SILIGURI: Exclusion of Nepali citizens from voters’ list demanded
Posted by barunroy on January 14, 2009
FROM THE STATESMAN
Siliguri, Jan. 13: Jana Chetana, a Siliguri-based pressure group, demanded a thorough revision of the existing state voters’ list deleting the names of the Nepali citizens. “The voters’ list should be revised taking into account the serious question of the citizenship rights of the Nepali speaking people living in the state. The year 1950 should be taken as the cut off year while examining citizenship claim,” said the Jana Chetana president Dr Debaprasad Kar.
“Even the state administration has some people in responsible positions whose citizenship is under cloud. It must be cleansed of the alien elements though the interest of the genuine Indian citizens among the Nepali speaking people should not be compromised in the process,” he said.
Dr Kar asked the Centre and the state government not to proceed further with the tripartite dialogue on the sensitive Gorkhland issue until the paramount citizenship uncertainty was cleared once and for all.
The general secretary of the organisation, Mr Mridul Chakravarty, said that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) demand of indiscriminate expulsion of the Bangladeshi refugees was a bogey bereft of any historical substance. “It simply passes our understanding how the GJM leadership keeps harping on expelling the Bangladeshi infiltrators en masse. The present Bangladesh was a part of undivided Bengal before the country’s vivisection in 1947, though Nepal at no point of time was a part of India. The imperatives of history cannot be wished away while raising demands from a sectarian point of view,” he said.
YKS said
Bangladeshish ought to be thrown out first. Remember what PC, the home minister said. Agreed, Bangladesh was a part of undivided India, but they have no right to come to North Bengal and occupy our land. Silgarhi was ours and will be ours.
Joseph Chamling said
Let Jana Chetna be shown right door – return to BD.
Thats only right thing which concurs with Home Minister’s statement
PJ said
The present Bangladesh was a part of undivided Bengal before the country’s vivisection in 1947, though Nepal at no point of time was a part of India. The imperatives of history cannot be wished away
Exactly my point……Mridul Chakra…Rather you should say that all these areas were a part of Nepal…however i would urge you to go through this article for your better understanding….
Reclaiming the Darjeeling Terai
By Vimal Khawas on May 20,2008
Reclaiming the Darjeeling Terai
Vimal Khawas
The Gorkhas of Darjeeling Hills and its adjoining Terai/Dooars have often been lamented as ‘foreigners’ by different categories of mainstream Indian population notably Politicians and Journalists at different points of time. With the onset of second phase of Gorkhaland Movement, a section of Bengali politicians, Bengali journalists and general Bengali mass [including some academicians] have deeply and seriously invoked the term ‘foreigners’ in the context of the Gorkhas settled in and around the Darjeeling Hills and its Terai.
More importantly, following series of meetings across the geographical milieu of Terai areas of Darjeeling-Jalpaiguri, such terminology has increasingly found place among the critics of Gorkhaland. Of great importance to us at this point of time is, therefore, a serious search for the historical documents that highlight various pertinent issues relevant to the Gorkhas of Darjeeling and its adjoining Dooars.
One such crucial and critical historical document is the report on the Darjeeling Terai Settlement. The report authored by a Settlement Officer Shri Sasi Bhusan Duttt and published by Bengal Secretariat Press, Calcutta in 1898 throws significant light on the various facets of Society and Economy of Darjeeling Terai at the end of the 19th Century.
Two very important aspects highlighted by the report need critical examination by the Indian Gorkhas and the Government of India, if not the Government of West Bengal. These important aspects include: 1) The Geographical Extent of Darjeeling Terai at the end of the 19th Century and 2) The composition of population in Darjeeling Terai.
Geographical Extent of Darjeeling Terai at the end of 19th Century
The aforementioned report says, “The tract under settlement is the plain portion of the district of Darjeeling locally known as the Darjeeling Terai, extending from the foot of the mountainous tract to the northern border of the Purnea district. It lies between 26o 30’ 48” and 26 o 49’ 45” north latitude and between 88 o 8’ 51” and 88 o 29’east longitude. It forms a trapezoid with a length from North to South of 18 miles and a breadth East to West of 16 miles, containing a total area, according to present survey, of 229.95 square miles, or 147,170.19 acres, exclusive of forest lands which form no part of this settlement. It is bounded on the North by hill portion of the district, South by Purnea district, East by Jalpaiguri district, and West by the independent State of Nepal”.
