Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal () appointed 12
Kalons or ministers from the
Bhutia community and split his kingdom into 12
Dzongs or administrative units, which each contained a fort. Individual Dzongs were headed by a
Dzonga drawn from amongst the
Lepchas. The
Limbu chiefs or the
Subbas were also given full autonomy of their districts under the King. After contact with the British, the agrarian Sikkimese society witnessed a drastic change in land use and settlement pattern. The British encouraged migration of Nepalese to Sikkim mainly for agriculture and labour. The two Newar trade families of Lachhimidas Pradhan and Chandrabir Maskey from princely estates of Kathmandu were given land as a contract or ‘’thika’’. These new landlords hence came to be known as Newar Thikadars. In 1867,
Newar trader Lachhimidas Pradhan was the first Nepalese to be given territories in East and South Sikkim by Khangsa Dewan and Phudong Lama by issuing a
Sanad(ordinance). Lachhimidas and his brother Chandrabir Pradhan(Kasaju) divided the areas into number of estates to be distributed within the members of the family. During this period another Newar family led by Chandrabir Maskey settled in Sadam, South Sikkim. In the same year an agreement was reached between the two families where Chandrabir Maskey was given the Pendam, Temi, Regu, Pakyong and Chotta Pathing estates. Lachhimidas Pradhan and his family took control of the estate bordering Majitar to Kaleej Khola and Barmick in South Sikkim. His brother Chandrabir Pradhan(Kasaju) was given Rhenock, Mamring, Pache Khani, and Taja along with a joint supervision of Dilding and parts of Pendam.
Ilakhas or estates of Sadam, Pachekhani, Dikling and parts of Pendam were put under joint supervision of both the families.
British Political Officer to Sikkim John Claude White introduced several administrative changes from 1888 onwards until in 1890, land estates was created with 70
Elakhas given to various landlord on lease. 36 estates were divided among different landlords of which 21 were Kazis, 6 Bhutias, 8 Lepchas, 10 Nepalese and 1 plainsman. All
Taksaris of Sikkim were made Thikadars. Besides Kazis and Thikadars,
Lamas also held land as Lords By the end of nineteenth century lands of Sikkim were leased as gifts to many
Kazis and
Thikadars who in turn leased sub-plots to peasants at high rents.
Mandals (headmen) and
Karbaris (assistants to the mandals) were employed by the Kazis and Thikadars as rent collectors and dispute mediators. Out of Sikkim's 104 revenue estates, 61 were leased to Kazis and thikadars for fixed sums, five were given to monasteries and fifteen retained by the Chogyal for his private use. In 1906, an order from the
State Council gave the feudal landlords permanent rights to their respective estates.
Structure Sikkim was divided into 90 estates or
Ilakhas. Kazis were the Bhutia-Lepcha aristocracy while the Thikadars were the Nepali aristocracy. Each Kazi or Thikadar had several
Mandals under them whose chief role was collection of taxes from people. The Mandals were further assisted by
Baidar or
Kamdari. The ruling Kazis and Thikadars were also part of Sikkim's former legislature and governing body, the
State Council. ==Residence==