Darjeeling district is a hill town in the state of West Bengal, India which is an internationally popular tourist destination with Mt. Kanchenjunga adoring its scenic beauty. Darjeeling is well known for the globally acclaimed tea industry, called “Champagne of Tea” which is 179 years old. Its unique flavour, rich aroma and quality set Darjeeling tea apart from other tea. “Darjeeling” tea mark has been registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by the European Commission. US, United Kingdom, Germany and Poland etc. are leading importers of Darjeeling tea.
The uniqueness of brand name “Darjeeling” also gets reflected from the fact that a Hollywood movie named “Darjeeling Limited” in 2007 from an American film director and Darjeeling may also be a possible Hollywood destination in future. Several Bollywood (Indian cinema industry) films, songs have also been shot in Darjeeling.
It is on record in world history that “Gorkha” as warriors qualified the test of loyalty, resilience and bravery. The 8th British Army Chief – Manekshaw once said: “If a man says he is not afraid to die, he is either lying or a Gorkha.” Gurkha/ Gorkha is an elite regiment in the Indian Army and the British Army recognized for their kukris, a distinctive heavy knife with a curved blade with the reputation of being fierce fighters. Gurkhas have served at many places including Borneo during the Confrontation with Indonesia, the Falklands War, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Bosnia, Kosovo etc. and Gorkha regiment is an elite squad in the Indian Army.
The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) a famous mountaineering institution located in Darjeeling is a symbol in establishing mountaineering as a global sport. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site connects the town with the plains and is one of the most prominent mountain railway, the first one being “Semmering Railway” of Austria . Darjeeling is also known for British style boarding schools with students from all across India as well as neighbouring countries as an important school education hub. It is also very interesting to point out that Darjeeling is also home to talented musicians influenced by English/ American rock music and songs of heavy metal bands are played in almost every college / school fest, tourist festival which is rarely seen in the rest of India.
The uniqueness of brand name “Darjeeling” also gets reflected from the fact that a Hollywood movie named “Darjeeling Limited” in 2007 from an American film director and Darjeeling may also be a possible Hollywood destination in future. Several Bollywood (Indian cinema industry) films, songs have also been shot in Darjeeling.
It is on record in world history that “Gorkha” as warriors qualified the test of loyalty, resilience and bravery. The 8th British Army Chief – Manekshaw once said: “If a man says he is not afraid to die, he is either lying or a Gorkha.” Gurkha/ Gorkha is an elite regiment in the Indian Army and the British Army recognized for their kukris, a distinctive heavy knife with a curved blade with the reputation of being fierce fighters. Gurkhas have served at many places including Borneo during the Confrontation with Indonesia, the Falklands War, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Bosnia, Kosovo etc. and Gorkha regiment is an elite squad in the Indian Army.
The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) a famous mountaineering institution located in Darjeeling is a symbol in establishing mountaineering as a global sport. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site connects the town with the plains and is one of the most prominent mountain railway, the first one being “Semmering Railway” of Austria . Darjeeling is also known for British style boarding schools with students from all across India as well as neighbouring countries as an important school education hub. It is also very interesting to point out that Darjeeling is also home to talented musicians influenced by English/ American rock music and songs of heavy metal bands are played in almost every college / school fest, tourist festival which is rarely seen in the rest of India.
But despite all the above globally acclaimed hallmarks associated with Gorkhas and their land, an endless struggle of quest for identity as mainstream Indians has never seen the light of day. Gorkhas in India have been consistently demanding a separate state within the Indian union since the year 1907. Gorkhaland is a proposed state in India demanded by the people of Darjeeling hills in northern West Bengal who desire to identify themselves as mainstream Indian Gorkhas. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha a leading political outfit headed by popular leader Bimal Gurung has been demanding statehood at present with peaceful and nonviolent agitation, following in line the principles of Mahatma Gandhi the father of nation of India.
As a Gorkhaland supporter and a resident of Kalimpong, Darjeeling, it is my view that the even though the language we speak has been recognized under 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India we are often mistaken as citizens of Nepal. Our demand stands on a lawful sanction under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution but our demand for statehood has not been addressed. Repeated attempts to convince the State as well as Union have yielded no fruitful results. Autonomous councils offered by the government have been tried and tested but it miserably failed to deliver. Ranjan says it is time we take the initiative to cross international barriers , enlighten people about our concern and diversified communities across the globe having similar concerns can also relate us. We also believe that educating rest of the world about our issue is also a part of a peaceful movement and a message can be sent across that violence and bloodshed is not the only means to protest.
Time has come for us to raise our voice in the global arena by seeking support of global media. It is believed that the voice of the people is supreme in a robust parliamentary democracy like India. If there can be seven sister states for different community in our vicinity, why is the administration silent when it comes to us? Our issue also rests in the backdrop that if the Government of India can give a fair hearing to the demand of Telangana which is a new state likely to be formed, then why not Gorkhaland?
Ranjan Sharma is a freelance journalist and a practicing lawyer in New Delhi
As a Gorkhaland supporter and a resident of Kalimpong, Darjeeling, it is my view that the even though the language we speak has been recognized under 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India we are often mistaken as citizens of Nepal. Our demand stands on a lawful sanction under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution but our demand for statehood has not been addressed. Repeated attempts to convince the State as well as Union have yielded no fruitful results. Autonomous councils offered by the government have been tried and tested but it miserably failed to deliver. Ranjan says it is time we take the initiative to cross international barriers , enlighten people about our concern and diversified communities across the globe having similar concerns can also relate us. We also believe that educating rest of the world about our issue is also a part of a peaceful movement and a message can be sent across that violence and bloodshed is not the only means to protest.
Time has come for us to raise our voice in the global arena by seeking support of global media. It is believed that the voice of the people is supreme in a robust parliamentary democracy like India. If there can be seven sister states for different community in our vicinity, why is the administration silent when it comes to us? Our issue also rests in the backdrop that if the Government of India can give a fair hearing to the demand of Telangana which is a new state likely to be formed, then why not Gorkhaland?
Ranjan Sharma is a freelance journalist and a practicing lawyer in New Delhi
Source: www.thelondoneveningpost.com
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?