Further, in order to ascertain that Siliguri and its adjoining Dooars were very much part of Darjeeling Terai by 1898, it becomes fundamental for us to look into the important market places located in Darjeeling Terai. The following table highlights important market places located across Darjeeling Terai at the end of the 19th Century.
Table 1: Important Market Places in Darjeeling Terai [1898]
Sl
No
Name of Markets
Area
Government Markets Acres
1 Matigara
57.33
2 Siliguri
62.72
3 Bagdogra 19.85
4 Phansidewa 4.04
5 Kharibari 23.79
6 Bunderjhuli 2.85
7 Batasi
3.86
8 Adhikari
38.67
9 Naxalbari
35.80
10 Amber 6.16
Private Markets Acres
1 Bhoismari
0.21
2 Khaprail
14.65
3 Garidhura 1.00
4 Salbari 0.19
5 Debiganj 2.01
6 Mudh hat
0.35
7 Kristopar
0.91
8 Birnabari
9.82
9 Panighatta —
Source: Sasi Bhusan Dutt, Report on Darjeeling Terai Settlement, Bengal Secretariat Press, Calcutta, 1898, P. 5
Demography of Darjeeling Terai at the end of 19th Century
Highlighting, historical settlement and population characteristics in Darjeeling Terai and its adjoining Dooars is one of the most critical tools for the Gorkhas today to deconstruct the ‘Foreigner Theory’. The Darjeeling Terai Settlement Report sheds enough light on the presence of sizeable percentage of the Gorkhas, Lepchas and Bhutias across Darjeeling Terai at the end of 19th Century. To the aversion of the Bengalis, the report also highlights that there was not a single Bengali soul inhabiting the soils of Darjeeling Terai at the same period of time, not to talk of Darjeeling Hills. Table 2 and 3 highlight basic demographic features of Darjeeling Terai in the second half of 19th century.
Table 2: Darjeeling Terai Population: 1872-91
Source of Information Total Population Male Female Area in square mile
Census taken in 1872 47985 25682 22303 271
Census taken in 1881 63241 35410 27831 do
Census taken in 1891 72097 41808 31120 do
Source: Sasi Bhusan Dutt, Report on Darjeeling Terai Settlement, Bengal Secretariat Press, Calcutta, 1898, P. 7
Table 3: Demographic Characters of Darjeeling Terai: 1872-91
Census Year Sex Ration [females/1000 males) Population Density [per sq mile]
1872 868 177
1881 786 233
1891 744 266
Source: Calculated by author based on the data available in – Sasi Bhusan Dutt, Report on Darjeeling Terai Settlement, Bengal Secretariat Press, Calcutta, 1898, P. 7
If we dissect and examine table 4 and 5, it is quite interesting to note that at the end of 19th Century there was not a single Bengali inhabiting the geographical milieu of Terai in Darjeeling District. On the contrary, however, almost 27 per cent of the total populations of Darjeeling Terai were shared by the Gorkhas/Nepali Speakers at the same period of time. Similarly, the share of Lepchas and Bhutias residing in the region at the end of 19th century can be calculated at 3 per cent and 1 per cent of the total population respectively. Further, about 70 per cent of the total populations of the area were composed of different ethnic groups consisting of Adibasis of the region.
