The Chogyal were the monarchs of the former kingdom of Sikkim. The Chogyal or divine ruler was the absolute potentate of the nation from 1642 to 1975, when the monarchy was abrogated and the people voted to make Sikkim India's 22nd state. However, Chogyal (or Chos-rGyal) is a title also conferred upon a special class of temporal and spiritual rulers of the Kingdom of Bhutan. In Bhutan the Chogyal are also known as the Dharmaraja, or Kings of Dharma. In this context, the Chogyal was a recognized… (More on Chogyal)