Of Gorkhas and Gorkhaland

I was going through my regular dose of news everyday and I just came upon this news article which said “BIMAL GURUNG, GJMM LEADER, SUMMONS BY THE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT” I couldn’t help thinking what was wrong with everyone? It was about time, that the GJMM put up a PIL against the BOBBBS and Jana…whatever, for calling all Gorkhas foreigners and inciting communal violence against Gorkhas. They should have argued that even Nepalis from Nepal are legally allowed to reside in India, and starting a hate campaign against Gorkhas and Nepalis is against the law of the land. I donno about the BOBB…’s case but the case against them would have been really strong. But when would our leaders think of that? They are busy issuing diktats to our own people about what we should and shouldn’t wear. They ask the public to use GL number plates and themselves go to Siliguri/Dooars in WB number plates. These people can only go ahead and terrorize their own people while shying away in the plains… If they call themselves leaders then it is time they proved it by doing something different, other than terrorizing our own people and issuing diktats in Darjeeling to innocent people. They should stand against the real problems which are threatening the peaceful lives of the Gorkhas there.

Ofcourse, this statement wouldn’t go down well with most of the people reading the site. And when I posted the same comment there, it was quite obvious, and I knew what the reaction of our own people would be to these kind of statements. We have been brought up seeing our people worshiping our so called political leaders with one’s monopoly passing on to the other in a flick of light and the former forever going down in history as the villain of the era. But what this topic lead to was another interesting topic, the issue of Sikkim – Darjeeling merger. And how it would affect the whole Gorkhas in India if that happened. I have always been a supporter of this theory. Growing up I could never understand the reason why Darjeeling was West Bengal while Rangpo and Gangtok was Sikkim. My logic was that all the people are the same, the topography is the same and so is the language, so why the difference?

But some people on the forum thought otherwise and pointed out that it would not help the cause of the Gorkhas if that were to happen. Some even asked if people of Sikkim would accept the name Gorkhaland given to the merged state instead of Sikkim and if they would agree to shift the capital to Darjeeling? Well all I can say is What is the problem with the so called merger? Majority of the people in Sikkim are Gorkhas/Nepalis they call themselves Sikkimese, so whats the problem? As long as people get a better life with better opportunities and the political freedom to be able to decide your own leader, that is what is important. The problem in Darjeeling is more of Administrative negligence and social and economic deprivation because the people there happen to be a minority within the state. It's compounded because of racial labeling and ethnic discrimination. The people of Darjeeling on account of being Gorkhas are not able to compete with the rest of the majority ethnic groups In West Bengal, as a result they are deprived socially, politically and economically. This can be sorted out by having a state or Union Territory of our own, where our own people are the rulers and the ruled. Whether that place is called Sikkim or Darjeeling is not the grass root problem plaguing people of Darjeeling. All this talk of Gorkha identity comes second although it is also a major issue. If we talk of Gorkha identity then it was Mr. N.B Bhandari the then Chief Minister of Sikkim who was instrumental in getting ‘Nepali’ language recognised under the 8th schedule of the constitution. It doesn’t require a state by the name “Gorkhaland” to ascertain our identity. All we need is the correct people in the correct place to voice our rights. If this logic can be understood, even Darjeeling - Sikkim merger or Darjeeling as a state can be more than sufficient. If not, then all that Gorkhaland can give us is a bunch of overzealous political leaders who will continue to grow richer, while the Gorkhas all over India will be happy only to ascertain that there is a state called “Gorkhaland”.

Well to be honest, the actual problem is not Gorkha identity, atleast not in Sikkim or Darjeeling. Why should it be? Almost everybody in Darjeeling and Sikkim is a Nepali/Gorkha, where is the question of Gorkha identity in your own place? Questions of Gorkha identity comes in places where you might be a minority. Ashok Babu.. can say what he wants in Siliguri, but the fact is everybody right from Kolkatta to Delhi know that Gorkhas/Nepalis are the residents of Darjeeling and Sikkim. Problem atleast in Darjeeling is more political, social and economical. We do not have any political control and hence we have all sorts of problems. Whatever the politicians might say to polarise public opinion, that is the fact. Do you think a person in Algarah or Singla Bazar gives a damn of Gorkha identity in Delhi? No he just wants his life to be better. Yes, of course people will say whatever they have been meant to believe, and if they are told they can get more self respect because of Gorkhaland they will believe that. It is the nature of our people, they believe whatever they are told by politicians. They gave up Idol worship for Ghisisng, they are willing to wear Daura Sural for Bimal Gurung , and they will give up their life for Gorkhaland. But we need people with more vision for the upliftment of our people. People who can give us a better future with or without the name of Gorkhaland. If Bimal Gurung can do that hats of to him. But I don’t agree with the fact that the name Gorkhaland would be the end of all the problems faced by Gorkhas.

