Prashant Phenomenon, Darjeeling Hills and Sixth Schedule

A new chapter to the history of Darjeeling hills was added on the December 6, 2005 following a tripartite agreement between the DGHC, the West Bengal government, and the Government of India. The objective of this agreement is to replace the existing Darjeeling Gorkha Hills Council to be known as Gorkha Hill Council, Darjeeling, under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India after due consultative, legislative and constitutional processes by the State and Central Governments, so as to fulfill economic, educational and linguistic aspirations and the preservation of land-rights, socio-cultural and ethnic identity of the hill people; and to speed up the infrastructure development in the hill areas.

In the last two years the draft Sixth Schedule Bill for Darjeeling hills has been dissected, analysed and examined by several critics including the academicians, journalists and general public. It has been found that there is hardly any difference between what the Council was before and what it is proposed to be by the draft Bill except the constitutional recognition for the DGHC. The Bill proposes only some minor changes here and there and revision of electoral representation in the updated Council. Many political analysts maintain that the Sixth Schedule drama is nothing more than Ghising’s ploy to delay further the long overdue DGHC election in the region and safeguard his chair. Still others lament that it was just the usual game of Bengal Government in collusion with Subash Ghising against the people of Darjeeling Hills. Ghising is also accused of the act of non-inclusion of his council colleagues and the general public of Darjeeling hills before he agreed upon to the draft Sixth Schedule prepared by the Government of West Bengal.

Importantly, the draft Bill was gathering dust in New Delhi for about two years. Both the Government of West Bengal and Government of India had long understood the dynamics of Darjeeling hills and nature of the people therein. They were aware of the mystic presence of Subash Ghising in Darjeeling Hills and his overwhelming popular image in the area. Hence, they never took heed of the fragmented oppositions and voices of the members of civil society against the toothless Sixth Schedule provisions offered by the Bengal Government to the region. The lopsided and opportunist opposition parties within Darjeeling Hills had tried tooth and nail to mobilize the general public against the draft Sixth Schedule Bill but were seldom successful in their venture. Notably, the general public of Darjeeling Hills under the leadership of Professor Mahendra P. Lama had prepared and submitted an alternative and drastically updated Sixth Schedule provisions to the Government of India and Bengal Government long back in opposition to the Sixth Schedule provisions prepared by the West Bengal and signed by Ghising. In fact, Professor Lama have time and again highlighted in various public forums that Sixth Schedule as such is not a bad proposition for Darjeeling Hills. However, the degree and extent of provisions within the Schedule and the way in which these provisions are formulated becomes critical for the sustainable future of the region and its people. According to him, if Darjeeling efficiently negotiates with the government and brings the right kind of Sixth Schedule to the region the same will be the stepping stone towards the Statehood for Darjeeling hills.

The recent Prashant phenomenon suddenly changed the socio-political matrix of Darjeeling hills. Not a single political party or personality (Except GNLF and Subash Ghising) could mobilise the members of civil society in Darjeeling Hills over the years as Prashant Phenomenon did. People in Darjeeling hills were so deeply involved and emotionally charged with the Prashant factor that a word against Prashant and his voice was enough to set fire to the emotions of general public. Everybody explicitly supported Prashant in Darjeeling-Sikkim and its neighbouring regions and sang his glory. However, Subash Ghishing kept tight-lipped all through the Indian Idol Programme. His silence through out the musical show and his non-utterance in support of the local boy gradually added fuel to the emotions of the general mass. Fortunately, Prashant emerged victorious in the grand finale. The civil society particularly in Darjeeling hills has united once again from its fragmentation and is tremendously disappointed with the attitude of Subash Ghising. Today, the socio-political environment has become exceedingly fragile in Darjeeling hills. Perhaps the tide may at anytime flow against the interest of Subash Ghising and his associates. In deed, the Prashant phenomenon has created a pan-Nepali sentiment across various linguistic groups of Nepali society within and outside India.

Not surprisingly, New Delhi timely smelled the uncongenial situation for Subash Ghising in Darjeeling hills and the gradual popular mobilisation against him. Consequently, the Government of India in connivance with West Bengal Government hurriedly called upon the cabinet meeting and approved the Sixth Schedule status for Darjeeling Hills on October 1, 2007. As intended by the New Delhi, the focus in Darjeeling hills suddenly again shifted from Prashant to Sixth Schedule and as wanted by the Centre and State Government Ghising has again been temporarily lucky. Why did the Centre play Sixth Schedule card at this very moment is one of the most pertinent questions that we need to seek answer for. By doing so the Government of India and West Bengal did two significant tasks for them. First, they have temporarily saved Subash Ghishing from the onslaught of the general mass who otherwise is exasperated by his recent attitude. Secondly and more importantly, they understood the fact that if they do not play the Sixth Schedule card right now the future of their puppet boy was seemingly bleak and the already mobilised mass would not at any cost settle for Sixth Schedule provisions prepared by West Bengal. In short, the frightening demand by Darjeeling to the Government of West Bengal, a separate Statehood for the people of Darjeeling hills would crop up once again had the Government of India not played the game at the right time and both New Delhi and Calcutta did not want that to happen.

However, mention should be made here that there is still a sizeable chunk of people in Darjeeling hills including general public, intellectuals, and political leaders who are not happy with the toothless provisions under the Sixth Schedule to be granted to the region if the bill is passed in the parliament [expectedly by the end of the year]. The political situation in Darjeeling hills is still relatively fragile and it will be critical to witness the newer developments on the south of the great Rangit River in near future.


**Published by Sikkim Express, October 2, 2007**