News from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, DarjeelingHills by darjeelingTimes

@ REAL GORKHAY....Gorkha mean a human being..who is a citizen of India..who lives in the geographical regions under Darjeeling Dist..Jalpaiguri Dist...part of Dehradun and part of NE including SIKKIM...who speaks "NEPALI" as his/her mother tongue....whose traditional wearings are "DAURA SURWAL..DHAKA TOPI/BHADGAUNLAY TOPI...CHOWBANDI CHOLI/DHAKA SARI...POTAY...etc..who loves traditional food as "GUNDRUK".."SEL ROTI"...and after fresh start of GL movement by GJM, the supporter of GL movement, apart from type of human that I've described just above,is also included as Gorkha....and having equal rights as the human being described above...is called GORKHA...need more definition..SIR???
(Posted by THINK DIFFERENTLY, September 9, 2009, 3:19 PM)

Dear DB Gurung...you can't only blame WB govt. regarding education system in Darjeeling dist....Our own politicians have "DIGESTED"...millions/billions of money in the name of development, education etc...They only know..HOW to digest 100% of the fund...If you talk about education...in Darjeeling distt..(apart from Siliguri)...we have huge number of educational institutes and some of them are best in India..and if we talk about schools in villages...our politicians and gram panchayat people have destroyed the "EDUCATION SYSTEM"...our most of the talented young Gorkhay people, who have the talent to impart better education to our next generation,are sitting IDLE...just because the "ordinary people" who dont know anything are working as teacher in most of the school...because they are the "FAMILY MEMBERS"..."DAJU/BHAI/SALI/BAHINI/DIDI/SOLTI/BUHARI/BHENA/MAMA/KAKA/KAKI etc." of our politicians....Our politicans already rejected WBSSC...just imagine...in a school or colleges where a teacher doesn't know anything about Education...then our next generation will learn what??? NOTHING...just big "0"..thats it....therefore we can't solely blame WB Govt. for poor education in Darjeeling Dist...its our own politicians who ruin the EDUCATION SYSTEM in Darjeeling Dist...Son/Daughter/relatives of our politicians will fly overseas or Metro cities of India for better education using "DIGESTED MONEY"...and common people have to suffer the "BAD EDUCATION" imparting by the "RELATIVES of OUR POLITICIANS"..in schools and colleges in locality...thats REALITY....and regarding JOB...who will stop any Indian to become IAS/WBCS/IPS/IFS/IES/engineers/doctors/scientist etc...we can also become a high graded person...yours example of UP govt employing their own people..etc..are just simple "eXCUSE" only...for me....we must create "QUALITY EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT" in our locality...must run "QUALITY EDUCATION"...because better education can make us "GANDHI/AE/ADISON/LINCON etc.." and POOR education can make us another "GHISING".....
(Posted by THINK DIFFERENTLY, September 9, 2009, 3:07 PM)

ALRIGHT, SO CALLED THINK DIFFERENTLY, YOU SEEMS TO BE HAVING A DOUBLE TONGUE LIKE SNAKES, AT FIRST YOU WERE YELLING ABOUT NEPALI'S IDENTITY ONLY (E.G. GUNDRUK AND CHOUBANDI ETC.) BEFORE ANSWERING THE LATEST QUESTION WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION, BUT ONLY IF YOU GOT THE SAME HEARTILY SO, ONCE AGAIN REFER TO YOUR COMMENTS, IF YOU ARE NOT COMMUNAL THEN WHO DO YOU DESCRIBE GORKHA AS?
(Posted by REAL GORKHAY, August 28, 2009, 3:32 AM)

