The price of freedom

I read a news piece today, shared by a friend of mine; it told the story of a young lady Deepika Mukhia and her son Utsav. Deepika’s husband Uttam Mukhia of 17 J&K Rifles had become martyr defending the country against terrorists in Kashmir and was given a Sena Medal for gallantry.

The story included a rhetorical piece which I wanted to share with you all, “… as many as 34 Gorkha soldiers, most of them in their early twenties, have been martyred in Operation Rakshak (counter-insurgency in Kashmir) and the Kargil conflict (Operation Vijay). Casualties do not deter this warrior race. It only spurs war widows to turn their sons into soldiers.”

It fills our heart with pride to read such a flattering comment, and I am sure those of us who read the piece felt a sense of elation that we belong to this “warrior race.” Honestly, I felt pride too, but it got me thinking and I questioned myself, is this all that there is to it? Is our destiny written in such a way that all we will ever be known as is a “warrior race”? Nothing wrong in that, I am sure, many communities would give an arm and a leg to be called so. But I guess we need to seriously ponder and reflect on where we stand as a community and how others perceive us.

The Mercenaries

There are a certain section of people who have this notion that all the Gorkhali’s were recruited by the British to fight against the “Indians”. Some of the so called “intelligentsia” based in Siliguri that are heading organizations such as Amra Bangali, Banga O Bangal Bhasha Bachao Samity, Jan Jagaran Mancha, Jan Chetna Mancha and many mainstream politicians etc  have time and again claimed that the Gorkhali’s are nothing but “mercenaries”.  

I wonder what these so called intellectuals would call the Jats or the Punjabis or the Marathas? If we go by the logic that those who were serving in the army under the British rule were “mercenaries”, then should the definition not extend to other regiments that were created by the British?

The very persons, who cite Jaliawala Bagh Massacre, as an example of Gorkhalis acting as mercenaries, forget to mention the role Indian Army played in Operation Blue Star in Punjab. Were the soldiers who obeyed the order to move into holiest of the holy Sikh religious shrine “mercenaries” as well? Or were they being good soldiers and obeying orders? It might be pointed out that The Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple on the night of 5 June under the command of Maj. Gen. Kuldip Singh Brar who was a Sikh himself. I am not saying that the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre is same as Operation Blue Star. However, the essence is the same; once you get an order in the army you follow it without question.

These people fail to understand that army men and woman are bound by something called discipline without which India would have disintegrated long ago. If it was not for the brave soldiers obeying orders, India would never have become the consolidated “India” as we know today.

The Foreigners

This same school of thought that calls our brave soldiers “mercenaries”, call us foreigners. Their logic is that while British captured rest of the geographical area that we today know as India, they could never capture Nepal, thus all the people who are of ethnically Nepali background are foreigners and do not have the same claim to India as those who were subdued by the British.

What these people fail to see and understand is that, people of Ethnically Nepali origin were living in Darjeeling before the British took over the piece of land that today is known as the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Duars. When we use the term Gorkhali in Indian context, it consists of people of Nepali, Sikkimeese, Bhutanese, Lepcha and people belonging to other Indo-Burman, Indo-Mongolic stock. These mixed stocks of people have an identity different from that of people from where they ethnically originated. Thus, to call Gorkhalis “foreigner,” not only shows gross misinterpretation of facts, but also shows ignorance and deliberate attempt to misread the history of the region.

It is to be understood that India as a consolidated nation was formed after 15th of August 1947, and there have been migration and immigration of people from various regions across India to various other regions: before, during and after the independence of our country. And each and every community has contributed to the formation of our great nation India in their own special way. What I fail to see is the fact that, even after 62 years of Independence, we the Gorkhalis are still considered foreigners by the so called “intelligentsia” based in Siliguri.

The Martyrs

As I have written before in this same column [An Ungrateful Nation], the contributions of Gorkhalis towards our nation building are immense. I would like to share a section of mail sent to me by my uncle [kaka] who retired as a JCO from 5/11 Gorkha Rifles, he sent us recently as an example….

“In earlier days, say immediately after independence, in 1948 Pak Muzzahudins had attacked Kashmir. At that time 5/11 GR was engaged to defend/ drive out the attackers from dominating features in Pir Panjal Range.  They were air lifted from Eastern Sector (Assam) armed with bolt action 303 rifles. And they were able to not just resist the Muzzahudin onslaughts, but also sent back the Muzzahudins to where they came from.

In Kargil Sector all the dominating features were manned by Pak troops till 04 Dec 1971. They were in the habit of harassing Indian side by firing from Howitzer Guns, Mortars etc, whenever there were any larger concentration/ movement of vehicles along Srinagar – Leh Highway, thus damaging good amount of property including fatal cases. During 1971 Indo-Pak Conflict 2/11 GR was engaged to capture Pt 13620 and adjacent well fortified posts such as 11 Post, 12 Post (New Post), Black Rock, Brown Hills etc in the eastern side of River Shango and 5/3 GR (which was ordered to move to Kargil from Kiary, near Leh) to capture Hathi Matha, Bulbul and adjacent Posts in the western side of the river. The operation was successful in which Col R.B. Gurung, Maj Vetri Nathan (Posthumously) & Hav Phurba Lepcha ex 2/11 GR were awarded Vir Chakra among Sena Medals to others.  There were 10/12 Battle Casualties (Supreme Sacrifices) reported from 2/11 GR in the whole operation.  After cease fire we find ourselves constructing bunkers two more ridges beyond Pt 13620, thus giving permanent sigh of relief to the populace of Kargil Bazar and surrounding villages. In 1965, I heard a whole Brigade [not Gorkhali] was employed to capture the said dominating feature which was tactically very important but no success came to hand.  Almost all the troops lost their life.  

I believe that we have been able to add a good area of land into the Indian frontiers as well as given a permanent solace to the Govt. from frequent harassments and economical loss due to such firings.  And, similar success in various sectors by other Gorkha Battalions also. If such areas are added it would be far larger area as compared to that of Gorkhaland.  Such are the contributions of the Gorkhas.”

He sent us this mail, recently to remind us why we need to feel offended when some two penny politician wannabe calls our brave soldiers “mercenaries” and us “foreigners”.

There are numerous such stories or bravery and sacrifice, and we are proud of our history, but honestly I strongly feel that we need to move beyond being the sacrificial lambs [No offence to the bravest of the brave martyrs]. Where we the Gorkhalis see pride and honor, others see monetary and economic benefit, where we the Gorkhalis see sacrifice and martyrdom others see mercenary.

India as a nation needs to understand that we have tilled our motherland with our blood and sacrifices and if the land could talk, perhaps she would call us her favorite sons and daughters.

There are many who cite the contribution of their community in Indian freedom struggle, while refusing to acknowledge the contributions of Gorkhali greats such as Saheed Durga Malla, Capt. Ram Singh Thakuri etc.

There are many who cite the past sacrifices and lay claim to the present and the future, while indignantly refusing to acknowledge our current sacrifices and the price of freedom our community has paid time and again.

Perhaps it is time for us to move ahead and write a new destiny for ourselves.

Finally, I leave you all with the lyrics from the song “Ragat” written by Mr. Sudarshan Tamang, “Ragat Bagaune chahana cchaina,  Aba bireko bahana hoina… Bathoharu mukhaile ladcchan, Kranti vaye sojha nai marcchan… Bhir vayera panita payau ke, Anshu shivay aru ke… Shanjha ho sansar sabko…feri kina ladai.. Baru malai kayarai bhana, Purkha ko harnai bhana… Hingsha garne chahana cchaina, Manauta ko kina mol cchaina”

Hope! I made some sense