ABSTRACT
This chapter sheds light on the many factors that foreground the political turmoil in Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. It intertwines details of the geographical setting with the historical background to contextualize the dawn of democracy in the region. It shows the geopolitical importance of these ‘buffer states‘ and showcases why and how democracy found its footing in this region. With a view to understand various aspects of the regional socio-political aspects, the chapter uncovers the broad contours of its geographical features and historical events, which led to the formation and development of states in the eastern Himalayan region.
