Gorkhaland Movement: History, Key Events and Recent Agitations

In the last week of September, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) had called off it’s over 100-day old indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling after the home minister made an appeal. Currently, the normalcy is returning to the hills. This monograph deals with the Gorkhaland Issue in detail, keeping into various historical, social and economical aspects.

Historical Background

Darjeeling {originally Dorje-Ling (land of thunderbolt)} was part of the Kingdom of Sikkim and was inhabited by the local tribes viz. Lepachas, Limbus etc. In 1780s, Sikkim was attacked by Gorkha armies and most of its territories were annexed in Nepal. The conflict between Nepal and British led to the Anglo-Nepalese War (aka Anglo-Gurkha war) from 1814 to 1816. This war ended with defeat of Nepalese and they had to sign the Treaty of Sugauli, dictated by British. Under this treaty, Nepal lost all Sikkim (including Darjeeling), the territories of Kumaon and Garhwal and regions of western terai. Nepal also lost the area between Mechi and Teesta Rivers. In February 1817, the British returned the land belonging to Sikkim earlier to Sikkimese Chogyal under the Treaty of Titalia. In 1829, a border dispute arose between Nepal and Sikkim. At that time, the Governor General of India William Bentinck send two officers Captain Lloyd and JW Grant to help resolve the crisis. These two officers stayed at Dorje Ling for around a week and liked the place so much that thought of possibilities to make it a station for respite from tropical climate of India.  This area was already deserted by the original inhabitants during war and suppression by the Raja of Sikkim.

Captain Lloyd and JW Grant recommended the Governor General to acquire Darjeeling from Sikkim. The Governor General negotiated with the Chogyals and Chogyals gave the area to British in an unconditional cessation of a worthless uninhabited mountain. However, British later decided to pay some compensation to Chogyals.

British started developing the infrastructure in the area immediately. By 1839, they developed a road connecting Darjeeling with the plains. In 1841, Dr. Campbell brought Chinese tea seeds from Kumaon and started growing it there on experimental basis. These successful experiments led to development of several commercially viable tea estates in the region.

Soon, what was considered to be worthless uninhabited mountain by Chogyals, started to prosper. The prosperity of the tea estates attracted people from Sikkim and Nepal to rapidly immigrate to Darjeeling and settle there as British subjects. Obviously this made Chogyals jealous and they now resorted to get back Darjeeling migrants forcibly. The relations between Chogyals and British deteriorated to the extent of capturing East India Company officers and putting them behind bars in 1849 by Chogyals. This necessitated the East India Company to send troops to Sikkim but by the time troops reached there, hostilities ended. Darjeeling became a part of British Empire. In the aftermath of Anglo-Bhutan war in 1865, Kalimpong and Doors also become British property.

The British government had accorded the status of Non-regulated area to Darjeeling in 1860s and 70s, which meant that the laws of British did not automatically apply to this region, unless specifically extended. In 1874, this term was changed to “Scheduled District” and in 1919, it was called “Backward Tracts”, which remained so till 1947. After 1947, Darjeeling area was merged with West Bengal and a separate district covering Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Terai areas of Siliguri was created. In 1950, many Tibetan refugees also settled in the region in the wake of China’s invasion on Tibet.

In 1960, 1970s and 1980s, Darjeeling area started seeing ethnic tensions as its multiethnic population had grown many fold in all these years. In 1980s, the region saw demand for creation of separate states of Gorkhaland and Kamtapur.

The demand of Gorkhaland

As mentioned above, the demand for separate Gorkhaland state is not new and it took shape in 1980s. The protest was first started by Subhash Ghisingh led Gorkhaland National Liberation Front (GNLF). Initially, it was a peaceful protest but soon turned into violent agitation, killings, setting government properties on fire. It became a national issue and a major problem for West Bengal government. In 1988, a tripartite Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council accord was signed by GNLF, West Bengal and Union Government. With this, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council came into existence and GNLF shelved its demand for the separate state.

However, in 2005, another tripartite agreement was signed which in principle proposed the inclusion of Darjeeling in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. However, this was termed as a betrayal to Gorkhaland and to protest, the local leader Bimal Gurung launched Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in 2007. This reignited the demand for a separate state. In 2011, the West Bengal assembly passed resolution to set up Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to calm down the demands. In 2013, the demand again rose with the creation of Telangana.

The Recent 2017 Agitations

The recent agitation was ignited by the West Bengal’s government decision to impose Bengali language in all the schools from class one to class tenth. There was also a stark difference this time that it was for the first time in history of Darjeeling that the GJM and GNLF, and other political rivals in the hills came together for demand of Gorkhaland.

Most of the local residents in Darjeeling believe they need a separate state and it is urgent to drift apart from West Bengal.  These Nepali speaking people believe that their language and culture is distinct and different from that of Bengali culture, hence in order to preserve it they want to be identified as Indian Gorkhas with a recognized abode of Gorkhaland.

