Pulling the plug from GORKHALAND (I)

Sanjog Dutta

Colonial capitalism had a significant influence, i.e. the dutiful and hard-working ‘hill-man’ was morphed into an “accepted labor”, through its mission of civilizing citizens. Like in the other places, the Darjeeling tea gardens also bore productivity and business along with its tremendous magnificence, facets that the European culture of colonial rule deemed very pivotal.

On one hand, the discourse of the martial race was instrumental in having successfully created the ʻGurkhaʼ regiments as a discipline for unceasing training of the physique of the “Gurkha”. On the other hand, the ʻhill-manʼ slogging it out in the tea gardens was of a rival domain, turning into hardworking laborers, under the strict regime of the Imperial Botany.

A cultural renaissance, Darjeeling went under, resulted in the process of the Gurkha ʻidentityʼ formation. This process of formation of a separate spirited cultural identity in the contours of the “Indian Nepali” wasnʼt/hasnʼt been settled. Itʼs relocation within the environ of a strong ”Indian” culture and identity has contributed towards this instability. The problem of identity arose when this “Indian” culture not only provided resources to define the Gurkha identity but also mediated it.

The identity of the Gurkha has always tread a difficult path where the flag- bearers of the movement have put in a lot of effort to strike a fine balance between its identity along with its demand for citizenship which would result in its recognition as another “Indian” culture.

Everyday experiences and the obligation to whittle a political and geographical space for its cultural rise in India has given rise to the problem of the Gurkha identity. They often claim legitimacy by citing contributions to the anti-colonial struggle. However, this claim is often reinforced by the historical links with Nepal, the denial of history. Consequently, it has given rise to informal monikers like Bharatiya Gorkhali or Bhargoli.

Itʼs been more than 103 years, the people of Darjeeling, have been pressing their demand for self-rule, putting forward the argument that they are distinct from the rest of the population of Bengal with reference to history, ethnicity, language, culture, social and economic viabilities. Against this backdrop Subhas Ghisingh launched the Gorkha National Liberation Front on April 5th, 1980. From 1986-1988 he led a brutal movement for a separate state, Gorkhaland, which resulted in 1200-odd deaths.