THINK DIFFERENTLY, it is true that in Diwali, Dashain we Gorkhas play dice game. We Gorkhas have to do many things differently -- 'hami ma jagriti auna parcha', but this is a social awareness that will come with education spread in Gorkhali language deep in villages in Hills. There is widespread uneducation and poverty in the Hills because of the neglect of WB goverment. A Gorkha child has no education, no future in the village because all development money from Centre goes to the development of other parts of WB. Let us not think differently now, let us build ours and our children future by creating Gorkhaland. If you have been to Dehradun, go to a police station and you will find most of the policeman from UP plains because the political leadership was from UP plains and they employeed all the police from UP plains. Likewise, in Darjeeling all the State govt employees are bengalis as political leadership is in the hands of Bengalis. So every month the WB govt gives many lakhs of rupees as salary to Bengali workers in Hills, who are able to afford good education for their children, while our Gorkhays stay poor and cannot afford education for their children. So the real issue is political power and unless we have Gorkhaland we cannot decide our future. So wherever we are, whatever we can do, let us support GJM and make our dream of Gorkhaland come true. Jai Gorakh!!!!
(Posted by DB Gurung, August 25, 2009, 11:25 PM)

Dear DB Gurung..Its true that we should respect our place..but.. equally respect our culture/people...Why do we cry for respect and identity if we don't know how to respect and promote our culture? Take a recent example of Gorkahy mela held in Bangalore ..where we can see "DICE GAME" part of Gorkhay Mela..is this necessary to include a "DICE GAME" in Gorkhay Mela?? Don't we have other games which refeclt our culture and our identity..? We all know that DICE Game is popular in Darjeeling Dist.and popular among us..but it doesnt mean that we have to include it in a cultural event..DICE Game in such event reflects that GORKHAs are GAMBLER and GAMBLING is their culture...We are "MINORITY" and we should know that how diffucult for we like Gorkhas(as minorty)to identify ourselves in India..its suprise that Bharatiya Gorkha welfare Association is conducting the Gorkhay Mela..which is SENIOR Organisation for Gorkhas in India..Finally...we have to stop crying for IDENTIY if we dont know how to EARN IDENTITY...
(Posted by THINK DIFFERENTLY, August 24, 2009, 12:56 PM)

THINK DIFFERENTLY, why Gorkhas don't have respect in Indian states? To be able to earn respect of the outsiders we have to have respect at our own home. Our house is Darjeeling Hills and we have been denied that respect, time and again with words like mercenary, foreigner etc. With Gorkhaland, be assured that in other Indian states as well the Gorkhas will not be called foreigners.
(Posted by DB Gurung, August 23, 2009, 12:09 AM)

ALRIGHT, SO CALLED THINK DIFFERENTLY, REFER TO YOUR COMMENTS, IF YOU ARE NOT COMMUNAL THEN WHO DO YOU DESCRIBE GORKHA AS?
(Posted by REAL GORKHAY, August 22, 2009, 12:38 PM)

Sir(@ REAL GORKHA)...that is your way of thinking...If you think that my word are "COMMUNAL"...then..its upto you...Its the way of thinking of a human being...its varies from one person to another...thank you...
(Posted by THINK DIFFERENTLY, August 21, 2009, 2:29 PM)

HEY THINK DIFFERENTLY, YOU REALLY THINK VERY DIFFERENT AND COMMUNAL AND WROTE THE WHOLE THINGS FOR NEPALI ONLY, YOU KNOW GORKHALAND BELONGS TO GORKHA AND GORKHA MEANS EVERY PEOPLE OF ALL THE COMMUNITY, AND EVERY COMMUNITY HAS ITS OWN TRADITION AND CULTURE, AND WE DO RESPECT EACH AND EVERY TRADITION AND CULTURE OF OUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT IS GORKHA. EACH OF THEIR HEARTS CRY FOR GORKHALAND IN EAUAL MANNER. SO, WE DO WANT THAT GORKHALAND NOT ONE OF YOURS.
(Posted by REAL GORKHAS , August 21, 2009, 5:02 AM)

