Our Insulted Countrymen

Despite being residents for more than two centuries, the Indian Gorkhas have no place in the ethnography of the states where they live writes Jyoti Thapa Mani

When Darjeeling Gorkha lad Prashant Tamang won the fiercely contested Indian Idol show, Indian Gorkhas were delirious with joy. The show created history by polling over 70 million votes — the highest for any Indian reality show. Tamang’s fight reflected the Indian Gorkha’s struggle for national recognition, finally redeemed by the humble cop from the West Bengal police force. The community was revelling in its moment in the spotlight when a radio jockey made a mockery of Tamang’s ethnic background, calling him a durbaan.

The remark, born out of a stereotype, broke the dam of years of Gorkha angst. With their moment of glory spoiled just when they had finally made it to a portal of Indian celebrities, the Gorkhas erupted in protest. It is a pity that a fellow countryman has reduced the image of the internationally acclaimed ‘bravest of the brave’ Gorkha to that of a mere gatekeeper.

Initially, ‘Gorkha’ was the collective term for warriors from Nepal. The Gorkhas believe and live up to their name as rakshaks — defenders, protectors or guardians. In 1815, the British retained the genus when the British-Gurkha regiments were raised. In 1947, they were renamed as the Indian-Gorkha Regiments of which there are 11 today. The ratio of Nepali and Indian Gorkhas in the army stands at 60:40. The Gorkha has metamorphosed from warrior to ethnic Indian, fanning out from the borders of Nepal. According to the Bharatiya Gorkha Parishang, there are about 600,000 Gorkhas in Uttarakhand, about 200,000 in Himachal, 100,000 in Punjab, and they comprise 75 per cent of Darjeeling’s population. There are many in the Northeast, Jammu, Assam, Nagpur, Ranchi and Bangalore. Although state-level OBC status has been granted to Gorkhas in Uttarkhand, HP and Punjab, it remains a dream nationally. A suit filed by representative advocate Lt. Col. V.K. Sharma (retd) to the National Commission for Backward classes to include Gorkhas in the Central list is still pending. Despite being residents for more than two centuries, the Indian Gorkhas have no place in the ethnography of the states where they live, resulting in an erosion of their history, heritage and culture.

Constituency level coordination meeting 2008

By Roshan Pradhan, Sombarey, Sikkim

On 16^th may 2008 a constituency level meeting was called upon for the school head and staff member under Daramdin constituency to understand the problems of the school of the Daramdin constituency by the area MLA Shri R.B. Subba in which he was present as the chief guest , Joint Director DIET Gangtok , Joint Director West, Assistant Director BAC Daramdin , Assistant Education officer BAC Daramdin were from the departmental side , Zilla Panchayat, Panchayat president, members and all school heads and teachers, non teaching staff of the constituency were present. The meeting started with the welcome speech of the principal of Sombarey Senior secondary school followed by Mr. L. D. Sharma HM Okhery Secondary school who proposed the department should arrange the text book supply from block administrative center Daramdin for timely and easy reach instead of Pelling , he also expressed the shortage of teacher in his complex, than the brain storming interaction was held in which HM Daramdin show his dissatisfaction in the formalities of getting text book , incomplete school building, need of play ground , separate toilet and need of fencing in the school compound was also highlighted.

Pry teacher from Ambotery expressed his difficulties in teaching the lastest text book without proper training especially in EVS books. It the row HM Ribdi also highlighted that the result of quality education cannot be judged instantly but after 15 to 20 years in future, he also said about the shortages of teacher, room, furniture, and drinking water in his school. HM Lungchok also expressed his unhappiness over the on going construction of four roomed school building which was made after dismantling nine room wooded structure (9 to 4 room) and said the pre pry class is running the small corridor in front of the office. HM Anden proposed for the change of pre-pry system from class pre to class pre 1 than class pre2 than only class I and lower the age of admission in the school in pre class , he also said the stationary and ancillary was not meeting the expenditure of the school . Joint Director District Institute of Education Technology (DIET) Gangtok encourage the teacher and said the quality education means to bring a change in the child such that he gives positive contributions in his society. He also said the quality of the teacher determines the quality of education. He said the research shows that the teachers do not practice what they learn in the training and appealed all to practice the methodology and teaching technique such that effective learning takes place without strain. He gave some tips on teaching like do not keep teaching all the time in the class but give time for children to learn too. Than the Chief Guest Mr. R. B. Subba gave the speech on the responsibility of teacher who direct tomorrow’s society he appealed all the teacher to analysis their previous student today and understand their teaching level. He cleared that mostly teacher blame guardian for poor academic result and often says that parent are not conscious But if they were not conscious how were the private school flourishing and bringing the admission in pre-pre of government school to almost to nil like Sombarey sr. sec school ? He also clarified about the delay of salary last month and express happiness over the co-operation showed by the teachers . Finally he request all the teacher to create awareness about the environment and play a vital role in state green mission. [All Photos by Roshan Pradhan]

