Left Front’s destructive obstinacy
Posted by barunroy on June 14, 2008
An Economic Times Editorial
The intensity of the inter-ethnic violence — sparked off by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s call for an indefinite bandh demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland — in north Bengal could have been contained had Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee been less cussed about setting preconditions for talks.
It is this autocratic approach, characteristic of the CPI(M)-led LF, that must be blamed for the agitation morphing into a full-fledged civil strife. Gorkha groups have been targeting non-Gorkhas and tourists in the hill areas of north Bengal, even as Bengali outfits unleash chauvinist fury on the Gorkha population in the adjoining Terai and Dooars.
The systematic manner in which the LF has gone about destroying the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) is reason enough for the Gorkha population to be distrustful of the state. The LF’s unstated mission has been to erode the limited autonomy Gorkhas gained after the first Gorkha National Liberation Front-led statehood movement (1986-88).
Witness the way it helped DGHC’s elected chairman Subhash Ghising concentrate absolute powers by not holding polls since 2004, and allowing him to continue as the council’s caretaker administrator till recently.
The point is not to endorse a separatist demand but to acknowledge the legitimacy of the core concerns around which such separatism has grown. The Centre, on its part, needs to be much more proactive. Its Sixth Schedule solution — conferring greater autonomy on the DGHC by declaring areas under it as tribal, and which the GJM has rejected — is patently reactive.
The LF’s paternalistic vision of development, which has denied the local population of north Bengal real political agency, has been a failure. The poor quality of human capital in the region, which does not have institutions and industries of note apart from extractive tea gardens and tourism, bears that out.
The CPI(M) would do well to remember its support base among the Gor khas was entirely due to the undivided CPI’s willingness in 1946 to articulate the question of Gorkha self-determination. Sadly, the party now relies on traditional socio-political relations, a Bengali-dominated officialdom ruling over the ‘native’ Gorkhas, to expand its organisational reach. The CPI(M) has thus now come to represent Bengali chauvinism in north Bengal. It must abandon such perverse politics.
jwalahang said
I am always saddened by the fact that even the Bengali intellectuals has come forward to form racial forums instead of trying to contain communal tensions.
Even high profile people who have enormous historical knowledege have been leading this forums to divide the Gorkhalis and the Bengalees.Their acts exposes that they are not interested in communal harmony but to lash and suppress the minority community in whatever way they can ! Let me take an example of Prof Haren Ghosh who was brought up in the Hills. He has minute historical details of Darjeeling and yet he behaves as if he knows nothing.And what is hurting the most is that he is one of the guardians of one of the fascist forums.Their point is that Gorkhalis are from Nepal ? Then tell us where there any Bengalees living in the Hills then ????What about the Hindu Bengalees who fled from Bangladesh ??? Where did they go ??? Even the former CM ,mr Jyoti Basu was from Bangladesh ?? Such attitude does not make him to the highest level .Prof. Haren Ghosh should know that such oppression of the minorities whereever it is ,does not last long.WE have always been saying that historically Darjeeling was never a part of Bengal.We are not asking the land that belonged to Bengalees ! SILIGURI , I presume is just a bargainig point for GJMM. Excluding Siliguri, return back our LAND ! WE are not pleading ;WE are demanding those piece and parcel which rightfully belongs to us.So, give us the right to live in DIGNITY! Treat us as Humans ! Give us the right to determine our destiny ourselves ! LIVE and LET US LIVE ! In peace and Harmony !
jwalahang said
I hope for the good ,KAKU !
honeybee said
OK IT WAS PART OF SIKKIM, SO WE ARE READY TO RETURN BACK IT SIKKIM. NOW YOU GO TO GANGTOK AND ASK THE SIKKIM AUTHORITY
AND “I presume is just a bargainig point for GJMM. Excluding Siliguri, return back our LAND ! ”
HMMM SONDS GOOD
SO YOU GUYS TOOK THE LESSON.