From my view point..not in Siliguri or other places in WB..and not by Bengalis only...if GL demanad is raised in other states of India(just for example), we have to face same kind of resistance or more and have to listen words like "foreigner" or "bahadur"... It is obvious that we are still dominated in various places all over India and outside the country..and..It will continue.. no matter whether We have Gorkhaland or not..for me..its matter of one's good position in society..if we can dominate in each and every fields..no one can dominate us..take an example of Black people in USA...they were too much dominated, harrased by white people..they had to passed through dark phase of RACISM...but now..they are the most demanded and valuable people in USA as much as White people..the reason is..Black people are powerful(not Muscle power) in each in every filed.. whether it is technology or music..game or politics..everywhere..they have good position... good reputation in society.. therefore others head will simply down when they see the achievments of Black people...domination and racism is everywhere.. but we have to learn to fight back against these factors more tactically and with intellignece..We have to answer others by our good works, good postion...G orkhaland is must.. for our identity and for socio-economic development of all Gorkhas... but... we can't say that after formation of Gorkhaland.. others will not stop commenting us as "foriegner"...there are many people in India..who hardly know the place called Darjeeling..Go to South India..or..North India.etc...and ask local people whtether they know Darjeeling or not..? You'll get answer of YES I KNOW DARJEELING in countable numbers..Therefore are we sure that after formation of Gorkhaland..others will not call us "Foreigner"??...How many INDIANS know about GUNDRUK.. SELROTI..DAURA SURWAL.. CHOWBANDI CHOLO..POTAY..PANCHAY BAAJA..etc.. ???.How many INDIANS know about beautiful places in Darjeeling etc..??? How many INDIANS know about SAHID DURGA MALLA.. ARUNA LAMA..PARIJAT ...If they dont know about our culture..our people..our places..then..they can ask questions in future(just move to future of POST-GL )..Where is Gorkhaland..?? is it a country???...Then what will we do??..It is a fact that ANTI-GL people will resist GL movement..in PAST..in PRESENT..and in coming days also... but...most important thing is that..How tactically..politically..with keeping cool head..we cant support and lead the movement..and achieve the target..We all know that due to our leaders our demand of separate state is still a DREAM...Have we ever think that why our leaders failed again and again..??? All of us have answers..Dear all..its not matter of some BONGS only..if our GL located in ANDHRAPRASESH.. ..or in UP..or in MAHARASHTRA..then we have to face "MORE RESISTANCE"..than what we are facing now in WB..More important is..We have to think apart from our sacrifice in Battelfields...if we talk about our BRAVE..GORKHA SOLDIRES and their sacrifice..others will ask.."Do your people are only soldiers..what about..sIKH..JATH.. RAJPUT etc..???"....We have to talk beyond our sacrifice in battelfields..but how..?? We all know that Bengalis are MOST POWERFUL community in India.. MOST POWERFUL by MUSCLE??...no..answer is..by BRAIN..by EDUCATION...They have dominated each and every fields...therefore.. other community give them respect..give importance to them...I have one question for all readers..Do we gain respect.. importance from other community??..Ask yourself..I have years of years experience living with Bengali community..from Birbhum to..Jaldhka..from Siliguri to Kolkata..I have seen that Bengalis know most than other communities that..how to promote ..CULTURE..PEOPLE..in front of others..they love their culture..respect their culture..love their people..respect their people..take the example of Sourav Ganguly..whether he plays GOOD cricket or BAD Cricket...they always says-"BANGLAR GOURAV-SOURAV"(means Sourav is Bengal's pride)..what does it mean??..it means that..they love and respect their people..In every year in Independance day(for example)..they salute..Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose...Khudiram Bose..etc.. because they were their pride..and these people know how to respect them..now If we talk about ours..Do we salute Sahid Durga Malla in every Independence day...and in all places..?? Do we respect..Gopal Yonjan...Parijat..Aruna Lama..etc. and ever try to promote them..in front of other community..? Bengalis organise their Cutural Program and visit those program wearing their traditional dress (most of them wear)..but If we organise our Cultural Program(whether it is town or village), then its very hard to say whether it is a cultural program or not(in Most cases)..becuase..our young guns always make trouble in those places...few of them attend the cultural program just for FUN..few of them attend for so called "cHIK SCENE"(local language)..here is the difference...BENGALIS(and other community) know what does a cultural program means..how importance is it?? ( I am not saying that we have to follow same as Bengalis but We have to know the RESPECT and IMPORTANCE)but for US..its FUN..its CHIK SCENE...We never mind that what other community think about ourselves..when they see our behaviors?? Take the latest example of GORKHAY MELA in Bangalore (PROOF: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos /OgAAACcnzWOkLBKGtopb42sSu4JLvM1xuRH1d6dHTIcbcLP_ j3qrQg5Az4h5InX7YnTLLX1N0ZEt_ 5RoUmIKQAlwIvAAm1T1UIBPf8lSIqXqTAjpACP_K6x9qdw9.jpg) .........its good thinking..good concept of organiser to host such programs in distance place..but..when I saw pics of that MELA which were updated in orkut..I was surprised. Its like Western Fashion show rather than a Gorkhay Mela..we never try to understand that..JEANS has its own importance and DAURA SURWAL has its own importance..We can't to wear DAURA SURWAL in DISCO..NIGHT CLUBS and shake hips with VODKA wearing our traditional dress...Do we??..No..Then why we wear JEANS,SKIRTS in such programs...Its hard to believe that..they were all educated..some were working in good companies..some were grduate students...in Gorkahy mela, those who were there.. wearing total western dress...not even "BHADGAUNLAY/DHAKA KO TOPI"or CHOWBANDI CHOLO(atleast)....then what is the meaning of organising such events if OTHERS will see our RESPECT for our OWN CULTURE when we go "WESTERN" in such Cutural program? If we go WESTERN then who will promote our Culture to OTHER communities...How other communities know about GORKHAY CULTURE when we wear JEANS/SKIRTS..etc., in such cultural program..now..other community people will deliver the message that-"yes I've attended Gorkhay Mela...and their wearings are JEANS and SKIRTS"...We have to remember that CULTURE is the backbone of a community..it holds the existence of a community..How can we try to gain respect and reputation in front of OTHERS when we don't respect our own CULTURE..?? If we dont promote PROPERLY our CULTURE..OUR PEOPLE..and OUR PLACE..then How will other community know about our culture..our place..and..therby our existence..?? I want to deliver the message that we have to STRONG in all manners...We have to powerful in all manners.. so that others can't point out and deliver words like "Foreigner"..etc...If We lost...other will Dominate us...If we are Strong(in every respect)..no one can dominate us..
(Posted by THINK DIFFERENTLY, August 20, 2009, 3:23 PM)

