Editorial 13 Issue

By Editor on August 09,2009

“Another fact of life that will not have escaped you is that, in this country, the twenty-four –hour strike is like the twenty four hour flu. You have to reckon on it lasting at least five days.”

-Frank Muir
British writer and broadcaster.

Well for us Gorkhas, since we all are born with the fate of experiencing indefinite strikes, it is worse than reckoning flu. It’s like a disease which we have to grapple with for days and weeks. Especially this time it was rather distressing. Usually, after the GJMM came into power in the hills, the people here did not take strikes seriously. Since the GNLF had become a synonym for strikes the GJMM had also gained immense popularity for refuting the GNLF strikes which could be called for any trivial issue whatsoever. So this time when the GJMM called for an indefinite strike, everyone here thought it would be like flu of five days. However with hours passing into days and days into weeks, gradually we all had no choice but to realize that the entire hills was “Strike Struck”.

Indeed this time the strike period was a very eventful period which raised many questions and at the same time which made us also rethink about the precarious situation in the hills as we will read inside-“was the strike threat a pressure tactic or was it a ploy to awaken the people? Alok Kant Mani Thulung cautioning contractors and reminding people to adhere to the norms of a non-co operative movement were indications that had greater implications.”

However amid the “Strike Struck” events, a booklet “Why Gorkhaland?” was released by the Morcha which was also released by Jaswant Singh in New Delhi on 16th. July, in the presence of the BJP leaders and the national media. Then again, probably for the first time the “Parliament hears Gorkhaland” as Jaswant Singh with all dignity and decorum intact provided logical arguments for the creation of a separate statehood. Sushma Swaraj and Rajiv Pratap Rudy also simultaneously raised the issue of Gorkaland in the Parliament and all these arguments came up at a time when Pranab Mukherjee had sworn that the government would not entertain any talks with regard to the division of Bengal.

Despite such opposition the much awaited tripartite talks have now been scheduled for 11th. August and we Gorkhas await with baited breath as to what the tripartite talks will bring for us and what the days that follow will be like….will the hills be “Strike Struck” again or will we enter into the forthcoming festive months with new found hope and joy in our hearts?

Shreyashi Chettri
Editor
Darjeeling Times.com

so, pround and bikas, what's your view on THIS TURNING POINT of gjmm by opposing like holding of hands. all this things are just a issue for their living. Actually the Truth is Bitter you guys already know which you can't digest, so there's baseless to argue to bone head like you. peace and hold ...... ohhhh.
(Posted by Indian, September 5, 2009, 4:00 AM)

Mr Bikas is absolutely correct with his history, we should all know our history so that we can teach others too especially people like Mr Indian.
(Posted by PROUD indian and gorkha, August 23, 2009, 11:32 AM)

Hey! Mr. India, I suggest that you get your history right before you write rubbish. Darjeeling was never a part of India before 1947. After the Anglo-Nepal of 1814 'Nepal ceded the Darjeeling territory, which the Gorkhas had annexed from the Raja of Sikkim, to the East India Company. If you have ever head of ‘Treaty of Sugauli,1815’ this is what was signed after East India Company defeated the Gorkha army. In 1817, the East India Co. reinstated the Raja of Sikkim, who restored all the land including Darjeeling. The East India Co again negotiated with Raja of Sikkim and Deed of Grant was signed in 1835 according to which Darjeeling was given to the Britishers as a gift. In return the Raja was paid an allowance of Rs.3,000/- per annum as compensation. So, you are right, Anglo-Nepal war was not fought for India because Darjeeling was not a part of India then. Darjeeling became a part of India only after India independence. But what is also right is that the fight for land began since 1814 – when Britishers tried to invade our land. Having had some history lesson, now can you ask your parents whether it is fair to deprive the hill people form their legitimate right. And make sure you look into their eyes when you ask them.
(Posted by Bikas, August 21, 2009, 11:59 PM)

OK PROUD, NOW THIS TIME YOU MUST HAVE FORGOT ABOUT JALIAWALLA BAGH AND KARGIL WAR. AS PER YOUR ANGLO-GORKHA WAR IN 1815, DID YOU READ THE HISTORY PROPERLY? AT THAT TIME WHO AND WHAT DOES THEY FOUGHT FOR, BET DIFENATELY, NOT FOR INDIA. ABOUT THE G. MALLA , HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE FROM NEPAL AND EVERY BODY KNOWS THAT, WHAT DO YOU WANT? INDIAN GOVT. HAVE TO GIVE A WHOLE DARJEELING DISTT. JUST IN HIS NAME?
(Posted by Indian, August 21, 2009, 5:26 AM)