Joe said
When the original bengali community from west bengal are for the formation statehood because they know the history of the land. We have always shared very close ties. What are the “Bangladeshis” so insecure about? Oops! I said “Bangladeshis” truth hurts nah? Whoever has’nt made your “voters id” should ask Ashok da to make it fast as it looks like you are the kind who bites the very hand that feeds you. If this hatred & cowardly acts of raising your hands against women will initiate a “clean siliguri” campaign. See, GJM has done nothing wrong to you, so far we have never said that one community will dominate the other, our Gorkha motto is ” Live and let live” at the same time pls dont push your luck by trying to instigate US (marwari,original bengali, punjabi, rajbanksi and Gorkha) if we were really so communal as Ashok da says them you wouldnt be here in the first place including Ashok da
Joe said
When the original bengali community from west bengal are for the formation statehood because they know the history of the land. We have always shared very close ties and friendship. What are the “Bangladeshis” so insecure about? Oops! I said “Bangladeshis” truth hurts nah? Whoever has’nt made your “voters id” should ask Ashok da to make it fast as it looks like you are the kind who bites the very hand that feeds you. If this hatred & cowardly acts of raising your hands against women will initiate a “clean siliguri” exercise. See, GJM has done nothing wrong to you, so far we have never said that one community will dominate the other, our Gorkha motto is ” Live and let live” at the same time pls dont push your luck by trying to instigate US (marwari,original bengali, punjabi, rajbanksi and Gorkha, to name a few) if we were really so communal as Ashok da says them you wouldnt be here in the first place including Ashok da. You dont have to agree with us but atleast dont be spiteful & bring a communal tone to this movement. And also please find it in your hearts not to raise your hands against women, will you? Else you know what is in store he you get naughty….
pseude said
Do many of you have the necessary background and knowledge to distinguish between East Bengali and West Bengali. Just as your so called movement has hordes of Nepalese citizens who came down and settled in these areas less than a decade ago. As I repeated earlier, east bengali hindu settlement is legitimate in West Bengal.
And who got the idea that Bengalis are opposed to Gorkhaland. No, we are not. Take your gorkhaland in the hills. No issues. But when you pooh-poohed the resolve of the Bengalis by insisting that the plains would be included too, you were just inviting a massive showdown and thats exactly what happened in the last few days. We heard umpteen number of comments such as “One nepali is equal to 100 bengalis”. If that was so, how come the nepalis are so terrorised in the plains now? Remember, CPM is no longer alone in this fight now.
YK Shrestha said
Good to see you back Pseude.
Agreed that the post 1971 bengalee hindus have legitimate(sic) right to settle in WB. Does that mean that even after 37 years of the liberation of Bangladesh we go on welcoming the bangladeshis (whether they are hindus or miyas)? What about the illegal hordes of bangladeshis those are still coming to occupy WB, Asom, Meghalaya and Tripura? Silgarhi mob contained all those slum dwellers. As I said earlier any new convert to his/her new religion tries to be more religious than others. Same goes with the recent illegal immigrants who tries to show they are more patriotic than other legitimate bengalees.
You don’t have to go back 100 years in the history. Till the early 70s the MLA from Silgarhi used to be a Gorkhali. It is only after Bangladesh was created that the demographic picture of Siliguri has changed. Hasn’t it??
Now as for One gorkhali = 100 bhadraloks, I don’t agree to that whoever said. As for why the Gorkhalis are terrorised in Silgarhi, that is very obvious. Of course, when worse comes, then they would also hit back. 100 Gorkhas may die and only 1 bangladeshi may die,that would be worth.
I’m 100 percent sure that the people opposing have their roots in Bangladesh and not in West Bengal.
You seem to be from a well educated family and you should understand that. Had only half educated nitwit like “Thebengali” , “honeybee” had said all what you have written, then I would have taken that as ignorance.
Sa said
Pseude… Thanks for the comment… we know U support Gorkhaland and don’t worry if U want to stay with repressive Bengal we h ave no comment… but if U want to support a free… independent place with no Communists interference let us know we are with U… 100 Nepali is never equal to 1 Bengali… in fact it’s Million to One… but never mind that… support Gorkhaland for a better future tomorrow U won’t regret it.
jwalahang said
Mr Pseude,
If u people are so brave ;then why u thousands of timid guys fled the area(Sahidnagar)when our Few lads with khukuri chased all of you from there. Pliz see the video clip properly .
rahul said
good!!! now you accept that nepalis were not mute victims!! they were armed with khukuris.
jwalahang said
Yeah, of course ! Pliz read Saturday’s ” The Times of India ” where you will find the full story and pictures as well. You will also see pictures of Gorkhali women armed with Latthis and stones ready to strike the intruders ! Good Job done !
rahul said
great!!!! this is the true face of revolution. gandhigiri is a hogwash. you should spill bengali blood to get gorkhaland!!!!
jwalahang said
yeah sure ….100% and u r a six,yes!
rahul said
the mask is coming off the neo pseudo gandhis. comparing gurung with gandhi is like comparing gangu teli with raja bhoj!!!!
Bishal Lama said
Rahul, there are anti-social entities in every corner of the world, there are good Bengalis and bad ones as well, same applies to us.
“the mask is coming off the neo pseudo gandhis. comparing gurung with gandhi is like comparing gangu teli with raja bhoj!!!!”