Table 4 Darjeeling Terai Population and Caste distribution: 1891
Caste Male Female Total
1. Bhuimali and Mehter 539 540 1079
2. Bhutia 292 130 422
3. Brahman 500 130 630
4. Damai 75 33 108
5. Gharti 126 103 229
6. Gurung 981 935 1916
7. Kaibarta 194 135 329
8. Kami 373 257 630
9. Khambu 1314 1459 2773
10. Kachh 6119 5014 11133
11. Lepcha 592 532 1124
12. Limboo 416 108 524
13. Mangar 832 514 1346
14. Munda 129 126 255
15. Murmi 500 502 1002
16. Newar 318 189 507
17. Oraon 2360 2272 4632
18. Rajput 366 143 509
19. Sarki 109 42 151
20. Sunur 67 34 101
21. Yakha 33 21 54
22. Buna 644 626 1270
23. Shaik 4002 2299 6301
Source: Sasi Bhusan Dutt, Report on Darjeeling Terai Settlement, Bengal Secretariat Press, Calcutta, 1898, P. 8
Table 5 Percentage share of Different Ethnic Groups in Darjeeling Terai: 1891
Ethnic Group Percentage Share
Lepcha 3.0
Bhutia 1.1
Nepali/Gorkha 26.9
Bengali 0.0
Others 68.9
Total 100.0
Source: Calculated by author based on the data available in- Sasi Bhusan Dutt, Report on Darjeeling Terai Settlement, Bengal Secretariat Press, Calcutta, 1898, P. 8
Discussion
The data on the settlement and population composition of Darjeeling Terai as stated in Darjeeling Terai Settlement Report [1898] evidently makes us clear that large chunk of Gorkhas were already inhabiting the Terai of Darjeeling district and the adjoining Dooars region by the end of 19th century. Therefore, it is not only unscientific to declare the Gorkhas settled in and around Darjeeling and its Terai as ‘foreigners’ but it is illegal and against the democratic spirit of the Constitution of India. With the help this historical document the Gorkhas of the area can challenge such terminology in the Court of Law. The term not only disturbs the peaceful life of the Indian Gorkhas but it attacks their very existence and livelihood.
Evidently, the percentage-share of the Gorkhas, Lepchas and Bhutias has drastically declined across both hills and Terai of Darjeeling Hills in the last 100 years. The percentage of Nepali speaking Gorkhas declined from over 60 per cent in the early 1960s to less than 50 percent by 2001 if one examines the Census of India figures pertaining to the Darjeeling district. Correspondingly, there has been a geometrical rise in Bengali population both in the hills and plains of Darjeeling district. Today, not less than 80 per cent of the total population of Siliguri and its adjoining areas are composed of Bengali speakers.
Two important factors have dangerously contributed to the geometric rise of Bengali population in the region. First, sizeable chunk of East Bengal (Hindu) refugees were resettled in North Bengal including the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar after the formation of Muslim Bangladesh. Secondly, much more than the East Bengal Refugees, the contribution of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the region supported by the ruling party of West Bengal has been exceedingly alarming in the last 4 decades. Consequently, Siliguri and its adjoining areas are dominated by the Bengali population in recent times while the percentage share of the Adibasis, Gorkhas, Lepchas and Bhutias have abysmally gone down.
It is highly imperative that the Government of India commissions a thorough and serious research study on the large-scale influx of Bangladeshi immigrants and the geometrical increase of Bengali populace across the geography of both Hills and Terai of Darjeeling District. It is also desirable that the government repatriates all the Bengali speakers who illegally infiltrated from Bangladesh to occupy the spaces of both hills and Terai of Darjeeling district on priority basis. ‘Clean Siliguri Operation’ should be the first step towards this end.
Sameer said
Dr Debaprasad Kar, firstly let me ask you one simple question the
kind of request that you have made to revise the voter list and examine the citizenship rights of the Nepali speaking people living in the state.. is a statement of a biased Bengali or a concerned citizen?. But I’m sure it must be of a Biased yet Communal Bengali citizen , because of the very fact that you didn’t even bother mentioning about revising the voter list for the Bengalis living in throughout W.B, don’t you think so these day Bangladeshi infiltration is threat to the entire nation, which is pretty evident of the recent arrest of Safikul in Malda.
Johnny Gorkha said
What ridiculous statements they make. Are these people living in India ? CBI should enquire about their whereabouts, could they be linked to some terrorist organization in Bangladesh ? These people are soooo foolish I really doubt if they are bangalees at all.
