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 Of great importance to us at this point of time is, therefore, a serious search for the historical documents that highlight various pertinent issues relevant to the Gorkhas of Darjeeling and its adjoining Dooars.
One such crucial and critical historical document is the report on the Darjeeling Terai Settlement.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 Terai 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 (in Acre)
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
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
S.No Private Markets
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 —
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 Pop 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
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 Ratio [females/1000 males) Population Density [per sq mile]
1872 868 177
1881 786 233
1891 744 266
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 population 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 Adivasis 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
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
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
Historical Evidence
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.
Geometric Rise
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 Adivasis, Gorkhas, Lepchas and Bhutias have abysmally gone down.
Recommendations
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.
