The awakening of the sleeping giant

Kate Chopin once wrote…. "The years that are gone seem like dreams--if one might go on sleeping and dreaming --but to wake up and find-- Oh! Well! Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life.”… And try as much I may, I can’t better this… in explaining how the sleeping giant – The people of Darjeeling and Doors… have finally awaken from their long slumber.

I once had a chance to discuss Darjeeling with a top-notch CPI (M) leader, and he asked me… “Why do you people always demand a separate state, have we not done enough? We have given you DGHC”. His question and statement showed his outlook and that of his party towards us. They have always thought of us as “the other”, and their approach towards us has always been that of ignorance. They have never really tried to understand our problems and prospects, neither have they tried to take our consents in making decisions that affect us. They have always acted as a bully and on top of it all they seem to wonder why we want a state of our own.

Years of misrule and misguided politics that forced people to suffer insurmountable oppression, tyranny, decadence, indifference and ignorance has in fact helped in people being more resolute, patient and above all united for achieving the common goal – right to self rule, right to determine ones own fate, right to equal opportunity, right to choose, right to say no, right to feel pride in ones language, culture and traditions, right to be oneself, right to be ones own master and above all the right to identity.

One of the most heartening features of people coming together this time is the fact that the people are more involved and passionate than ever before. They are ready to come together as a community and act and speak with one voice. Another very significant aspect of our awakening has been the fact that this time round we have a well thought out plan and guidance of politicians, philosophers, technocrats, bureaucrats and leaders from all over India. However, the cherry in the cake is that finally we have realized the power of being united and demanding our rights non-violently. No doubt the West Bengal government has panicked and has threatened to send in more police and CRPF, but what they fail to realize is that “this time we have done our home work well, and this time around even if you end up buying the leader, the people are not for sale”

Mahatma Gandhi once said “I believe…. that man is the strongest soldier who dares to die unarmed.” This time around we have people who have dared to sacrifice their life and personal happiness and decided to go on hunger strike against the apathy of the powers that be. I specially feel inspired by Mr. Sonam Lama, a simple young man from Munda T. E who has forsaken the choice of getting married to his beloved Rachana Pradhan for the time being and preferred to join the hunger strike, thus putting his love and life on stake for his greater love Gorkhaland… Rachana Pradhan on the other hand is lending all her support and is proud of the fact that her future husband to be is doing so… Hats off to you and numerous others who are suffering for all of us.

There are still people who are reluctant to change, for many of them… change seems to be a painful process that they want to avoid, but what they fail to notice or acknowledge is the fact that… this Darjeeling is not the same any more. It has changed and changed for good. The Darjeeling that I once referred to as the place of the living dead is alive now and it’s dynamic and vibrant and if you refuse to join this moment of change or step aside to allow the change to happen… God Help you… I once again can’t help myself from quoting Bob Dylan… “Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam… And admit that the waters around you have grown… And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone… If your time to you is worth savin' Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone… For the times they are a-changin'.”

I thank god almighty and I thank those selfless martyrs from our past… for they were the ones who filled our heart with the desire and dream to have a piece of land we could proudly call our own. My salutations to the people who have taken the leadership and have bound people together… and my congratulations to all the brave hearts for awakening and deciding that change is what we need, change is what we want and change we shall have… And nothing is impossible when the sleeping giant has finally awoken… no nothing and that includes Gorkhaland.

Finally, I leave you with immortal lines as spoken by J.F.Kennedy “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable”

Hope! I made some sense