We Shall Triumph - Diplomatically

Will Rogers once said, “… diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice Doggie” until you can find a rock.”… And I am waiting for the day our leaders will develop this skill.  By nature we are very simple people and for most of us it’s either black or white with no grey area in between. But to achieve something in modern world, we should be able to see that grey area and use it to our advantage till we achieve our goal. As I see it, the fulfillment of our dream for a separate state of our own will be realized soon. However, keeping the current ground realities in mind there is a need to diplomatically tackle the situation at two different levels, local and national.

At Local Level

The recent changes in the Darjeeling political scenario have been very rapid and any person not keeping a close watch is bound to be lost in myriad issues that have been emerging every day. For a casual observer the situation in and around Darjeeling hills has changed from separation of Darjeeling and Duars (Doors) from West Bengal to separation between Bengalis and Gorkhalis (Nepalis)… How did this happen?? Different people will have different opinions, for me it is the lack of diplomacy on our part which has allowed CPI (M) and its frontier organizations like Aamra Bangali and Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Bachaao Samity to re-tag the issue of demand for separate identity and economic set up to one with racial undertones.

People in and around Darjeeling hills, including Siliguri and Duars have always co-existed peacefully and developed a sense of fraternal unity. Given this background it should have been easy for our leaders to share their ideas and views, as to how a new state will undoubtedly lead to better economic gains and development and protection of our cultural and traditional heritage for one and all. However, our leaders have failed in passing on this simple idea, which has resulted in more and more Bengalis being dis-enchanted from the idea of being part of a separate state.

Majority of the Bengalis living in north-Bengal have migrated from Bangladesh, and they fear that formation of Gorkhaland will once again make them refugees, it is this fear that CPI (M) has been manipulating to prevent the people from supporting the demand for a separate new state. As a rule the minority will always try to stay in a place that it considers safe, hence our leaders will gain huge grounds if the minority leaders and people can be convinced that the demand for a new state is not only for Gorkhalis but for every single individual in the designated area. Our leaders should be able to convince that every individual in the new state will be equal and will not only enjoy same privileges and benefits but will have to contribute equally to ensure that our new state develops to it’s optimum potential.

The best way to do this is to talk to people and communicate with them. Communication can be undertaken in many ways, door to door canvassing, village level meeting, write up’s in local news papers, postering, pamphlet distribution etc. The main points being sensitizing people regarding what we are demanding for, why we are demanding it and how we can achieve the goal and what role can be played by every individual towards achieving the goal. I believe the greatest tool to eradicate someone’s sense of insecurity is to generate in them a sense of belonging. Our leaders should have the ability and fortitude to involve all the communities and make them feel that this demand is “our’s”… for “our benefit” and for “us”.

The key to achieving this could be the minority people and organizations living in Darjeeling hills. For instance, Bengali Society, Darjeeling can play the pivotal role in convincing Bengalis living in the plains that Gorkhaland is for every one and not just Gorkhalis. Marwari Yuva Maanch, Darjeeling can do the same with Marwaris and Bhojpuri Sangathan do the same with Bhojpuri speaking population. Anjuman-a-Islamiya can be critical in involving all muslins and Christian groups such as AICUF etc can convince the people they are associated with.

All the people living in the hills do believe in the dream of a separate state, the most important factor is to involve people across all races, caste, religion and they will be more than willing to help, if only our leaders will request them to.

At National Level

At the national level, one of the easiest ways to go would be to pressurize the Center into the formation of State Recognition Committee. The Indian constitution under “Article 3 Formation of new States and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing States: Parliament by law may under sub-clause …. (a) form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory to a part of any State.…” Awards the prerogative of formation of a new state in the Centre and the State Government can only interfere “…where the proposal contained in the Bill affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the States, the Bill has been referred by the President to the Legislature of that State for expressing its views thereon…” If we truly want to achieve a separate state of our own, I guess there is no use having any kind of talks with the state government; because a) the state has no role to play b) the state under CPI (M) will never support our demand. So it will be just a loss of valuable time and resources to negotiate with the state government.

The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland is almost non-existence for people outside North-Bengal, due to the lack of media exposure. The leaders must ensure that the press and publicity manager has an in depth knowledge of how to get the national and international media interested in our issue. He/she should be very deft in highlighting the issues and making people sympathize for our cause. The lack of dexterity in handling media was evident on April 9th, when the brutal torture of our brave ex-servicemen went unreported in all the national news media.

I guess the best bet would be to tap into the new crop of journalists who are about to pass from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, these guys know how to generate news and how to make this a matter of national significance.  Besides this they have to get in touch with all Sympathetic journalists… like Jaideep Mazumdar (Outlook)... Anjana Pradhan (Times of India)... Swaraj Thapa (Financial Express) etc.. to bring the issue into national lime light.... We must invite national media like Aaj Taak... Zee News etc... to visit Darjeeling and show them how people in the hills and every section wants separation from West Bengal.

Our leaders need to find allies; they need to talk to MP's from all the regions that are sympathetic... Like North-Eastern Council, Sikkim can play a major role in helping us with the North-Eastern Council. Uttarkhand, Himachal, Chattishgarh etc... Besides this they need to find the support of MPs from Telangana... and all those places that are demanding a separate state. Our leaders must make full use of our MP... who is Pro-Gorkhaland… into talking and making MPs from other regions into supporting Gorkhaland. We should also make full use of Bharatiya Gorkha Parishangh, which is the strongest Gorkha organization in the country and enlist their help to garner the support in favor of the demand for Gorkhaland from all across India.

Recently BJP has openly stated that they will help in the formation of Gorkhaland, if their MP is elected. Hence, our leaders need to cut a deal with a national level party be it Congress (I) or BJP, and help their candidate get elected as MP in lieu of Gorkhaland. Next we need to talk to all the minority parties like... SP, JP, JD (U), JD, JMM, DMK, AIADMK, Shiva Sena etc and garner their support.

One of the most important goals will be to alienate CPI (M) and start dialogue with lesser left front allies like RSP, SUCI etc. It is to be noted that SUCI supports the demand for Gorkhaland.

We need to send in representatives and academics to discuss the need for and the advantages of Gorkhaland in all major cities like Kolkata. Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore etc. I have noticed that majority of the Bengalis, who are not CPI (M) cadres do support the demand for a separate state, we need to make these groups speak openly in support of our cause. Besides this, we need to go far mass publicity, for instance send in a Bike Rally or a Motor Rally across India to garner support for Gorkhaland.... point being make Gorkhaland the talk of India.

Instead of demanding talks we should force CPI (M) to demand talks and make sure that we don't negotiate anything with the state government as they don't matter. We should deal directly with Center as they are constitutionally enabled to form a new state.

The main point is that Gorkhaland is not just for Gorkhalis, but also for people of other races. Hence, we must be able to highlight this point and make other communities realize that Gorkhaland will benefit all, be it Gorkhalis, Bengalis, Biharis, Rajbangsi, Marwaris, in short for all of us.

“United we stand... Divided we fall” so goes the adage, hence, our leaders should stop criticizing each other and join hands together, so that we work towards a collective goal instead of being stumbling block in each others path. I know many may feel that the ideas I have shared here are very utopian; however, if we stand united and will for these things to happen, eventually they will and we will have a separate state of our own.

Finally, I leave you with the immortal lines as stated by Antoine de Saint the great French writer…. “One man may hit the mark, another blunder; but heed not these distinctions. Only from the alliance of the one, working with and through the other, are great things born.”

Hope! I made some sense.

Upendra