As for changing the name of Sikkim to Gorkhaland and having the capital at Darjeeling. This is the exact reason why Ministers of Sikkim do not speak for Gorkhaland. It is the over arrogant and in some way ignorant attitude of some of the people in Darjeeling. Would it matter if the name is Sikkim or Gorkhaland as long as we have our own state? Does it matter if the Capital is at Gangtok or Darjeeling as long as the Chief Minister is one of your own? Both the people in Sikkim and Darjeeling are the same, all are Nepalis, Bhutias and Lepchas, in both the places, the majority are the Nepalis and yet here we are divided by the borders of Sikkim and Darjeeling. The people in Darjeeling think Sikkim’s people should speak up for Gorkhaland as its an issue of identity. The point is if the people are satisfied economically, and politically will you feel there is an issue with identity? I don’t think so. Yes, the people in Darjeeling are suffering under the West Bengal government, and that can only change if we get a government ruled by our own people. But is the name that important? On the other hand the people of Sikkim think that people of Darjeeling are too arrogant and they will be submerged if they are merged with Darjeeling. Why such such suspicion among are own people? I am not supporting any group of people or a state or government. I am merely pointing out that we are the same people, with the same ties and yet we are too arrogant to look at each other in times of need. Fact is if despite being so common as people of Darjeeling and Sikkim we still can't stand together then, no Gorkhaland or any thing else will ever be able to help us mark an identity in this country. Come on, we can't even stand hand in hand together two same people and we talk about identity for the millions of Gorkhas across the nation? To mark a name in this nation we need to stand united, together, so that we can make a difference. It will not make a difference what we call our state, Gorkhaland or Darjeeling or Sikkim, as long our people can live together in a life of prosperity and respect.

On hearing this people started questioning my identity and if I was really a Gorkha from Darjeeling or Sikkim? They even told me that I should be calling myself Gorkha instead of Nepali so that my fellow Indian’s do not mistake me for being one from across the border. Well to be frank I am as much a Nepali as I am a Gorkha. I have been born and brought up with the “Nepali” identity and I will continue to be a “Nepali”, no Ghising or Bimal Gurung can change that. We are Indian’s of Nepali ethnicity. I dont care what the average Indian thinks, if they don’t understand, I take the care of making them understand. We dont need an artificially created identity of some person to hide behind in this nation. We can call ourselves Indian Nepalis and yet hold our head high. We held it high when our language was included in the eight schedule of our constitution. We can hold it yet. And please go and ask anyone in Darjeeling or Sikkim what he is and the first answer is Nepali. This Gorkha identity came only after the Gorkhaland agitation on the 80s. Even today we still call ourselves Nepali among ourselves and Gorkhas infront of outsiders. Why should we be ashamed to say that in our own country? Gorkhas or Nepalis we are still Indians and we are as much the son of this soil as any other Indian. We dont need to prove that by using a new identity. As for people of Nepal, they are refereed to as Nepalese as against Nepali that we use for our countrymen.

I am not against the term Gorkha or Gorkhaland. Its ok if we call it Gorkhaland, I along with every other Gorkha/ Nepali will be proud with it. I am just putting forward an arugument that the solution to our entire problem isn’t just “Gorkhaland”. We are today made to believe that Gorkhaland will automatically solve all our issues, more importantly the identity one. But the real fight is not just for identity, infact identity is a case which we have created ourselves, we can call ourselves citizens of Darjeeling and yet be a proud Indian. The real issues are social, economic and political, once that is solved, a prosperous and economically successful Gorkha/Nepali can ascertain his or her identity without the Gorkhaland name tagged to his or her state. And I also do not agree to us being labeled as Gorkhas which I feel is an identity we have been tagged with artificially. However having said that I don’t believe in shedding that identity as well, rather that identity can co-exist among us we can call ourselves Gorkhas yet feel free to call ourselves Nepali as we are commonly referred to in Darjeeling/Sikkim, and as we have grown up calling ourselves. If we start shedding our identity today for the sake of Identity in our own homeland , then that day is not far away when we will again start cutting Bhanu Bhakta statues just to prove we are Indians. Do we wanna do that? It is our duty to always keep our eyes open to understand whats going on . And we shouldn’t just remain mere spectators to react only when the situation has gone out of our hands, as has been happening in the past. But unfortunately all that we can do today is sit and watch while our society dances to the tunes of new found Social and political heroes who enforce their whims and fancy to the common people while they themselves enjoy their life of luxury and power bought from these very people . Lastly lets hope for the best, and let our dream of self rule come true.

Gorkhaland -- The good the bad and the ugly!

