Reclaiming the Darjeeling Terai

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 Of great importance to us at this point of time is, therefore, a serious search for the historical documents that highlight various pertinent issues relevant to the Gorkhas of Darjeeling and its adjoining Dooars. 

One such crucial and critical historical document is the report on the Darjeeling Terai Settlement.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 

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                                                  — 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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.