Gorkhaland: Need of the hour

Critics/Detractors/Enemies of the separate state of #Gorkhaland have following three major reasons to argue against the division of West Bengal:

1) Small Geographical Area and Population of Darjeeling Region

This is one of the very important factors often debated in mainstream policy and academic circles against the formation of Gorkhaland. However, this argument is unfounded and has little rationality. Take a look at the figures of two smallest states of India.

Sikkim
Geographical Area: 7096 Sq KM
Population: 6.5 Lakh (2011)
Arable area: 11%
81% of the total geographical area of Sikkim is under Forest Department.

Goa
Geographical Area: 3702 Sq KM
Population: 18 Lakh (2011)

Proposed Gorkhaland (Dists of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Bengal Dooars)
Geographical Area: 7217 Sq KM
Population: More than 40 Lakh (2011)
Arable land: over 50%

Are area and population, therefore, reason why #Gorkhaland should not be created?

2) Darjeeling is an integral part of West Bengal and there is no question of bifurcation

The Bengali politicians, journalists and even Bengali academics mostly throw this argument. Any conscious and informed citizen of India knows that Darjeeling along with its adjoining Dooars/Terai was never part of the larger political/administrative landscape of Bengal till mid 19th Century. Therefore, this theory has no relevance and can be challenged left, right and center!

3) Strategic location of Darjeeling Hills and National Security Concerns

This is the most important theory often put forth by the #Gorkhaland detractors both in New Delhi and Kolkata. However, this theory is also groundless and desperately propagated by the vested interests.

In fact, forcefully keeping Darjeeling-Dooars region with its unique history, socio-culture and economy within West Bengal posses serious national security threat to the country. The region is a melting pot of ethnic diversity. It is dynamic in nature and evolving with time. However, Bengal government in the last 60 years has systematically destroyed the dynamic socio-cultural, economic and political fabrics of the region by 1) resettling the Bangladeshi refugees in the region and 2) by massively encouraging illegal Bangladeshi migrants in North Bengal particularly in the Darjeeling-Dooars region.

The Report of Darjeeling Terai Settlement (1891) by Sasi Bhusan Dutt clearly highlights that there was not a single Bengali soul on the soil of Darjeeling Terai during the period.

Resettlement of Bangladeshi refugees and massive illegal migration in the strategically located Darjeeling-Dooars region in the last 60 years has seriously compromised the security of the nation as well as human security of the region.

Contrariwise, therefore, it is only after the separation from Bengal and formation of a separate state of #Gorkhaland that the security of the nation and the region can be truly ensured!

Mamata Banerjee, Narendra Modi PMO India : Now you say, why should there be no separate state of #GORKHALAND comprising of Darjeeling and Dooars region? What stops you from fulfilling the century long demands of the #Gorkhas of #Darjeeling and their brothers/sisters in #Dooars?

Demographic composition of Darjeeling Terai at the end of 19th Century:

Gorkha/Nepali:    26.9%


Lepcha:               3.0%


Bhutia:                1.1%


Others:               68.9% 

Bengali:              0.0%



.... and they say the #Gorkhas are migrants! 🤣

Separate state of Gorkhaland within India is not as big a thing as Bengalis might be thinking and trying to make

We should understand that a separate state within India is not as big a thing as we might be thinking and trying to make. Everything will remain the same. Only the governance will change.#Gorkhas are not taking the land anywhere!

We will all co-exist, walk together and work together. Adibasis, Bengalis, Marwaris, Biharis, Gorkhas, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others will all benefit equally from the new state. We all know how the northern part of West Bengal has been neglected by the successive regimes over the years.

In fact, majority of us are open to change the name of the State and make it representative of all the inhabitants living in the new state. There is no hard and fast rule that it has to be called #Gorkhaland. We are also open with regard to the first chief minister....it can be a Bengali Chief Minister, a Rajbonshi, Lepcha, Bhutia, Marwari, Muslim or a Gorkha. It hardly matters to us.

Our Bengali friends in Siliguri and our friends in the adjoining Duars should understand this and extend their support to the movement. A new state in the region is a win-win situation for all!