Gazette Notification on issue of Indian Gorkha Citizens

Contributed by Bishal Rai

Gorkhas resent Hindustan Times erroneous labelling of word - Nepali

Dear Mr editor
Ref: HT New Delhi Metro Saturday may 17, 2008
Your frontpage story on 14 year old girl stabbed in Noida home

We, the Indian Gorkhas and Nepalis have strong objection to your subhead ‘Nepali domestic help suspect in DPS student’s murder’. Nepali is a recognised language of the Indian constitution. If you were trying to refer to Hemraj from Nepal, then you should have written ‘Nepalese citizen or national’, which would have also been also incorrect in unsolved case. Being one of the esteemed leading dailies of the country, it is shocking that you are using incorrect, communal and racist terms, not to speak of ignorance of your own country’s recognised lingua minority. Your subhead is like saying ‘Tamilian domestic help suspect in DPS student’s murder’.

I hope you apologise and print a corrigendum to the effect, otherwise you will be considered misusing the media in misguiding the readers.

By emphasing on his nativity, you are also guilty of having created suspicions on his community and as we all know now that poor Hemraj was himself found murdered. I hope in the followup to this story you do justice to the man, his family and his country.

Yours sincerely,
Jyoti Thapa

The Ailing Queen

With its rejuvenating mountain air and salubrious climate, Darjeeling was seen by the British as a place where fatigued soldiers and officials were able to recuperate. But now this Queen of the Hills is ailing. It is no longer a favourite tourist attraction, thanks to political unrest and lack of infrastructure. Shoma A. Chatterji reports how the hill station lost its glory

Political strife and protests are the order the day in the hills of Darjeeling.

Called the Queen of the Hills or The Crown of West Bengal, Darjeeling has been a global melting pot of tourism for decades. Darjeeling tea is internationally known as a beverage of exquisite taste and aroma. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which most children refer to as the railway that ran the ‘toy train’, is a World Heritage site. The 126-year-old cobalt blue narrow-gauge train still chugs and snorts its way to Darjeeling via Ghoom, winding its way along the serpentine route, against the shimmering silver of the 8,598 metres above the sea level Kanchenjunga range in the backdrop.

Along the way, it leaves behind the lush, green-layered mantle of its velvet tea gardens, shanty teashops with the smoke rising from earthen cups, the locals helping themselves to their favourite momos and thukpa, and huts with tin roofs.

‘But Darjeeling is a dying Queen of the Hills, ignored after the British left the Raj. Its streets have become mean and violent, and you see the furrows of economic decline etched on the faces of the Nepalis living in small towns and working in the sprawling tea gardens. The infrastructure is obsolete. It never received the much-needed financial shot in the arm (like Sikkim did from the Central Government) from the West Bengal Government,’ says Satis Shroff, who has lived in Darjeeling almost all his life.

The ‘toy train’ merrily chugs along its winding tracks on a journey to Darjeeling.

Years ago the mountain spurs, on the slopes of which the hill station of Darjeeling now stands, formed a part of the independent kingdom of Sikkim and was covered with dense forests. The town of Darjeeling alone is now inhabited by thousands of people belonging to different creeds and races, but there were not more than 200 inhabitants when the East India Company, which then controlled British interests in India, first landed here. The town has seen significant growth in its population, especially since the 1970s. The annual growth rate reached 45 per cent in the 1990s, far above the national, state and district averages.

Absurd ideas floated by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha

By Kumar Sarkar

The movement in the Darjeeling hills for a separate state is likely to go awry. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha seems to be taking the law into their own hands in matters of administration, which is likely to bug both the state and the central governments.

THE MOVEMENT in the hills of Darjeeling for a separate state is likely to go awry. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha seems to be taking the law into their own hands in matters of administration, which is likely to bug both the state and the central governments. It may put the entire movement into a quandary.

In an absurd decision Morcha president Bimal Gurung wants the number plates of vehicles in the hill sub divisions to be changed. He has said that all vehicles belonging to the hill sub divisions, Siliguri and the Dooars should have new number plates with the pre fix GL (denoting Gorkhaland) from July 7 onwards. Local media reports said that the Morcha wants vehicles from Darjeeling should have GL-A, while B, C, D and E will be used by those vehicles belonging to Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri and the Dooars respectively.

How and why this hair brained scheme crossed the mind of the Morcha leaders is hard to say. Especially because they have not stopped to think how this is possible in a district within a state. While the state administration is yet to react to this outrageous suggestion residents in the hills are worried about the fallout of the Morcha leaders’ plans. First and foremost motor vehicles rules will not support such a change and the number plates would be considered fakes by the police, apart from the fact that insurance companies will not reimburse claims in such a situation.