ABAVP said
Migration to India
When we talk about Nepali Migrant workers abroad, we cannot ignore the India-Nepal free border and open migration. Migration to India was begun early in 1816, when East India Company appointed Nepali citizens in their regiments. Since then, a large number of Nepali workers had migrated to India for the employment in tea-estates of Darjeeling, Asam for livestock farming, dairy and cultivation. At present, it is estimated that there are 7 million citizens of Nepali origin. The statistics cannot be denied in view of the large number of Nepali language speakers in Darjeeling (west Bengal), Asam, Sikkim and other states. In this context, we can memorize the ‘Report on internal and international migration in Nepal’ prepared by National Planning Commission in 1992. This report has mentioned that 2,74,968 Nepalese were in India in 1961. Since then, the experiences indicate that migration has increased much more. At present, the number of the people of Nepali origin is estimated to be 7 millions in India. All India Migrant Nepali Association has assumed that 50 % of the total Nepali in India are the citizens of Nepal. In recent years, a trend to work as agri-labourers in different states of India mainly in Punjab and Hariyana is fastly increasing among Nepali citizens. So the number as agri-labourers, service-workers, police and Army-men, porters, gatemen and the Kanchha (The hotel boys) working all over the India, is taken into consideration, can be claimed to be more than two millions in India. In this content, mentionable is the unfortunate statistics of 1,53,000 Nepali women engaged in sex-trade in different Indian cities as presented in ” Sex-Trade in Nepal: Realities and challenges” written by Gauri Pradhan.
ABAVP said
The Foreign Nepalese those who came after 1950 are not Indian by any means. Nepalese or gorkhas from Nepal cannot be claimed as Indian because Nepal is a separate country. The Clause VII of the 1950 India-Nepal treaty is very clear, it states: ‘The Government of India and Nepal agree to grant, on a reciprocal basis, to the nationals of one country in the territories of the other, the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature.’ In short, Nepalese living in India has residency rights but not citizenship and voting rights.
bir bahadur thapa said
In december 1988 the west bengal goverment issued the white
-paper notification highlighting that darjeling ,dooars is not
the part of the west bengal, it is the part of sikkim and
Bhutan. so there is no question of dividing the bengal.
Bengalise never try to understand the emotions of the gorkhas
in darjeeling and dooars. Now the situation in darjeeling and
dooars is out of the control of the goverment.we all the
people of every caste, creed ,religion want to live togther.
gorkhaland is for all the gorkhas,bengalies,biharies,muslims,
punjabies,rajbanshies,adibasies.
Subroto Mukherjee said
In december 1988 the west bengal goverment issued the white
-paper notification highlighting that darjeling ,dooars is not
the part of the west bengal, it is the part of sikkim and
Bhutan. so there is no question of dividing the bengal.
Yeah this is 100% truth. There is no further question.
YKS said
@9, Subroto, then give it back to Sikkim and Bhutan. Why is it being illegaly occupied? Funny man!
RAJA said
Plz remove all illegal bangladeshi muslims from voter list too (with illegal nepalis and bhupalis) as they are a big threat to our national integrity at present
Dr Debaprasad Kar said
@Sameer…
the international norms of cross border movement, that is passport and visa, is in force in the bangladesh border. but there is unrestricted migration not governed by any norms across the indo-nepal border…vide…6th and 7th article, indo-nepal treaty.
obvioulsly, the migrants from nepal to india are foreigner nepali nationals.
ritz said
I think this so called Jana Chetna manch or what so ever should first read the history books and then decide who should be evicted from bengal first, THEIR BANGLADESHI (OVER THE BORDER) FRIEND ????? or the Nepalis. THey should be reminded that thier are more illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in SIliguri and around then NEpali living in the whole of the Hills. Who will remove their Names from the voters List. Who will Bell the cat my dear friends. Come on raise your Chetna’s. And how could you do so also coz they form the major VOTE BANK for the CPIM to stay in POWER.
tatu said
As per Vimal Khawas statment Darjeeling etc were part of Nepal. Then why mr Khawas working in India and getting his salary from Delhi Govt. He must work on nepal. He must resighn from his Indian govt service and must work for what ever he wants. Eating govt money and spreding comments against indias sovergenity is an anti indian acts.Historicaly, before britsh rule their was not a single nepali in darjeeling Hills, only some Lepchas. First follow this history.