Obviously, I see nothing wrong in your comment! But the point here is that “Gurung IS FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS of Gandhi, which I guess is a good way to reform himself given his wild criminal records. There is difference between following someone and imitating someone, don’t you agree? I am no blind supporter of BG just that we have one common aspiration, that is our own state!
pseude said
Hello Sa, on the other hand, the sooner you give up your claim over siliguri the better for you and your kith and kin. And dont mind the kukris, for very soon, the CPM will do what it does best with bombs.
YK Shrestha said
How many bombs you have in your house Pseude? Handle with care, lest it may go off and destruct your own house. You will have nowhere to go then.
Lawtheng Puia said
Gorkhas have turned parasitical. Agreed, that they are slightly better than bangladeshis mia. How much than my under water handgliding?
Remember the same gorkhas were beaten up to the pole in meghalaya and assam in early 80’s and fled to darjeeling due to this attitude. They are also getting armed and logistical support from their neo-mao brothers of Nepal. Same as bangladeshis, they are advancing their agitation by swamping north-bengal with illegals from Nepal.
I say deport both of these communities to their countries.
YK Shrestha said
Lawtheng Puia, you Mizo traitor. You fought against Indian Govt. asking for a separate nation. Why don’t you confine yourself to Mizoram? You sucker, who taught you junglees to do farming and milking the cows? We Gorkhas did. You don’t deserve to call yourself an Indian. We are only asking for a separate state and not a separate nation like you traitors. Seems, some gorkha brother (ur name suggests u r a female) must have really _________. I hope you understand that.
Lawtheng Puia said
Gorkhaland demand is the affect of latest development in Nepal.I think this separate demand should not be considered for discussion amongst the state parties. Looking at the geographical angle,a separate Gorkha state is first step towards the Chinese encroachment. I hope Govt will act tough & deal with agitators firmly.
Shame that 2nd biggest army in the world cannot handle or manage with small amount of people doing bandh.
Lawtheng Puia said
Hyper Shreshtha,Hold your horses first! Simply sabre rattling will hold no good, think pragmatically.What are you gonna achieve by carving out a separate state?
For the last 20 years decision about the hill districts darjeeling/kalimpong/karseong (The main Gorkhaland regions) all development works there are taken care of by the darjeeling Gorgha Parbatya Parishad a body headed by the Gorkha leader Subhash Ghisingh (Bimal Gurung the Janamukti Morcha supremo was a loyalist of this guy). They were in charge of all development works in that region. The chairman of the DGPP is given the status of a cabinet minister. So almost all development works has to be decided and carried over by the guidence of them as per agreement between the gorkha leaders and state govt.
But these Gorkha leaders fooled the gorkhas, they instigated the Gorkhas against the state government and put money for the development in their pockets.
Gorkhas are people who are ruled by their hearts. Thats their main problem now. Unfortunately they have fallen prey to the cunning politicians like Ghishing and now Gurung, who are playing with their sentiments and trying to fill their pockets..
Regarding your comments about Mizos – A saying goes: No point in fighting with Sharks if you want to co-exist a ocean.
hum said
puja. u do puja. #### off from this place.
jwalahang said
Who’s this Lawthung..Pawthang …jawthang…bawthng…kawthand…gangthang ?????
jwalahang said
I also suggest lawthung,gawthung to read Lajja by Taslima Nasreen..
JTM said
Sharks are also known to eat their own the moment one shark is hurt and bleeding
jwalahang said
That depends upon the circumstances he is going to face..! By the way Mrs Jyoti Mani….tell me something abt urself.
JTM said
You first!
jwalahang said
I’m a 100% true,pure Gorkhali n u ?
JTM said
Ditto! My forefather was the first Subedar major of the First Gorkha Rifles in 1861. He was the one who prevailed upon the then C-i-C of the Indian army to give the Gorkhas a regt of their own name and colours in 1850. Till then they were called Nusseeree battalion which was a mixed corp raised in 1815.
So the colours of the 66th Bengal native Infantry was given to him and his men. Then it was called the 66th or Goorkha Rifles. Then in 1861, it was named the First Gorkha Rifles. I am very proud of him and subsequently his sons and grandsons all my forefathers who made significant contributions to the Gorkhas
But your name sounds strange to me. Can you kindly explain about it. Yr letter by Subhash Chandra was brilliant
jwalahang said
Both my grandfathers served the British.My maternal grandfather got married in Quetta (now in Pakistan) during the World War 2. Two my uncles are ex-servicemen but they could not make to the highest post.My brother-in-law is in the 5/11 Gorkha Rifles.My distant uncle is a Lt.Colonel and is a retiree.Both of his sons are in the forces and one is a Major and the other is also an officer.( I’m sorry to disclose that we don’t have special relations with them) Still, we covet the Brass Utensils brought from Quetta by my grandfather who was a nice old man.But we don’t have any serving member in the armed forces from my own family.
JTM said
Thank you Jwalahung for sharing your story with me.