HURDLES OF GORKHALAND

Gorkhaland movement is not a new phenomenon; in fact the movement finds its history unfolded way back in the year 1907 when THE HILLMAN ASSCOIATION had first been vocal to raise the demand of separate Gorkha region. Subsequently, the demand for Gorkhaland was carried out by Subash Gishing, the supremo of Gorkha Natioanl Liberation Front in 1980s. However, the short- term movement came to an abrupt end with the formation of Darjeeling Gorkah Hill Council [DGHC]. Since then the hill was apparently experiencing serene atmosphere for a decade or more but underneath discontentment was gradually engulfing the heart of people as DGHC had failed to satisfy the expectance of the people. When turmoil gradually overcast in the atmosphere of hills, Bimal Gurung, under his newly formed party Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, started gaining much popularity in the hills; He thus became the torchbearer for Gorkhaland movement. Under his leadership, few short- term movement was launched demanding for separate statehood, each having unexpected failure. Ultimately, his spark became feeble when he was handed the treasury key of Gorkha Terotorial Administration [GTA].

Speculating over the history of Gorkhaland, the following factors can be generalized which attributes to its failure

1.      LACK OF FARSIGHTEDNESS AMONG OUR LEADERS: Be it Subash Ghishing or his predecessors, all have shown signs of lack of farsightedness. Almost all the movement started rampantly, which lacked proper strategy as to what the leader were up to and what were the people supposed to do. What could easily be concluded was that the entire movement was based on trial and error method. The leaders failed to convince the entire mass, thus losing the overall involvement of people. Deviating from the target goal of Gorkhaland and accepting DCHC and GTA as an ultimate option consequently triggered an adverse effect on the aspiration of the people.  

2.      LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN THE LEADERS AND THE PEOPLE: It is hard to figure out, whether it’s lack of accountability of our leaders or lack of transparency, if not everyone, majority of the people would turn discontent among the leader during the course of movement. The adamant demeanor of the leader would always provoke discontentment among the general masses. Furthermore, even the people would falter by being suspicious towards their leader thereby losing their ground and easily fall prey to the self-generated perception of every individual.  

3.      EXCESSIVE DOMINATION OF RELIGION, CASTE AND COMMUNITY: it is a known fact that there is always a tendency of Hill people getting excessively influenced by Religion, Cast or Community. For instance, Jaswant Singh’s candidature as a BJP representing the Hills in MP election was very hard to be accepted for many minority Gorkhas, as their insecurity always asserted BJP to be the replica of Hindutva. Such notion among the people results in losing unity among the people and consequently pollutes the entire scenario with vanity. Similarly, viewing every plan of action initiated by the leaders with suspicion by one religion or cast or community to the other would again pacify the momentum of the movement.

4.      LACK OF CONCEPT REGARDING GORKHALAND: It was really overwhelming to come across many posts on social medias like facebook and whatsapp which clarified the very concept of why Gorkhaland? As many of us are seldom aware of what the actual cause is? I still remember, talking to friends during college days, it was baffling to come across some who hardly knew what the demand for Gorkhaland was all about. Such ignorance and insensitivity of our people has been the root cause of hindrance to the entire movement.

5.      EDUCATE YOURSELF AND EDUCATE OUR BENGALI BRETHREN WITH THE LEGITIMACY OF GORKHALAND DEMAND: majority of our Bengali brethren have turned hostile with our demand as they are under false assumption that Gorkhas are trying to snatch away their land. However, the reality is that Gorkhas has claimed to only what were legitimately theirs, Darjeeling and the adjoining hills which had been and is being nurtured by the Gorkhas. For example, Darjeeling was always part of Sikkim until 1835, when the king of Sikkim presented Darjeeling to be used as a sanatorium by the British under certain accorded agreements. Likewise, Kalimpong too was a part of Sikkim, which was later on snatched by Bhutan and consequently by British India.  We can educate our nation through Social Medias or through dialects. However, using of abusive language on social media would worsen the entire scenario. Do not involve in baseless quarrel on social medias rather copy and paste the write- ups on the history of Gorkhas, I bet there are plenty available on your wall.

6.      UNITY AMONG THE LOCAL POLITICAL PARTIES:  it is indeed commendable to seen our local parties united under the banner of Gorkhaland at this juncture. However, the scenario was not similar during the previous movements. Walking the trails of Gorkhaland Movement, the milestones have frequently been marked with the blots of disintegration among our political parties which has eventually led to fights and quarrels among our own people.

I am sure there are numerous other factors apart from the mentioned above, which have remained unnoticed or untouched by my confined knowledge. However, I feel it is the responsibility of every Gorkha to contemplate on factors which turn out impetuous on our journey of Gorkhaland. It is thus necessary to initiate remedial measure to curb every factor which becomes a hurdle in our march to Gorkhaland. The Gorkhaland demand which has surfaced with much intensity in the recent days is indeed a century old demand. The demand for separate statehood named “Gorkhaland” is much justified in all technical aspects of Indian Constitution. Historically, the place had always been inhabited by the indigenous Gorkhas since time immemorial. Constitutionally, the place has every feasible criterion to qualify herself to the formation of a separate state as culturally and linguistically nothing is found common between the ruled and the ruler. Darjeeling which was once considered as a heavenly abode or “the queen of hills” has not only lost her beauty but has been kept in the darkness of ignorance and deprivation.

The biggest reason as to why the issue of Gorkhaland has been sidelined hitherto by both center and state is because both the forms of government have never tried to comprehend upon the history of this place. The fatal steps taken by the people of Hills, risking their life, with their face soaked in blood yet screaming their throats out “We Want Gorkhaland!!!” envisage the fact that Gorkhaland is the last resort to proclaim their lost Identity in India. To make themselves be recognized as a community who has served the nation since the time of her Independence, a community who has contributed in drafting of our constitution, a community who has ornamented the national anthem with the tune of violin, the community who has been sacrificing their life fighting in the frontiers to safeguard the nation, a community who stands as an epitome of loyalty and bravery before the world.  And yet, after all the sacrifices and vitality showered for the shake of nation, they loiter in the country without Identity. Any part of the country they travel to, they are treated as second class citizen or for that matter a citizen of Nepal.

Furthermore, for a community who could resolve to penetrate the harsh Himalayan forest and venture to settle on the lap of freezing Himalayas, thus converting the vast stretch of rugged mountain and spiny forest into a QUEEN OF HILLS, the demand for Gorkhaland should not be unattainable.