Asian politics
Banyan's notebook
India's restive Gorkhas
Storm in the tea-gardens
Jan 10th 2011, 4:52 by Banyan
OF INDIA’S million mutinies, the one still roiling the hill town of Darjeeling and its surrounding tea-growing areas in the north of the state of West Bengal is a long-running one. Back in 1907, the region’s residents, dominated by Nepali-speaking ethnic Gorkhas, demanded administrative autonomy from the then British colonial capital, Calcutta (now Kolkata).
They are still doing it, seeking to break away from West Bengal, whose capital is still Kolkata. Huge marches, segregated by sex, chant for “statehood” for Gorkhaland as they snake up Darjeeling’s steep narrow streets to the Chowrasta, the main square. Virtually every shop is clearly marked with the word “Gorkhaland”. Fluttering ubiquitously is the green, white and yellow flag of the Gorkhaland Janmukti Morcha (GJM), the party leading the statehood campaign (its women's brigade is pictured above).
Their campaign has been largely peaceful, but disruptive. The favourite tactic is the bandh—ie, a strike or self-imposed curfew. This shuts schools, shops and offices, and often cuts transport links. In December the GJM called off plans for a two-day bandh, despite the government's missing an ultimatum to agree to a new interim administrative set-up for the area—the Gorkhaland Regional Authority—which would in itself have been far less than the full state it formally demands.
On January 12th, however, it is to launch a four-day bandh, the first of several to be spread over a month. If that does not work, the GJM’s leaders have threatened a hunger-strike from February 16th.
The latest outburst was provoked by the publication on January 6th of a report on an entirely different statehood campaign—for carving a new state, Telangana, out of Andhra Pradesh, in the south of India. The report has provoked a bandh in Andhra Pradesh itself, for failing to give unequivocal support for the state.
The GJM’s beef is the opposite of the pro-Telangana protesters': the partisans of Gorkhaland are incensed that their own demand is not being accorded similar priority. GJM leaders are themselves under pressure, after being accused of involvement in the assassination last May of an ethnic-Gorkha politician from a rival group. Early this month there was an ugly clash in one village where locals turned on members of the “Gorkhaland Personnel”, a pro-GJM vigilante group whose thuggish reputation helps explain why shopkeepers are so diligent in advertising their pro-Gorkhaland loyalties.
In the past, the demand for Gorkhaland has been bloody. Even the moderate GJM’s flag shows the sun, the Himalayas, and crossed kukris—traditional curved Gorkha daggers. A violent campaign by a liberation front in the 1980s led to the establishment in 1988 of a Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. But protesters say the autonomy it was promised then has never been forthcoming.
Their demands seem fanciful. Telangana would have a population of 35m. GJM activists say about 1.5m live in the jurisdiction they are demanding—ie, about 0.1% of India’s population and less than 1% of that of Uttar Pradesh, the biggest of India’s 28 existing states.
The GJM points out, however, that Gorkhaland would have twice as many people as neighbouring Sikkim. Some have eyed enviously the money that has flowed into Sikkim since its incorporation into India in 1975, and the benefits its residents enjoy, such as privileged access to government jobs. Indeed, some Gorkhas would like to see their area merged with Sikkim, which is already home to a significant Gorkha population.
Another group, however, has gone further and called for outright independence for Gorkhaland. That is surely not on the cards. Many locals think the same about statehood. In last year’s general election, the main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), campaigned on a platform of support for smaller states, including Gorkhaland. That probably won the BJP some votes. But not enough.
(Picture credit: Irene Slegt)
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"Their demands seem fanciful. Telangana would have a population of 35m. GJM activists say about 1.5m live in the jurisdiction they are demanding—ie, about 0.1% of India’s population and less than 1% of that of Uttar Pradesh, the biggest of India’s 28 existing states."
This would nonetheless make it larger than four existing states, not just Sikkim, and almost all of the territories. 1.5m is not a small number, even in India! Perhaps the Economist should offer sensible and fair analysis, rather than using extreme outliers like UP to make its arguments.
"Huge marches, segregated by sex," or should it be segregated by gender?
Respected editor,'The Economist',
The topics related to INDIA i.e. BHARAT is all man made.In fact result of the negative intentions of the past rulers.Human Values were not cared for and only Human Rights were given more importance.There was no stress on Education and Discipline for which English people are known world over.But selfishness of the rulers in England then,created the complications.It is the intentions of the rulers that counts.It is said that the kings in BHARAT then,used to ring a bell before they went to dine,so that if any of the citizen was hungry,he could come and dine free.The Human Values were cared for.There was no scope for materialism. All living creations were cared for.Nature was most worshipped.In the present world man is digging his own land on which he lives.What is the cause? No one can explain except materialism. Creator only can know the answer.
