The Immediate Incident: NIMAS on Mt. Khangchendzonga
- On May 18, 2025, a NIMAS team scaled Mt. Khangchendzonga from Nepal’s side.
- This sparked protests in Sikkim where the peak is held sacred and climbing it from the Indian side is officially prohibited.
- The act was part of the Indian Army’s ‘Har Shikhar Tiranga’ campaign to plant the Indian flag on every state’s highest peak.
Relevance : GS 1 (Geography),GS 2 (Governance)
Sacred Mountains and Indigenous Beliefs
- Mt. Khangchendzonga is deeply revered in Sikkim’s indigenous spiritual culture.
- The Sikkim government had issued notifications under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, disallowing climbs from the Indian side.
- Similar global instances of sacred mountain reverence:
- Mauna Kea (Hawaii) – Thirty-Meter Telescope stalled due to native protests.
- Haleakalā volcano (Hawaii) – U.S. military project opposed by natives.
- Cerro Armazones (Chile) – Atacameño communities protested telescope construction.
Broader Tensions: Science, Security vs. Spirituality
- Mountains hold significance for:
- Scientific exploration (geology, climate).
- Strategic concerns (military, water sources).
- Spiritual sanctity (indigenous communities).
- The clash between state-centric objectives and indigenous rights is growing.
- Scientific and defence actors often neglect cultural sensitivities, assuming their goals supersede local beliefs.
Patterns of Marginalization
- In multiple cases, consultation with local communities happens late or never:
- India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) faced protests due to denial of temple access.
- Heavy police presence undermined trust and spiritual autonomy of local communities.
- State actions often appear heavy-handed and dismissive of indigenous agency.
Legal and Ethical Shifts
- Global instruments supporting indigenous rights:
- UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).
- ILO Convention 169 – both stress free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC).
- Article 30 of UNDRIP obliges consultation even in military-related activities.
- Increasingly, litigation, protests, and reputational risks are pushing states to seek consent proactively.
Role of Civil Society and Changing Power Equations
- Youth-led civil society, technology, and climate vulnerability have empowered indigenous advocacy.
- Indigenous individuals are gaining political representation and legal voice.
- Strategic or symbolic actions (like planting flags) must be weighed against the social and spiritual costs.
Recommendations and Cautions
- Consult before acting – cheaper and more sustainable than post-facto correction.
- Governments must balance national pride and local sensitivities.
- The NIMAS act may seem benign, but bypassing local consultation undermines trust and sets a negative precedent.
- Symbolism must not override sacred geography and cultural dignity.
Conclusion
- A growing global and domestic consensus favours inclusive and respectful engagement with indigenous communities.
- As mountains become zones of climate fragility and cultural assertion, consultation and consent are no longer optional—they are essential for ethical governance and sustainable national interest.
