Hill youth summit, from tea to dissent

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 18 October 2019, Darjeeling: A Darjeeling-based trust that draws its volunteers largely from among school and college students has brought panellists to speak on a host of issues ranging from Darjeeling Tea to dissent, critical thinking, lynching, education and college politics.

In Darjeeling where issues such as democracy and dissent are only discussed in murmurs, the decision of the Mukh Bandh Kaam Suru Trust, which in Nepali loosely means "stop the chatter and start work", to organise the two-day Gorkha Youth Summit is being seen as pathbreaking in many ways.

"In Darjeeling not much public discussion and discourse takes place. Political discussions are held among political parties but youths tend to remain aloof from these discussions," said Rahul Amulya Pradhan, general secretary of the trust and one of its two members to hold a graduate degree.

"Why shouldn't apolitical youths have a say on issues?" The summit in Darjeeling on Thursday asked Pradhan, explaining the rationale of organising the summit.

The discussions, questions and interactions were not regarding any political party but on larger issues like democracy and policies.

"Why should one be lynched on the issue of beef. Many in the hills also eat beef," said one panellist.

The summit, which began on Thursday, was divided into different sections and this provided an insight into young minds on pressing issues around them.

"There are schools in some villagers where teachers have been appointed but there are no students. Can't the infrastructure of these schools be used for other purpose like a health centre?" asked a panellist.

The discussions ranged from the need to accommodate all ideas, left, right or centre, in college politics to strengthening public institutions.

Young achievers such as Ankit Pradhan, a paralympic athlete from Sikkim, Brijesh Giri, member of the Under-17 Indian football team, and Tashi Tamang, a national taekwondo champion, among others talked about their struggles and aspirations.

"I find that when hill students go to the plains they remain largely cocooned. It was there during my time, it exits even now," said Thondup Bhutia, assistant professor, Presidency University.

Sudarshan Tamang, assistant professor, Sikkim University, who quit his job in Japan to return to the Darjeeling hills to follow his "inner call", was conferred the Gorkha Yuwa Ratna Award.

On Friday, the students have decided to hear political leaders speak from a common platform..