Upen Da, Just want to let you know, you are our inspiration and keep up the good work. Da... eeth ka jawaab pathar se bhancha ni... this is it! We should print this article in the front page of Hindustan Times, Telegraph, our own Sunchari etc. People should be aware of the fact, who we really are!!!!
(Posted by Alik Saro, August 20, 2009, 12:31 AM)

please delete the comment of THINK DIFFERENTLY we are not able to read the article. It has deformed the page.
(Posted by layman, August 19, 2009, 7:41 PM)

Upendra, First of all kudos on an article which again brings into forefront the social stigma and confusion that prevails with the words Nepali and Gorkhali. I hope to me the two words are very clear. Nepali is from Nepal and Gorkhali an Indian. However, I also feel instead of putting the entire blame on the undereducated, underinformed, communal minds of Siliguri we need to take the onus on ourselves too. Let us all refrain from calling ourselves Nepali. Insnt the struggle for Gorkhaland just for that. If you go to the streets in Darjeeling and ask what is your community, a majority of default answer will be Nepali. Honestly, there is nothing wrong but just imagine the other scenario, where if majority would call themselves Gorkhas and that they speak Gorkha language then it will go a long way in cementing our status in Indian Union. I know it is shameful that we have a necessity to do this but then what else can help. Also as far as the Bengalis are concerned, I have interacted with them for years now. Starting from school to university, profession, and personal life. I have a general feeling that people from South Bengal cities and also some well educated families in North Bengal do understand the rationale behind the demand of the Gorkhas. I cannot tell more however, for the people coming directly from the green fields of West Bengal. The ignorant mass who has never been to Kolkata, forget about Darjeeling. All they know is Lal Jhanda, Inquelab Jindabad, and CPIM. Those are the antisocial groups in West Bengal. I sutdied for five years in Kolkata and had to go thorugh hell. I never complained because firstly my aim was to study, make good grades, and above all prove to be a Gorkha. Further, the professors and few friends whom I had over there helped me in my entire academic career, and I completed my education defeating all the green fields in my class by a margin of atleast 20%. The reason for this story is to prove a point that Gorkhas have to shine everywhere and we can and we will. We need to be patient. I recall one incident where a typical Bengali professor once asked me. BK I still cannot believe you are from Darjeeling. I first thing I asked him was have you ever been to Darjeeling. The obvious answer was no. Then I told him, to shut up as he does not know anything and he has not right to make assumptions. With Regards, BK
(Posted by Bibek, August 18, 2009, 11:09 PM)

So true da...it happened to me as well...its still happening..the first very day during my post-grad induction here...one of the so-called academician, a PhD professor posed a very wrong question to a lost child in hyd...she asked" why do we consider you ALL foreigners?" though i always felt then and now that it was just a voice of complexity glaring, a loser. I kept calm. Now i think all should read Amartya Sen's Idea of Justice...I AM...all should.
(Posted by pelmo,hyderabad, August 18, 2009, 5:24 PM)

i wish every body (who are against gorkhaland) should read this article with a hand upon their heart and give a second thought keeping aside the idea of opposing gorkhaland. please do it !
(Posted by kkp, August 18, 2009, 2:04 PM)

This person called Gnome who is writing down there must be high on magic mushrooms and writing rot. Go back to your toadstool you stupid garden Gnome.
(Posted by amboz!, August 18, 2009, 11:57 AM)

Very well written..true facts..that touches our heart...as always.
(Posted by manisha , August 18, 2009, 11:07 AM)

Upendra Ji, thanks million for your true reflection on our (Gorkhas) status in India. I follow your posts eagerly as I find consolation in them. Those who call us foreigners or mercenaries are the one pushing us towards the edge of a cliff. They are the one who made us refugees in our own land. Even mice would bite back if cornered. There is no respect for us in WB. Our dream of a free state is strengthening more with their bias comments. But I don't think we would be swayed away by political sister forces of CPI(M) with their utter lies. The more they go against us the more strength we would generate. Therefore, their dire opposition helps them nothing but to the contrary it would help us to achieve our Gorkhaland. "Kag karaudai garchha pina sukdai garchha". “Satya Mewa Jayate”(The truth will prevail).
(Posted by A Gorkhay Blood, August 18, 2009, 4:03 AM)

YES, WE THE PEOPLE OF DARJEELING ARE REALLY PAYING FOR THE PRICE OF FREEDOM AND INDIAN DEMOCRACY, SUPPRESSED BY THE FOLLOWED GOONS, HYPOCRATES AND UNEDUCATED LEADERS. GOD, (CENTRAL GOVERNMENT), MERCY ON US AND GIVE US A REAL FREEDOM FROM THIS ILLITERATE HYPOCRATES.
(Posted by INDIAN, August 18, 2009, 3:58 AM)

