American graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. It was in this event that the marriage brought worldwide media attention to Sikkim. Shortly after their marriage, his father died and Namgyal was crowned the new Chogyal accoding an astrologically favorable date in 1965. India annexed Sikkim in 1975 through receiving a 97%-majorty election vote, thus ending his rule.
Palden died of cancer in New York City, in the United States in January 29, 1982. Although he was sworn to uphold the Indian Constitution, 31 members of the State Legislative Assembly offered khadas to the Chogyal upon his death, showing that many Sikkimese still regarded the Chogyal as their actual ruler.
His son from his first marriage, Wangchuk Namgyal, was named the 13th Chogyal, but the position no longer confers any official authority.