Well Mr Indian writing your comment in all CAPS does not make it right. As for the history of Darjeeling, you should start reading from 1815, Anglo - Gorkha Wars and the eventual treaties that took place, the treaty of Sagowlee and Titalya. and as for being merceneries it was after the Anglo - Gorkha war that the British were so impressed with the bravery of the Gorkha that the British included the Gorkhas in their Army and later in the Indian Army. As for the question of Gorkhaland the idea of an autonomous administrative setup watever the name be is about 100 years old and is documented history and not like off the head emotional bull crap that mr indian does. And as for Gorkhas serving the county you must hav heard of Saheed Durga Malla, Major of the INA during the Indian Freedom Movement and due to this his statue now stands in the lawn of the Parliament House
(Posted by PROUD indian and gorkha, August 20, 2009, 11:29 AM)

Logically the Truth is that Gorkhas/Nepali only were recruited by British from Nepal as a Mercanaries at Darjeeling, Shillong and Lahore in pre-Independent. some of the jats and punjabi were also there but as soon as the situation gone critical they quit and join their Indian freedom movement. but its the Gorkhas/Nepali who stick at the massacare to kill Indian because, Indian doesn't wanted to kill their own brother and sister, its Gorkha/Nepali who kill many Indian in the name of British. but still when British left India, Indian Govt. let the left over Gorkhas/Nepali to live in India. And now since couple of decades Gorkhas/Nepali were demanding for the land. And now its become 220 yrs. for them from 101 yrs., and 21yrs old claim, Increasing year day by day, ha haha un digestable. (HADDI DIN DA HAATH NIIL CHHAS).
(Posted by Indian, August 18, 2009, 9:42 AM)

YOU PROUD, GOOD FOR YOU FOR ACCEPTING YOURSELF AS A EMPLOYEE AND THE HISTORY BECAUSE THE HISTORY REMAINS FOR EVER, AS PER YOUR COMMENTS YOU ARE SKIPPING A LITTLE ABOUT DARJEELING BUT THAT LITTLE IS TOO BIG FOR THE ISSUE AND THAT IS WHAT AND WHERE IS DARJEELING? NOMATTER EITHER ITS A FOUR INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OR WHATEVER, THE PLACE BELONGS TO INDIA. ABOUT THE FALKLAND WAR AND THE KILLING AT JALLIWALLA BAGH, AS WHOLE WORLD KNOWS, GORKHAS/NEPALI WERE THERE, BUT AS A KILLER/SHOOTER FOR THE BRITISH, AND ABOUT THE KARGIL WAR, ITS BEEN JUST A DECADE AND THAT'S JUST AFTER DEMANDING GORKHALAND. SO YOU DO NEED BRUSH UP YOUR HISTORY BOOK OR ASK YOUR PARENTS FACING EYE TO EYE, I BET THEY CAN'T LOOK AT YOU NOR YOU.
(Posted by Indian, August 18, 2009, 4:48 AM)

well mr indian seems to be to knowledgeable to know the history of the gorkhas and the british and the indian army. firstly the indian govt did us no favour by letting us stay back in india and by alsoclaiming darjeeling to be theirs. the immense revenue generated from tea and also foreign exchange that india receives due to the tea and tourism due to brand Darjeeling, secondly the strategic location of Darjeelin i.e four international borders is very important for India. As for being mercenaries, we are not, we just did what our employers have asked us to throughtout the ages, be it the Falkland War, Jalliawala bagh, indo-pak wars, indo-china wars and kargil. so mr indian do u see, need to brush up on ur history, happy indepenece day, proud to be indian always
(Posted by PROUD indian and gorkha, August 16, 2009, 3:28 PM)

Logically the Truth is that Gorkhas/Nepali only were recruited by British from Nepal as a Mercanaries at Darjeeling, Shillong and Lahore in pre-Independent. some of the jats and punjabi were also there but as soon as the situation gone critical they quit and join their Indian freedom movement. but its the Gorkhas/Nepali who stick at the massacare to kill Indian because, Indian doesn't wanted to kill their own brother and sister, its Gorkha/Nepali who kill many Indian in the name of British. but still when British left India, Indian Govt. let the left over Gorkhas/Nepali to live in India. And now since couple of decades Gorkhas/Nepali were demanding for the land. And now its become 220 yrs. for them from 101 yrs., and 21yrs old claim, Increasing year day by day, ha haha un digestable. (HADDI DIN DA HAATH NIIL CHHAS).
(Posted by Indian, August 12, 2009, 10:04 AM)

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