For Gorkhas, an old wound reopened

VIVEK CHHETRI , TT,  01 Jan 2020, Darjeeling: An old wound has been reopened in the Darjeeling hills, bringing into question the political rhetoric over the Centre's documentation of the Gorkha community.

The Telegraph on Tuesday reported that the Kalimpong district administration was relying on a document prepared by the Anthropological Survey of India -- a central government agency -- that had been sent to Bengal's home department, to issue a Gorkha certificate.

The September 10, 2004, report by the ASI, which is under the Union ministry of culture, also states: "Like wise the Gorkha or the Gurkha is a Blanket term, which include those communities who originally came from Nepal. The report further states: "It is also invariably a fact that in India any migrants from Nepal called themselves as the Gorkhas. S.P. Sharma, general secretary of the Khas Bharatiya Hitkari Sammelan, told this correspondent on Wednesday: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah are saying that the Gorkhas need not worry (in connection with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act). However, a government document states that the community has migrated from Nepal. "The ASI document is what the government has on record. The PM and the HM have to clarify this in writing," said Sharma.

The issue of identity of Indian Gorkhas governs hill politics and the people hold this issue dear to their hearts, said an observer. "The Indian Gorkhas want to clearly disassociate themselves from citizens of Nepal," said the observer.

"We have records to prove from the 1931 Census and even documents from as old as 1891 to prove that Gorkhas were here before India as a country came into existence. India as a country came into existence in 1947, so how come the Centre is stating that we originally came from Nepal?" Sharma said.

"Our community members were here even before India as a country came into existence," he added.

The Khas Bharatiya Hitkari Sammelan has decided to approach the Anthropological Survey of India to "rectify" the 2004 document.

"We will approach the ASI within the next few weeks. We request Darjeeling MP Raju Bista to also take an initiative as he is also a Gorkha," said Sharma.

The demand for Gorkhaland as a separate state is based on the recognition of a distinct Indian Gorkha identity separate from Nepali speaking people from Nepal.

"We want the government to clarify our concerns. Just a statement by the Prime Minister and the home minister is not enough," said Sharma. "We will also take legal recourse if our concerns are not addressed. The Khas community leaders have also decided to convene a meeting of leaders of all hill communities to clear the air about the confusion on Gorkha sub-communities.

"The meeting will be held soon," said Sharma. "We want to tell all Gorkha community leaders to specify to the ASI about the details of thar (sub communities)," said Sharma.

The Telegraph reported on Tuesday how three individuals from the Gorkha community were denied "Gorkha certificates" for lack of clarity from the state government, which had depended on a central government document. Sharma, an official of the Khas community, claimed there are 301 sub-communities among them. "Our understanding is that the state is only aware of 84 sub-communities among the Khas. We want all the hill communities to specify the details of their sub-communities to the state government as early as possible". The Kirat/Rai community just for example should also notify the government that they have sub-community members who write their thar as Chamling, Bantawa, etc," said Sharma.

"Or else, the Gorkha community will face a huge harassment when the NRC process is undertaken," said Sharma.