Future Talks and Problems for the Formation of Gorkhaland

The recent fourth round of tripartite meetings between the representatives of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), the State, and The Central Government has failed to produce any results which help to move forward the process of the formation of the State of Gorkhaland.  I think the GJMM was to some extent right in demanding no more talks at administrative level but taking the talks to a political level. After all the demand of Gorkhaland is a political topic for GJMM. Further, the current tripartite talks have failed to yield any results whatsoever. It has been close to six months and no one has any idea about as to when the DHGC will be finally abolished. Another million dollar question is what kind of political and administrative set up is going to take over DGHC until there is some head way into the talks associated with Gorkhaland.

I think as far as Gorkhaland demand is concerned there are three main contentious issues which have to be discussed frankly by both sides (GJMM and Bengal Government). Firstly, the issue which Bengal politicians always use as a trump card- WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANYMORE DIVISION OF BENGAL.  In this regard during future negotiations the GJMM representatives should provide Bengal with solid reasons to prove either Darjeeling was never a part of Bengal historically or if it was then Darjeeling has not been treated as if it was a part of Bengal. This is the most important part which the GJMM has to sort out with the Government of West Bengal before putting forward other issues. Everyone is very well aware that this is the most important issue which has always led to a deadlock.  Many may criticize me by saying that has not this been the argument put forward all these years. Well yes, but then the political realities have changed a lot in recent years in Darjeeling, Bengal, and New Delhi. The GJMM has in recent years been able to forge some alliance with BJP and other like minded parties at the Center, the Bengal Government is already looking forward to a disastrous performance in the elections next year, and then there is the announcement related to Telangana. The GJMM should be able to point out very carefully that there is no problem with Bengal or the Bengalis in general. This is not a communal issue but an issue related to the overall development of Darjeeling.

The second and third contentious issues are actually related. WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE BOUNDARIES OF GORKHALAND? The second one being the region of Bengal Dooars.  Subash Ghising while accepting the DGHC during the 80s made the biggest blunder of conceding Dooars to West Bengal. The region of Dooars is going to haunt the politicians and administrators for a long time. It is a well known fact that Dooars is home to a lot of people who do not speak Gorkhali language. Therefore, it is very easy for the people who dislike the demand of Gorklahand to instigate opposition. After all the name of the demand in itself is Gorkhaland. However, it is also a fact that there are many Gorkhalis who live in Dooars and like Darjeeling this part of Bengal has also been deprived of socio-economic development.  I personally think that if the GJMM is able to convince Government of West Bengal of the formation of Gorkhaland they have to have some leeway on the Dooars issue otherwise the talks may not be able to go forward. If only Subash Ghising had used his political acumen at the time during the formation of DGHC this issue would have not cropped up at all. But now it has become complicated. The third and the issue which has faced major opposition from Bengali speaking population is the city of Siliguri. I think this is going to be the most complicated part of the setting the boundaries for Gorkhaland issue. Siliguri in recent years has grown to be a prosperous city in North Bengal. The geographical advantage which Siliguri enjoys has made it a business epicenter of North East. People from almost every region of the country have come to make Siliguri as their home. The city also has a partial polarization where the Gorkhali speaking population and the Bengali speaking population seem to have settled in particular regions. The cosmopolitan environment coupled with the polarization of areas where the major ethnic populations of the city reside; in a nutshell the city is divided. There are regions of Siliguri which want to be included in Gorkhaland and there are other regions that do not. The situation is kind of similar to the city of Hyderabad. This problem has in recent times led to flare up of communal violence. Even though, until now the people have to a greater extent lived in peace but Siliguri is a region which can boil out of control anytime. Therefore, the GJMM has to be really sensitive and thoughtful when dealing with the city of Siliguri for the inclusion within the state of Gorkhaland.

To a fellow Gorkha the ideal situation will be formation of Gorkhaland with the inclusion of Dooars and Siliguri but we also need to be aware of the ground realities while dealing with these issues. I think if all the parties who are in the negotiating table use their commonsense and logic during the process of formation of Gorkhaland then everyone can live in peace and enjoy the fruits of a new state. If each party remains adamant to its position then I think it is the people of the Gorkhaland who have to suffer more.

All the above mentioned scenarios will come into effect if the Government of Bengal is pragmatic towards the demand of Gorkhaland. I like any other Gorkha am skeptical about the approach of Bengal but then GJMM has to do what is done for a moderate kind of fight for the formation of the Gorkhaland. They also need to be criticized if they do not take the right path towards the realization of the demand but the opposition needs to be constructive. It is known to everyone that there are going to be huge hurdles related to Dooars and Siliguri and people have to be ready (both sides) to make sacrifices for a lasting peace and brotherhood. After all both states will be within the Union of India and we are all citizens of India.