Nationalism of the Gorkhas and Issues of Bangladeshi Infiltration into West Bengal

Gorkhas’ have submitted memorandums many times, in the last 40 years, to scrap Article 7 of the Indo-Nepal peace treaty (1950). It reads as follows: ‘The Governments of India and Nepal agree to grant, on a reciprocal basis, to the nationals of one country in the territories of the other the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature’.

Indian Gorkhas have never been happy with Article 7 and, therefore, one of the main objectives, among others, of Gorkhaland Movement of the 1980s led by late Subash Ghishing was to scrap the Treaty.

This is the level of nationalism and loyalty of the Indian Gorkhas towards their country.

Now look at the case of West Bengal!
The Indo-Bangladesh border is a closed border and there is no free movement across. But if you look at the demographic trend of W. Bengal particularly in North Bengal in the last 70 years, you will be surprised!

The partition of the country led to large-scale resettlement of the Hindu Bengalis from Bangladesh in the region. That is absolutely fine. It was need of the time.

However, after the creation of Bangladesh in the early 1970s, there has been a large-scale illegal immigration of the Bangladeshis into the State of West Bengal often encouraged by the successive state governments! Ironically, Mamata Banerjee, recently, even threatened Mr Modi to dare touch a Bangladeshi let alone repatriating her/him to Bangladesh.

You will be surprised to know that the percentage share of Hill populace in Darjeeling district has continuously gone down over the years. The share was around 72% in 1951; it went down to 65% by 1961, 54% by 1981, and 49% by 2011. Actually, the hills populace largely represented by the Gorkhas, are fast becoming minority in the district. This is what figures in the successive Census of India reports indicate!

The citizens of the country need to understand this double standard of West Bengal for the larger national security interest of the Country. This is a grave concern for all of us and India needs to seriously think and debate on this.

We need to break West Bengal....that is the only solution

Today, Bengal is one of the most non-performing states in the country. Look at the outstanding debt of West Bengal in the last seven years as an initial pointer among many others.

2010-11: 185660.47 crore
2011-12: 208382.58 crore
2012-13: 226193.37 crore
2013-14: 250837.70 crore
2014-15: 274800.12 crore
2015-16: 304940.58 crore
2016-17: 334608.29 crore

WB has been one of the most inward looking states for the past several decades. There was time (during 1950s and 60s) when the state was ranked among one of the frontline states of the country. The past four decades have only seen downfall of the state. Today, situation has become so grave that WB has almost become a liability and a big burden to the country. I don’t think it is economically wise to maintain such huge debt-stricken province. The state has virtually become bankrupt! All likeminded people are running away from WB.

My suggestion to the Government of India: We need to break West Bengal into three smaller states for efficient handling of the economy. This also becomes important in the larger interest and aspiration of India to become a Global player in the near future.

1) North Bengal (Districts of Darj, Kpg, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Coochbehar): Gorkhaland or Gorkha-Adibasi Pradesh

2) Central Bengal (Areas inhabited by our Surjapuri friends) as Surjapur

3) South Bengal (rest of Bengal) as Bengal.

The jargon/rethoric 'banga bhanga hobena' is just emotion laden term and will not serve the purpose of larger national interest.

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Early Pathways of Sikkim University: Some Reflections

A decade down the line, since Sikkim University was declared established on July 02, 2007, I feel it was, as if, few days ago that we read news of establishment of a new Central University in Sikkim. Young and not so young academic minds located across spaces of the country but with deep association with the region were overjoyed by the news. It was, indeed, a proud moment for all us.

When I, incidentally, met the newly appointed Vice Chancellor on 14 July 2007 on the sidelines of the Council for Social Development’s training programme at State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Karfectar, he updated about the new university and the anticipated opportunities and challenges on its path. He further informed me that he was forming a team to undertake what he termed as a ‘University building Project’ and that he wanted dedicated young minds like me to join his team.

I was quite excited by the offer as it was, perhaps, the only opportunity for me to return back to the region from Delhi where I had been working as well as pursuing my PhD. I resigned from my employment at the Council for Social Development, New Delhi, by the end of July 2007 and was relieved to join Sikkim University on August 14, 2007. I joined the University on August 20, 2007

The Vice Chancellor had been operating from a room in the State Guest House since he joined SU in the first week of July. I was advised to occupy the adjacent room. Sikkim University functioned from the State Guest House for about 04 months. During the period, the State Guest House was Sikkim University as well as our residence. In the mean time, besides several other paper works, we pursued to the State government for an administrative office of the University and VC’s residence.

