Even as I sit…writing this article, I have just finished reading the newspaper (Kolkata edition). Of course, in case you wondering how I laid my hands on one, the truth is…I am in West Bengal at the moment; much to the discomfort of my parents, who constantly call to check on me. Of course, their reaction is understandable. After all, the situation in West Bengal continues to be grim…with news of lynching and communal violence becoming centre-stage.
Even today, three people have died in police firing post the renewed violence in Darjeeling. In fact, the press labeled today — i.e. 10th July, 2017 — as one of the most violent days in Darjeeling since the indefinite strike that began on 12th June, 2017.
So much so that the army had to be summoned to restore law and order in Sonada and Darjeeling. This despite the fact that the Bengal Chief Minister, Mamta Banerjee, has offered talks to the Hills parties. However, the violence does not seem to be dissipating any time soon! But why is Darjeeling burning?!?
Well, if you were to believe the Chief Minister, there are foreign forces “apparently” at work in West Bengal…which is a deliberate attempt to discredit her government. Of course, as we know this narrative of “videshi haath” — as used by India’s veteran politicians! — has been used ad nauseam and as such has become an old wives’ tale that needs to be decimated, before it is used again.
What’s more pertinent in the present scenario is the question: Why has the West Bengal Chief Minister allowed the situation to take the turn for the worse?!? What is the fight about?!? Well, the present fight has begun in the wake of the demand for an independent ‘Gorkhaland’, which is basically a demand for the creation of a separate state for people belonging to Darjeeling Hills and people belonging to the ‘gorkha’ community.
Basically, this demand emanates from the linguistic, traditional and cultural differences between people of Darjeeling hills and Bengalis living in West Bengal. For they do not find any semblance of similarity between themselves and the Bengalis living in Bengal. This is what resulted in the two major mass movements in support of Gorkhaland — the first took place under the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) in the years 1986 to 1988; and the second catapulted in the year 2007 under the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which is what has currently captured the country’s common conscience.
Of course, while I condemn the violence that has resulted in the scenic land owing to this demand for a separate state, we must admit to the legitimacy of their demands. After all, what are they asking for?!? A state of their own! Of course, before you start throwing phrases like “we are one big nation” and “multicultural unity” at me, let me break it down. What they are basically saying — through their agitation! — is that they do not feel a sense of belongingness. For them, West Bengal is a place for “Bengalis” and they aren’t “Bengalis”. Thus, why is Darjeeling burning??? Because we’re letting it burn! Maybe it’s time to give them what they have wanted since independence…A Gorkhastan…a land where they belong!!!