The simmering tension gained momentum with 60 schools being shutdown, 54vehicles and 73 government offices were burnt into ashes, 93 tea gardens were closed in Darjeeling and Kalimpong and unfortunately costing lives of seven people. Internet services have also been snapped for 28 days to pacify frenzied situation. Gorkhaland Movement Coordination committee, GMCC, the representative body has taken forward its action in the pursuance of Gorkhaland with several meeting but in vain. The massive agitation has led to huge vandalization of public property including heritage railway stations, hydel power stations, Panchayat offices and so on.

Response

The 11 companies of paramilitary personnel, Army of Darjeeling, Sonada, and Kalimpong had geared up to placate the unbridled crisis. The strikes cut down essential supplies from reaching the needy and certain disruption is also menacing the landlocked bordering state, Sikkim hence center’s reach has been delayed. Sikkim and Nepal share borders with China and the two with north Bengal. It is believed that role of foreign elements and insurgents can make the situation graver.

Way forward

The crux of the issue is that the Gorkhas and Nepali-speaking hill residents never find themselves comfortable with Bengalis of plain. Despite the repeated effort of West Bengal government, the people of hills alienated them within their own periphery as they believe that they are socially and culturally separate from the people in plain. This apart, people are not happy with the GTA as there is been no development in last two decades. Further, due to Gorkhaland Movement apart from West Bengal Sikkim also affected. As Sikkim borders with three countries it may lead to National security threat. Recently Sikkim CM quoted that “Sikkim did not chose India to become sandwich between China and West Bengal”. The issue keeps cropping up at times and situation turns volatile, so the need of the hour is to take urgent initiatives to engage the parties in peaceful talks to arrive at a consensus. The smaller states are good for development there are several issues that keep the government not fulfilling the demand of separate state.

Questions

How the Treaty of Sugaulee,1819 important to every Gorkha?

The treaty of Sugaulee was signed by the Nepal king and the British India in 1816. The treaty is important for every Gorkha in a positive and a negative way. According to the treaty the Nepal king surrendered himself to the British. The treaty is important optimistically unless for the treaty signed, Nepal would have been engulfed in the union of states of India. On the other hand, the treaty till today remains as an embarrassment and humiliation for every Gorkha that marks their losing in the war. The British were interested in Nepal for its rich Copper used in Guns and Bronze.

How the Gorkha Clan did come into existence in India though their roots are in Nepal?

The British Government showed interests in the Nepali soldiers after the treaty and forced them into fights. They also cultivated tea plantations and forced the Nepali population into tea labourers.

This created an organised system of production, unity among the workers and a peculiar culture of Feudal Prejudices emerged. These set of people especially in the Tea Plantation areas had their own language, very much similar to the Nepali language with a different grammar and vocabulary. This group consisted of the Nepali, Lepcha, bhutia, Mech and Koch and were collectively called as the Gorkhas. The Groups migrated to India to escape from the British.

The above clans united to form the Gorkha community to have a unique language, culuture, a permanent residence, and fight against the Imperialistic British.

How did the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950 between India and Nepal is linked to Gorkhaland agitation?

After India gained independence in 1947, the Gorkhas were added along with the subjects of the Bengalis. Also, the India Nepal border scatteres the gorkha population and their families in two different countries. Therefore, there was a demand from the Gorkhas for a separate land.

Hence, a treaty was signed between the governments to allow the legal migration of the Gorkhas on either side.

What were the reasons for the Gorkha Appraisal after independence?

• A situation of neglect towards the Gorkha land by the Indian state and their Bengali counter parts began.
• The tea industry began to die and by 1982 just 84 tea gardens remained, on the aspect that tea plantations were the major source of livelihood for the Gorkhas.
• After independence the railway system with the headquarters at Darjeeling was shifted ti Maligon, Assam. This affected the transport of tea very deeply. And gradually economy of the Darjeeling and the Gorkha land surrounding it began to decline.

What is the role of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council?

The DGHC was a semi – autonomous body that looked after the administration of the hills of Darjeeling. It has three main divisions namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. The Council was to function under the Assam State Government. Subhash Ghisingh was made as the chairman of the council. He remained as the chairman of the council for the three consecutive terms without elections till 2004.

Why the Gorkhas did oppose the Sixth Schedule?

Under the Sixth Schedule of the constitution, certain areas from the North Easter States were to be called as the “Tribal Areas” apart from the “Schedule Areas” under the 5^th Schedule of the Constitution. Under the 6^th schedule, the councils created for the tribes in these areas were given constitutional importance and were given legislative powers.

To know more about the Creation of the councils, Members of the Councils and their legislative and judicial powers please visit this link.

The Gorkhas opposed the Sixth Schedule as their council was not included in the Sixth Schedule. Also they wanted to remove the Council system and claimed for a separate state.

What is the significance of the Gorkha Territorial Administration Act, 2012?

According to the act, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council was replaced by the GTA – Gorkha Territorial Administration.

• The GTA was given administrative, executive and financial powers but no legislative powers.
• 45 Constituencies were announced by the west Bengal Government under the GTA.

The act also brought in the first election for the Gorkha land after the formation of the Council.