Very well thought about article, sensibly picked up narrations of our Gorkha history. The general view of so called opposition parties why they call us Foreigners, Terrorists, Merceneraies, Bahadurs -and a brilliant, fitting answers to them all. Articles like this are an eye opener to us all at this mature age of 21st Century and a wind of change is expected based upon our Honesty, Selflessness, our Sacrifices and devotion to India. If history is to be re-created and re-written then it is the time now or it will never be. I support Upendra in these contexts. Please keep up writing. Long live Gorkhas and Gorkhaland.
(Posted by Ex. Gorkha., August 18, 2009, 2:29 AM)

upendra bro, not to sound 'baathey', your last two writeups compared to the older ones is very different from the ones you wrote earlier. i liked it more when you got us readers involved with your discussion and approach. maybe, with all the things happening in our land all of us matured a lot within the last 1 year. and i am sure GJMM will not repeat the mistakes of its predecessor. here's something they need to know....."But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." W.B. Yeats (1865–1939).................all the best bro
(Posted by hello, August 17, 2009, 9:52 PM)

Very very few Gorkhas have reservations. Like any community we have Gorkha brahmins( Sharma etc), Gorkha warriors, Gorkha lower castes( kami & damai). You have to see in the places like Dehradun, the Gorkhas are doing extremely well. You do not need reservations if there is social, economic and political equality and equal opportunity for success. Here there is a fight for "equal opportunity" which comes with infrastructure like roads, schools, hospital, electricity water etc. Then there is the question of Identity, when Gorkhas are labeled as foriegners, migrants, mongloids, terrorists. The common Gorkha name "Bahadur" has become a term for servants. Even though we have actively joined the Azad Hind force for India's Freedom struggle, we are nothing more than bahadurs. This is because we do not have our own state. So the need for Gorkhaland ...
(Posted by Samir_Thapa, August 17, 2009, 9:41 PM)

Day by day the Gorkhaland logic is going from bad to worse. What started as economic liberty and social development has now reduced to Bengali vs Nepali/Tibetian divide. Not sure what or which turn it will take, but either way racist pride both on the part of Nepalis and Bengalis won't make any difference. Consider Parsees who migrated from Persia and continue to be a minority community locked out in Mumbai. Yet so powerful and wealthy community. They don't even demand statehood for their diaspora , knowing that some of them are very very influential like the Tatas. The problem is reservation spoils the competitive spirit of a community and this is exactly what is happening with the Nepalis. It is not because Gorkhas are brave and want to be in the Army all the time. It is because they do not have the capability to crack other competitive exams , else who would like to join a low grade Army job rather than joining the more powerful NDA? Gorkhas thus take refuge in reservation policies and feel that like Sikkim they may also enjoy bliss forever. Sikkim is a tribal state, once again living on the mercy of reservations but sooner or later with Govt opportunities shrinking even Sikkim is going to have a taste of violence and dissatisfaction. Gorkhas besides Gorkhaland should try to become more competitive and less dependent on reservations. Without that intent , a Gorkhaland will survive not more than 50 years and even if it does it will be another defunct place like Nepal or a helpless ST status reservation dependent impotent state, that would just live by racism and ethinc cleansing
(Posted by Gnome, August 17, 2009, 7:54 PM)

I like the way the writer has argued. The Gorkhaland movement has stoked debates and controversy. And it is very simple as well. Any layman knows it provided he or she is sensible. How many Bengalis died during the Kargil war or any military operations in Northeast India or Kashmir? Why did British not raise a full fledged Bengal Army battalion? There are reasons behind such questions. Those who call The Gorkhas mercenaries are British clerks.
(Posted by Puran P Bista, August 17, 2009, 7:32 PM)

your article touched the bottom of my heart. thanks
(Posted by dinesh, August 17, 2009, 6:35 PM)

The price of freedom

Add your comments

Your name

Your e-mail address

Add your comments

Please enter the code you see in the image:

	Home \| About Us \| Contact Us \| Set as homepage \| Add to favorites
Log in - Register now (free) Search the Site Advanced Search »