Merger of Darjeeling-Duars into West Bengal: A Treacherous Historical Exercise

Considering the political and administrative history of Darjeeling-Duars, one often wonders why has this region been kept within the administrative preview of West Bengal at the first place? In this connection it is important for the larger public to understand that among other relevant factors for the state re-organisation, State Reorganization Commission (1955) considered language & culture and financial viability important. However, both of these factors were overlooked and Darjeeling-Duars was merged into West Bengal with high level of politics played by BC Roy and the then congress party (see Politics of Autonomy: Indian Experiences (2005) edited by Ranabir Samaddar).

The region was merged into West Bengal without any consultation with the Gorkhas, Adibasis and other people living in the area during early 1950s and against the will of the larger population residing in the region. Absorbed Area Act (1954) also sheds light on the issues of the absorption of Darjeeling district into the West Bengal. Importantly, there was also a very strong lobby to form a state called 'Uttarakhand' consisting of Sikkim, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch-behar that eventually did not fructify.

Therefore, the very idea that Darjeeling-Duars is an integral part of West Bengal and the pseudo cry of ‘banga bhanga hobena’ often publicized by Bengalis and Bengal Government has no teeth. It is unfounded, illogical and just an emotional 'rhetoric'. BC Roy and his team treacherously merged the region into West Bengal without consulting the vulnerable, gullible, peace loving Gorkhas and Adibasis in the 1950s.

Where is the question of division of West Bengal, therefore?  The Gorkhas now want to de-merge the region from West Bengal and have our own governance. It is as simple as that!

Uncomfortable questions on why Gorkhaland

We have been explaining since110 years to different sets of Governments at the Centre and Province on why we want to be separated from (West) Bengal rather defensively!

Given the attitude of the Government of India not to talk of West Bengal.....I think, now we have to change our ways of asking back what is ours....

Now instead of meekly and weakly asking for self rule/determination, lets ask them some serious questions.

I have floated few of the questions in the pages of FB and have also tagged SS Ahluwalia ji , Narendra Modi ji and Rajnath Singh ji. I have also submitted the questions to GMCC's research wing to look for answers. We need to draft series of such questions.

Let the government of India and West Bengal explain to us.

Out of several questions, one last and final question should be wicked and uncomfortable to both India and West Bengal and that is:

Why should the Darj-Kpg- TERAI DUARS region remain a part of West Bengal?.... and if need arises we should be bold enough to question ... in India at large?

Given the history of the region and the record that India is still paying compensation to Bhutan for KPG and Duars, this question, although uncomfortable and wicked, is relevant and has teeth.

The Gorkha Factor in Bengal

In reply to the article:

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sunday-special/people/the-gorkha-factor-in-bengal/427159.html#comment-3438719366

-----------------------------------------------

In 1891 there was not a single Bengali inhabiting the soil of Darjeeling Terai (Present Siliguri and adjoining area) (Source: Sashi Bhusan Dutt, 1898, Darjeeling Terai Settlement Report). By 1901 Darjeeling District had about 60% of the Gorkhas (Bengal Gazetteer: Darjeeling, 1948) . By 2011, the percentage share of hill populace was 48% while the plain populace largely represented by Bengali speakers was over 50% (District Census Hand Book, 2011). Shubhadeep Choudhury, who are the migrants here? Major part of Darjeeling including terai and duars was ruled by Nepal between 1780 and 1815 and there are evidences of the people of the region paying taxes to the king of Nepal at that point of time (Read history for reference). This clearly proves that the majority India Gorkhas came with the land!

Instead of rumour mongering, why dont you bring in pertinent issues of how Bengal has encouraged illegal Bangladeshi migration over the years into the soils of Bengal and rest of India? Why dont you talk about radical organisations like Aamra Bangali and Bangla-o-Bangali Bhasha Bachao Samiti that often talk about uniting Bengal and Bangladesh?, Why dont you talk about the imminent national security threat because of the rising illegal Bangladeshis often resorting to anti national activities from the soil of West Bengal? Why dont you examine the outstanding 3.4 lakh crore dept of W Bengal making it economically unviable to remain as a state?

Why dont you discuss such crucial issues? or are you also from Bangladesh residing illegally in Kolkata and trying to break the unity of India?

Bengalis have spread like insects across the spaces of Siliguri and Terai in the last 70 years and have eaten up scarce natural resources there without any notable contribution to the growth and development of the region. Why don't you do stories on such issues?

Entire Tea Industry and Sedentary Agriculture of Sikkim, Darjeeling and Southern Bhutan were established by the dint of hard works of the Gorkhas. If you research properly, livestock and dairy industry of entire Northeast India were initiated and established by the Gorkhas. The sacrifices of the Gorkhas on the border of the country is reported every other day! Why don't you explore these issues further and write some good stories on the Gorkhas?

Read the history and geography of West Bengal and Sikkim properly. We don't buy the stories of Ray, Chakraborty and Misra. They are not the trained historians. Tell them to stick to their respective subjects and contribute to their discipline.

Rumour mongering will not help.....that is what you people did in the 1980s and silenced the voices of the Gorkhas with the help of CRPFs...the stray dogs. This is 2017.......we have come a long way now.....economically, intellectually and strategically. If you have guts, come to the table to discuss the truth.

Live in peace and let Gorkhas to live in peace. Our problem is not with the Bengalis but with the system of governance in W Bengal.

Only Gorkhaland is the solution to the #Darjeelingunrest. However hard you try, the truth is Darjeeling and Duars never belonged to West Bengal and separate state consisting of entire Darjeeling dist, Kalimpong dist, large part of Jalpaiguri is inevitable, if not today.....definitely tomorrow. The demand for Gorkhaland is older than West Bengal.

Impact of Gorkhaland Movement

Reportedly, indefinite bandh in the #Gorkhaland have primarily impacted Siliguri City the hardest. According to reports:

1). Siliguri is losing INR 12.5 crore per day.
2.) 75% of the business of Siliguri has been hit due to strike.

3.) Darjeeling Tea Industry has lost INR 340 crore in 19 days
4.) NHPC's TDLP III and IV are suffering a loss of INR 2.5 crore daily.

What do these figures reflect?

While we can have an extended discussion on these figures, in short:

Points 1 and 2 are very critical pointers that Siliguri has no meaning without Sikkim-Gorkhaland or in other words...it means Siliguri owes its existence and maintenance to Sikkim-Darjeeling! They also raise a serious concern that 1,057,438 (as per Census of India, 2011) people residing in metropolitan Siliguri and people living in adjoining Terai have little contribution to the growth and development of the economy in the region. This clearly means, they are big economic burden to the area and the state at large! Who are these people by the way ? and why are they living in Siliguri ? .... This is a big question that we need to seek answer for? Here....the whole issue of Informal Bangladeshi migration needs to be debated!

Secondly, point numbers 3 and 4 make us clear on how important is Darjeeling hills for West Bengal. Such a small place and such huge economic potential! More importantly, It makes us further confident on the fact that #Gorkhaland is an economically viable proposition and after being declared a state would be one of the fastest growing states of the country!

We really need to worry about points 1 and 2 for several reasons and from different perspectives. The national security perspective should be discussed on priority basis.