In September 2007, the government of Sikkim generously allocated the then Youth Hostel located at Samdur on rental basis to Sikkim University to start its initial administrative functions. We undertook minor repair works of the building and officially shifted to the present Administrative Block on November 01, 2007. The first set of executives, apart from Vice Chancellor and myself, joined the University on the same day. The first Registrar and Finance Officer joined the University in the second half of 2008 and the first Controller of Examinations joined in the autumn of 2009.

Having spent a relatively luxurious life in Delhi, the new settings in Gangtok were more difficult than I had initially anticipated. With the nocturnal habit of roaming around well beyond 12:00 at midnight across the campus of JNU, it was, initially, difficult for me to digest the fact that Gangtok goes to bed by 9:00 in the evening. Further, Sikkim University was declared only on paper without anything on the ground. We had to accompany the SU ACT (2006) to justify the existence of Sikkim University for all the official purposes. For example, we wanted new telephone connections. BSNL repeatedly asked for the valid documents to justify the address of Sikkim University. After pursuing for over a month we could finally convince BSNL for the first set of telephone connections in the University. Issues around basic facilities like inefficiency in photocopying, work culture, limited options of cheap food outlets were other forces that we had to be adapted with during the first few months in Gangtok. Some of the foundational exercises we undertook in the first one-year included:

i)    Preparation of a document on the status of higher education of Sikkim,
ii.)   Affiliation of all the colleges of Sikkim with Sikkim University,
iii.)  Designing of new curricula for undergraduate programmes of affiliated colleges,
iv.)  Developing the framework of semester system for Sikkim University and its affiliated colleges,
v.)   Evolving an evaluation pattern for Sikkim University, and
vi.)  Designing the Schools, Departments, and academic programmes of Sikkim University.

The first four academic departments that we decided to start were Social Systems & Anthropology (now Sociology), Microbiology, Peace and Conflict Studies and Management, and International Relations.

Till about mid-2010, I operated more like a multi-tasking staff member within the University. I coordinated examinations, monitored college affairs, purchased required university items, coordinated important meetings including ECs and ACs, shortlisted applications, coordinated research projects, drafted annual reports and also drafted important letters of the Vice Chancellor. One of the invited professors once jokingly remarked ‘you are the most qualified and decorated clerk of Sikkim University’ and I agreed to him.

Things became slightly smoother after the first set of permanent administrative staff joined the University in the latter half of 2010. In August 2010, I was transferred to the School of Policy Planning and Studies to coordinate research projects, teach and undertake other academic activities of the University. I joined as a permanent faculty member in the same school on 29 March 2012.

Looking back, I am happy that I got opportunity to be member of the founding team of Sikkim University. At a relatively young age, I was exposed to very many critical responsibilities of the University system particularly in academic administration and examinations. The whole process was a lifetime learning experience for me. I used to feel elated when members of affiliated colleges during their routine visit to the university said ‘we know only two persons in Sikkim University: Lama Sir and Khawas Sir’. These words have no meaning as of today but they used to galvanize me to work harder and longer.

Sikkim University started with two members with its office at the State Guest House (Gangtok) and gradually grew from strength to strength. The first five years were rather harsher, more unorganized and less institutionalized than the last five years. We had no office timings and used to work well beyond the official 5:30 pm and sometimes till 11:00 pm. Establishing an institution of higher learning is a far difficult proposition than what many detractors may perceive from outside. I feel honoured, fortunate and so proud that I was part of the Sikkim University building process.

May SIKKIM UNIVERSITY enlighten the world for thousands of years to come!

Jai Gorakhnath!

