With the Gorkhaland issue back on the forefront, people of Darjeeling have renewed their demand for a separate state, a demand considered to be 107 years old.
"It is about our identity which we are trying to establish from ages. Darjeeling simply cannot be a holiday destination. It is a home to more than six lakh people who need to have a separate state of their own," said Amar Singh Rai, a retired professor of political science.
Rai pointed out that historically, Darjeeling was never a part of West Bengal, be it politically, socially, culturally, economically or even linguistically.
"We are still treated as foreigners when we go to other parts of the country. They think we are from Nepal. We have to tell them we are Indian Nepalese. We keep on telling them we are born and raised in Darjeeling, our homeland," he said.
Udaya Mani Pradhan, an eminent citizen of the Hill district, also echoed the same. Pradhan said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement was like an interim arrangement for the infrastructural development of the region.
"GTA was never a sustainable political solution for the Gorkhaland issue. There was a clause in the tripartite agreement that said we are not going give up the demand of a separate state," he added.
An autonomous body, GTA was formed through a tripartite agreement in 2011 in which Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) - the principal political outfit in the district, state government and the Centre entered into a mutual agreement restoring peace and development in the region.
"Whenever Telengana issue will arise, we will continue to demand our Gorkhaland state. We can not backtrack from our stand. It is our political prerogative that we can't ignore at any cost," said Gautam Tamang, a shop-keeper.
Earlier, the central government in 2005 conferred the Sixth Schedule status on the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Counsel (DGHC) that ensured greater autonomy to the district's governing body.
The DGHC was formed in 1988 through an agreement between the central and erstwhile state government and the GNLF after the hills witnessed violence for about two years.
Led by their party chief Bimal Gurung, the GJM started opposing the grant of Sixth Schedule status by the Centre to Darjeeling and became the principal political outfit in the hill region.
Bimal Gurung, who is also the CEO of GTA, threatened to go on an 'undemocratic agitation' in the hills.
"I don't care if they try to stop us using the police force. We know they would do it. So what if they do it? We will continue to stick to our Gorkhaland demand. And from now on our movement will not take the democratic path," Gurung said.
He said the GJM would hold a grand rally at Sukna on March 10 where it would decide the next course of action. The GJM chief said that GTA was never a solution to the Gorkhaland demand of hill population.
Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her government cannot allow Darjeeling to be separated from West Bengal.
"We stand for united Bengal. That is our political stand for the betterment of Darjeeling. I don't want any more disturbances in Darjeeling so that it sends a wrong signal to outsiders," Banerjee told reporters at Siliguri during her visit to north Bengal.
The CM said the state government was doing everything, despite fund crunch, to improve the infrastructure of Darjeeling district.
A slice from the past
Not realising the significance, Darjeeling was gifted to the East India Company in 1835 by the Sikkim Puttee king as a sanatorium to rehabilitate British soldiers who were suffering from malaria and other diseases after coming to this part of the world. Then Darjeeling, gifted territory to the British, was a narrow enclave of 138 square miles, about 30 miles long and 6 miles wide.
In return, what the Raja got immediately was a deed of gift parcel that comprised one double-barrelled gun, one rifle, 20-yards of red-broad cloth, two pairs of shawl- one superior quality and the other of inferior quality.
Later, the king had appeared before the governor general for compensation. In 1841 the government had granted the king an allowance of Rs.3,000 per annum as compensation. This was raised to Rs.6,000 in 1846.
"It is about our identity which we are trying to establish from ages. Darjeeling simply cannot be a holiday destination. It is a home to more than six lakh people who need to have a separate state of their own," said Amar Singh Rai, a retired professor of political science.
Rai pointed out that historically, Darjeeling was never a part of West Bengal, be it politically, socially, culturally, economically or even linguistically.
"We are still treated as foreigners when we go to other parts of the country. They think we are from Nepal. We have to tell them we are Indian Nepalese. We keep on telling them we are born and raised in Darjeeling, our homeland," he said.
Udaya Mani Pradhan, an eminent citizen of the Hill district, also echoed the same. Pradhan said the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) agreement was like an interim arrangement for the infrastructural development of the region.
"GTA was never a sustainable political solution for the Gorkhaland issue. There was a clause in the tripartite agreement that said we are not going give up the demand of a separate state," he added.
An autonomous body, GTA was formed through a tripartite agreement in 2011 in which Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) - the principal political outfit in the district, state government and the Centre entered into a mutual agreement restoring peace and development in the region.
"Whenever Telengana issue will arise, we will continue to demand our Gorkhaland state. We can not backtrack from our stand. It is our political prerogative that we can't ignore at any cost," said Gautam Tamang, a shop-keeper.
Earlier, the central government in 2005 conferred the Sixth Schedule status on the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Counsel (DGHC) that ensured greater autonomy to the district's governing body.
The DGHC was formed in 1988 through an agreement between the central and erstwhile state government and the GNLF after the hills witnessed violence for about two years.
Led by their party chief Bimal Gurung, the GJM started opposing the grant of Sixth Schedule status by the Centre to Darjeeling and became the principal political outfit in the hill region.
Bimal Gurung, who is also the CEO of GTA, threatened to go on an 'undemocratic agitation' in the hills.
"I don't care if they try to stop us using the police force. We know they would do it. So what if they do it? We will continue to stick to our Gorkhaland demand. And from now on our movement will not take the democratic path," Gurung said.
He said the GJM would hold a grand rally at Sukna on March 10 where it would decide the next course of action. The GJM chief said that GTA was never a solution to the Gorkhaland demand of hill population.
Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her government cannot allow Darjeeling to be separated from West Bengal.
"We stand for united Bengal. That is our political stand for the betterment of Darjeeling. I don't want any more disturbances in Darjeeling so that it sends a wrong signal to outsiders," Banerjee told reporters at Siliguri during her visit to north Bengal.
The CM said the state government was doing everything, despite fund crunch, to improve the infrastructure of Darjeeling district.
A slice from the past
Not realising the significance, Darjeeling was gifted to the East India Company in 1835 by the Sikkim Puttee king as a sanatorium to rehabilitate British soldiers who were suffering from malaria and other diseases after coming to this part of the world. Then Darjeeling, gifted territory to the British, was a narrow enclave of 138 square miles, about 30 miles long and 6 miles wide.
In return, what the Raja got immediately was a deed of gift parcel that comprised one double-barrelled gun, one rifle, 20-yards of red-broad cloth, two pairs of shawl- one superior quality and the other of inferior quality.
Later, the king had appeared before the governor general for compensation. In 1841 the government had granted the king an allowance of Rs.3,000 per annum as compensation. This was raised to Rs.6,000 in 1846.
Source: Indiatoday
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