Well here we are today, people across India shocked at friendly tourists being given an ultimatum to quit a hill station which they had gone to in search of bliss.. What was their fault? Why should those innocent people pay for some overzealous political parties political agenda? These were some of the questions many people asked me. Everyone was unanimous in condemning the act of the Gorkhas against the innocent tourists. And then there were the great Ministers of Bengal who were ready to say "I told you so!". The media was happy to give live coverage to the incident and news room vehicles were busy reporting live from the scene. But amongst this chaos, one wonders if the people in this country were interested in learning why the people had come out on the street for this agitation. Most of the comments I read in the internet forums were, that Gorkhas should ask for a separate state in Nepal, and it is illegitimate for them to ask for a state in India.

Well its unfortunate that living is this vast country, the people of this country have no idea about the people that live here. Everywhere the people are busy worrying about making there own living while the rest of there country men just wait for better times. Of course its easy for some as they have a means to make a living in the first place. But has any one thought about the not so lucky people living in this country, those communities who have been languishing in the not so developed areas of our country? For whom just making a living is an almost impossible task? People who have no access to safe drinking water, no access to sanitation, living in a place city where the last sewage and water supply construction was done by the British who left India almost 60 plus years ago?

As the whole country got up to celebrate the 62nd Independence day proudly, celebrating there freedom, there were over 50,000 people living in this same country who have been reduced to life as bonded laborers working for numerous tea gardens, which produce the Champagne of teas, the world famous Darjeeling Tea. Its surprising to know that, the Darjeeling Tea fetches over Rs 5000 per Kilo while the workers who work to produce the same tea are committing suicides because of their economic conditions. Its the irony of biggest proportions, but while we have a democratically elected government to boast of some how one wonders, whats democracy for if we cant safe guard the liberties and rights of our own people? Worst, our democratically elected representatives are busy squandering money all around the parliament to win a battle, which theoretically needs to be fought with ideologies. “Ideologies indeed” speaking of which we also do have a politically party ruling the very same state where Darjeeling lies, claiming that their party constitution is more important than the constitution of the country, strange indeed.

Then we have a bunch of people, who were born n brought up with the belief that they were Indians, they sang India's national anthem, they celebrated Independence day better than any festival is celebrated in India, and sent in their sons to swear to defend the country against any enemy foreign and domestic, only to one day wake up and hear one of the Ministers of their state saying these people are not Indians, they are foreigners who came to India, before the existence of India itself. We have Ministers coming out and becoming Historians, speaking how 200 years ago some people came to a place what 100 years later would become part of India, and so by his own logic makes them foreigners. I wonder whether the Minister had indeed read that part of history while he was in High school or did he suddenly realize that when the people there started becoming aware of there political rights? This was the same government that sent in the state forces to beat up a group of peaceful senior citizens who had come out seeking for the rights of their people, perhaps the government forgot that it was those very people who till a few years ago had been on the borders of this country defending the democratic and political institutions of this country. Which brings to me another conclusion, for the people and their political masters in Bengal, all that matters is Darjeeling should be an integral part of the West Bengal, where their sons and daughters can enjoy a romantic honeymoon, walking on the clouds as they put it singing among the beautiful tea bushes. These people laud the beauty of Darjeeling, the honesty of the people there, and go on record to praise their bravery, to recruit them to defend the country, take their services as police men. As long as the "Gurkha" works as a Chowkidar outside their home, saying "Jee Sahab", and drives him around the hills of Darjeeling, they are very good people, but the moment that same persons questions back asking for his rights and his dues, he becomes a foreigner, a separatist and a threat to Bengali as a race! Wow, never understood how asking for a homeland where you make up 90% of the population can be a threat to another community who leaves a couple of hundred miles away! Perhaps the great historian Ministers of Bengal can answer us on this, drawing some examples from another one of the incidents of History, maybe!

Growing up seeing everything in Darjeeling and listening to what everyone had to say, I cant help asking myself who then is the good amongst them? Is it the Gorkhas who threw out the tourist demanding a separate state to safeguard their culture and their identity? Is it the Ministers of the Government who are defending the very existence of their race against the onslaught of a numerically inferior, socially marginalized and economically downtrodden community? Or is it some foreign hand just trying his luck doing something only he can explain? Then again who is the bad and the ugly? Surely it cant be the Ministers of Bengal, for they are only working hard to save their race from extinction, their land from being divided, and their political constituencies devastated? Is it then the poor worker of the numerous tea gardens of the hills? Or is it the son of a chowkidar or a driver who was once a faithful servant of the same masters from Kolkatta? Well only time will tell, but amongst all this rights and wrongs, its the people who suffer, I wonder who will hear them? will they ever get a better life? will their contribution towards this country ever be recognized? or will their sons and daughters ever grow up to enjoy the true freedom that this country promises...