Vimal Khawas

I, all of a sudden, awoke from my tired sleep on one of the autumn midnights. After completing a daylong field survey in a nearby tea garden, to enjoy deep lazy sleep was all I could be entitled with. However, an uncanny sound followed by high-pitched noisy bark of uncountable dogs in the vicinity forced me to come out of my utopian berth. Few seconds of careful listening and I made it. It was a Jogi performing his usual customary chore. That is that; it is not new to me. I have been hearing this uncanny sound followed by numerous indecipherable mantras during the midnights of a particular day of particular month since my childhood. I, however, never thought of exploring as to why Jogi performs such a difficult job during the dark scary moonless nights, the meaning and significance of such performance etc. 

At about 8 am in the morning before I was free of my morning chores, a voice Jai Goraknath greeted me. He was the same man who produced series of uncanny sounds in the midnight. He had come to collect the fruit of his wakeful service. I secretly made up my mind to explore the significance of his midnight venture and few other associated details. Our conversation enlightened me with some interesting ethno-cultural information of which I was debarred from, all these years. 

Jogi-s or what people also locally address them, as Pheriwala-s across Darjeeling-Sikkim Hills and Nepal is one of the ethnic groups belonging to a larger Nepali/Nepalese community. They believe themselves to be the loyal disciples of Lord Shiva or what they also call Goraknath. They have a total of 64 bhairungs (sub-tribe) out of which only 12 bhairungs are entitled to be pheriwalas. Meaning thereby, only 12 sub-tribe of Jogi are culturally given to practice this customary duty. Therefore, all Pheriwalas are Jogis but not all Jogis are Pheriwalas.

It was Lord Shiva who sent them to this world, as Goraknath knew the world is featured with innumerable evil spirits. As the loyal disciples of Goraknath it is their duty to protect human beings from the evil spirits characterising the world. In this connection they set out for their rounds in the mid-night as it is believed that evil spirits are active during the period. They visit every household in a village or a particular region and blow Sankha Dhoni with the help of a horn of an animal locally called brat (an animal belonging to deer family). In the process they produce a series of uncanny sounds supported by spiritual mantras often hard to decipher by an ordinary soul. One Pheriwala visits one pre-demarcated village/region. There is no overlap in the performance i.e. no two pheriwalas perform in the same village in a same night. There are, however, cases when two pheriwalas perform collectively. In that, one of them would be a junior or a disciple who would be learning the lessons of pheri phuknu (blow) and the associated mantras from his senior or master. 

Pheriwalas usually perform their age-old customary duty during chayit roughly corresponding the months of mid March – mid April and Kartik i.e. mid October- mid November. They believe evil spirits are most active during these two periods and as the ardent disciples of Goraknath they are bound to protect the human beings from their evil objective of negatively influencing the everyday human life. 

They collect alms or what they also call it daan the very next morning from the individual households of the village/region where they perform. They do so for the nau grah santi (peace to the nine planets of the solar system) of the members of the households. They believe, they have the power to carry along with them all the planetary problems of human being inflicted upon by different locations of nine planets revolving around the solar system. They offer sacrifice to their Sankha Dhoni to keep their instrument active and effective for the cause. The sacrifice is usually offered during the Nepali/Nepalese calendar of asthami or noami.

Superstitious it may sound pheri phuknu is one of the important ethno-religio-spiritual attributes in force across both rural and urban spaces since time immemorial. Rustic hill folks often wonder as to why Pheriwala did not visit their houses if, by chance, a particular village or a region is left out during the period. It is strongly imbibed within the culture of Nepali speaking households across Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Nepal. 

Further, Jogis also play a role of traditional ethno-spiritual faith healers. There are numerous instances when the people to heal their ailments have called them. Examples abound across the hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim where Jogis have cured paralysis, epilepsy and other forms of diseases.

Nevertheless, the present young generation Jogis and those that are yet to come may not be quite interested to carry forward this odd profession. Jogis themselves feel that they have been gradually deviating from their historico-cultural attribute over the period of time. Education and other associated postmodern forces have been playing important role in this connection. Truly, as the whole of human species is entangled in the process of development, Jogis/Pheriwalas cannot be an exception. Pheri Phuknu, apart from being a ritual, custom and tradition of Pheriwalas, is one of the prominent ethno-religious assets of the larger Nepali/Nepalese community. We must not lose this asset as we proceed ahead in the spectrum of development dynamics.

[Note: I wrote this article in 2005 when I was a University student and published in Himalayan Times  (Kalimpong) in the same year]