Bhaichung Bhutia and statehood demand

Hillman the Analyst, KalimNews, 11 March 2014: Needless to note that the renowned Indian football superstar, none other than Baichung Bhutia, a national awardee has been nominated as a candidate for the Darjeeling Parliamentary Constituency (MP) for the forthcoming general elections to be held between last week of March and mid April 2014. The occasion of Baichung’s nomination is read with various versions indicating a sense of divide between the plains and the hills. No doubt Baichung’s name is a selling product in every field and social occasion but somehow it is read in the Darjeeling hills, despite the halo over the head in terms of the name in the sports arena. Despite which the electorate in the hills are somewhat at a crossroad for the simple reason that the present political scenario, i.e. the statehood Gorkhaland demand holds sway over other issues. 

It is perspective to general understanding that despite the fact, the issue is a question of constitutional guarantee purely, which unfortunately has been connived investment of interest to divert the attention of the bifurcation of West Bengal as a consequence. Realising this sense as a reality of the constitutional implications towards the expectation of the division of the state, the major political parties from the plains is hell bent for leather, in suppressing the democratic will of the hill people, which remains unsolved since decades, not forgetting the immense and substantial loss of human lives sacrificed for the paramount cause which is now recorded history. 

Besides other great impacting problems and instability created in the social fabric of human existence in the area is still unending and causing immense harm to the present generation in all socio, economic and political activities, all around adversely. 

 It is in consideration of this background that Baichung’s grandeur as a sportsman of national and international is somehow being degraded in contrast to the impact of the current statehood issue, which, probably Baichung is not aware, though also a gentlemen of great understanding. The superstar is practically is jumping into a hot furnace of fire without realising its intensity which could scathe his outer covering of fame if not his general sense of personal ego, which is undoubtedly above board as far as ethical and moral imprints are concerned to his individual status. 

It is doubtful whether Baichung realise that the MP issue is rather profound than ordinarily seen by his eyes, and that it is not the same MP seat allocated by TMC to various components of the famous and the mighty, related to filmdom, journalism, sports etc., in the rest of the constituencies in West Bengal where the issue primarily involves that of political governance unlike Darjeeling Constituency. Therefore before Baichung jumps into the fray it is surely a good suggestion to him that he should be familiar with the Gorkhaland statehood demand both as a political implication, but more importantly understand the constitutional background and the legal guarantee ensured within the field. If he is able to do this he will be more qualified both as an individual person from an ethical point of view, and accordingly promote his political plank based on the understanding – the statehood issue related to the Constitution of India. 

Thus he will be equipped to fight the elections with a Buddhistic and compassionate grounds, i.e. taking the will of the people into consideration in demanding statehood and placing this at the final event in promoting his stance towards becoming an MP to represent the cause to a final conclusion. 

In order to understand the statehood demand academically as a constitutional event he is advised to read this writer’s book Roadmap on the trial to Gorkhaland (Partially Excluded Area-The Constitutional Guarantee) Pub.2013, which should equip him with all the features in the Constitution related to Darjeeling District to which he intends representing. 

Besides this, Baichung is also suggested to meet Dr. Mahendra Lama who is also on the fray for the MP seat and as such does not bode well for either of the two, as both are members of the STs of West Bengal & Sikkim which are more common than overlapping in the two areas. There is a misconception amongst the STs of Darjeeling District alleging Baichung is a person from ‘outside’ (Sikkim) and not Darjeeling District is a totally wrong perspective and requires to be amended in the minds of the allegers as unfounded and groundless for the simple reason that the people of Sikkim & Darjeeling have a common history in every aspect. 

The division of the people was only a coincidental fate initially created by the British in colonial regime which was an agenda formulated by the rulers in order to extract Darjeeling District from the erstwhile kingdom of Sikkim and the extant kingdom of Bhutan, purely for commercial interest in order to enter Tibet using the composite territories of Sikkim & Bhutan for the route. Therefore considering Darjeeling District is a part and parcel of Sikkim as a geopolitical unit, socially, culturally, linguistically, religiously and as a racial lot still form a composite group. This cannot be denied and therefore to brand Baichung as an outsider is certainly not correct. More particularly given the fact that the STs of Sikkim are common to both West Bengal & Sikkim. In support of this fact one is required to go back to 2002 when the two communities Limbus & Tamangs were first listed as STs in Sikkim. 

Eventually in 2003 because of the fact the two tribes were listed in Sikkim (2002), the legality of the recognition as ST was also transferred to Limbus & Tamangs in West Bengal conferring the two communities the ST recognition under the Constitution. This comparative example of the two communities related to different states amplifies the position that the people of Sikkim are common particularly to Darjeeling District in West Bengal as far as the Constitution of India is concerned. Besides the Resolution No.3 passed by the Sikkim Assembly in 2011 by Pawan Chamling govt., demanding the creation of Gorkhaland state for the people of Darjeeling District, is infact not a voice in the wilderness but truly perceived indicating part of Darjeeling District ( Darjeeling, Kurseong & Siliguri) being acceded territories to the British Crown, (1835 Deed of Grant/1850/1861). Thereafter independence in 1947, the Deed terms, etc., continued under the Indo-Sikkim Treaty of 1950, indicating major parts of Darjeeling District are infact parts of existing Sikkim State which is in a sense intended to be abrogated by the aforesaid Resolution No.3. By virtue of this fact alone, stands the possibility for the creation of a new state of Gorkhaland, as a matter of legality as far as transfer of territories are concerned both in national as well as international implications of documented terms. Therefore in this respect it seems proper, notwithstanding the political aspects of the State vis-à-vis the statehood demand surely Baichung, if truly is a Sikkimese, maybe the right person to raise the issue of statehood with the TMC West Bengal govt., and deliver to its people, the Darjeeling hill people their legal and constitutionally guaranteed right, i.e. a state/UT comprising Darjeeling District & the Dooars. The Dooars referred here in this case the entire 18 Bhutanese Dooars, presently constituted as the Bengal Dooars (11 Bhutanese Dooars) and the Assam Dooars (7 Bhutanese Dooars). 

The 7 Assam Dooars presently comprised under the Sixth Schedule of Assam as an autonomous body as the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). Of recent the statehood demand by the Bodo tribes is once again being raised and for which it is informed by newsprint that a committee to look into the demand has already been formed in the state of Assam comprising two eminent personages of national status namely Shiv Shankar Menon (national security advisor) and G.K.Pillai (former Union Secretary) and presently advisor to the Home Ministry. The formation of this committee is of important consideration in suggesting that the territorial area of BTC seems to be implied for amalgamation with Darjeeling District as an aspect of the adjoining Dooars (meaning the entire 18 Dooars). This would probably conclude the constitutional aspects of the statehood demand under a new caption of a separate administrative unit (State/UT) of Darjeeling & Dooars. 

The above composition has been prepared with all due considerations implying the legal basis of what comprises Darjeeling District which MP constituency Baichung Bhutia intends to represent if elected. Although politically representing TMC it is hoped that Baichung will be able to place the above ideas into place with the West Bengal govt. in order to eventually deliver a state/UT of Darjeeling & Dooars. And which according to this writer will eventually come about without any exception or doubt.