Bhagwad Gita was born in BHARAT.But the language of Gita was not cared for by the rulers for the benefits of citizen ever.
Even the division of the country in 1947 was done with selfish intentions.There was no religion in ancient BHARAT.It was traditional way of living,with all living things taken care of.
Everything can go well only if powerful leaders of today know what selfishness is. Creator only can act in such situation.
With best regards,
Damodar Bale.
In Justice, oppression are the causes for protests. India has known to be brutal in suppression of protests. One can understand the events and the voting in South Sudan. The United Nations, the United States and most other Western countries have come in support of the South Sudanese. It will be very difficult for these countries and organization to justify the occupation and oppression in Kashmir and then Palestine. I hope hypocrisy doesn't play a role yet again.
One of the problems is that the governments are unable to act according to the wishes of the people. The poor, or the less fortunate have become voiceless. Oppressive governments like Nazi Germany, Russia, even the colonial powers have bit the dust. American economic colonies is in the intensive care. We still have an odd South American country like Columbia. Most of the central and South American countries have become socialistic and free from United States.
The answer to all these problems his true democracy and they will of the people must be done, this may not suit certain corporate or government's expansion and exploitation policies. There has to be a change, a true change. separation in most cases is not a good thing. Countries must unite, like the European Union [yes–– They have some problems now] and work together for the betterment of all.
A NON ISSUE. India with over 1.2 bn population need to have more states! America has over 50 states!
I am not an expert on the politics of Darjeeling, but it occurs to me, that those who ask for the state of Gorkhaland, do not look at the ramifications of that coming through. Sikkim is one of the most deprived states in India. Why? Because it is on the north eastern border of India, where there is no impetus for improvement. I do not say, that the politicians there do not want improvement, if they can bring it to Sikkim. If Gorkhaland becomes a reality, what will the people of Gorkhaland have to offer her neighbours, apart from Darjeeling tea? The Gorkha's give to India, one of her most famous warrior traditions. I have not heard, why the Gorkha's ask for separate statehood. I am not for smaller states, but larger states, which are administered more through local self government, than from the state legislature. It is a matter of pride, that Darjeeling is a part of West Bengal, I am sure, for the people of West Bengal. Would the state of Gorkhaland, give the people there, more pride, after it's formation? I personally, do not think so.
Several Indian states have population less than 1.5 million. Over 100 million Indian Nepalese are eking out their living across India at the mercy of Indians. These Nepalese cannot raise their heads, voice, thus have no social stature though some of them are highly educated and have served India. Indian Nepalese are treated as second class citizens; they are coaxed, maimed and there have been instances of forceful eviction out of some Indian states. Where have these evicted Nepalese been? Has any Indian done any study on the evicted Nepalese? Has their voice ever been heard by the state or the centre?
I think Indian Nepalese want now their identity which is their birth right: Gorkhaland is nothing but an identity. West Bengal should cede North Bengal to the Gorkhas that the Nepalese living across India can consider themselves as Indians. Otherwise, the day may come that Indian Nepalese would continue to be identified more as Nepali nationals than Indians.
In addition, you just read how many Nepalese sacrificed their lives defending Mother India. It makes no sense when Indian Nepalese are treated as second class citizens or migrants who moved into India in search of economic opportunity. We must also think that Nepal's territory until 1816 was up to Himachal Pradesh in the West and beyond North Bengal in the east. Do the sons and daughters of those Nepalese who happened to be in the territory ceded by Nepal to British India in 1816, have no right to be Indians? It is funny, how some Indians think of themselves and count chickens before the eggs are hatched. Some Bengali intellectuals and communist leaders argue without any substance. Such arguments will backfire and be defeated.
The geographic or demographic size of a state is really just a statistical measurement with little or no bearing on its inherent validity. States exist because a number of people share an ethnicity, culture, language and/or values, and find it convenient to live together under a common set of rules and institutions.
No one but a Gorkha can really determine the extent to which their specific characteristics define and separate them, but I (and I imagine most students of history) find it easy to believe that the Gorkhas have little in common with the teeming masses of Bengalis in the lowland slums of Kolkata, and that is the only criterium that should count. Neither administrative convenience nor the size of the proposed state bears upon the heart of this matter.
‘OF INDIA’S million mutinies’ (according to TE), it’s appalling that so many still exist some 63 years after Indian independence from British colonial hold.
From comments posted so far, should one worry that are Indian people seeing a gradual disintegration of the nation in the making? IMO, it helps if the majority Hindus would change their fundamental mentality to that all human being in India are "really" equal without regard to their caste, education or religion to avoid catastrophic fate of demise as one nation.
Re. your column on North Korea, perhaps we should remember that North Korea is totally dependent on China and that, historically, it's military is controlled by the Chinese military. Perhaps, the provocations we see there are undertaken under the direction of the PLA.