Calling 'Gorkhas' - 'Non Indian', community's program rejected at AIWC Patrotic event: Bharatiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh decides to take up the matter legally.

Gorkhas are migrants, they cannot be Indian so cannot perform at 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav' program which is an Indian national program says AIWC event incharge. Bharatiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh decides to take up the matter legally.

Nanda Kirati Dewan, KalimNews, 15 June 2022, Guwahati :  Indian  Gorkhas across the nation are outraged after  All India Women Conference (AIWC) executive member  Chandra Prabha Pandey chides Gorkha Artists, bans performance in Nepali language for 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav' (AKAM) labeling  "Nepali / Gorkha Bhasa " a non-Indian language

The proposed Patriotic Performance that AIWC Executive Member and "Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav" Event In Charge rejected calling it 'Non-Indian' language

On June 9,  All India Women Conference, executive member Head of Events Ms Chandra Prabha Pandey sent out a note asking for contributions from regional chapters of AIWC for the proposed "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" celebrations. The contributions were supposed to be patriotic songs and dances performed in regional languages. When artists from Kalimpong District sent in their contribution, they were rudely told off by Ms Chandra Prabha Pande, who said "we cannot showcase performances in non-Indian languages". 

Shocked the artists reached out to AIWC Kalimpong Secretary Ms Aruna Pradhan, who tried to reason with Ms Chandra Prabha Pandey. But instead Ms.Pande further insisted "they cannot send National Anthem sung in Nepali language, as it is not a language from India". Despite the member from Kalimpong humbly trying to tell Ms. Chandra Prabha Pande that Nepali is very much an Indian language also known as Gorkha Bhasa. Ms Pandey is heard rudely brushing her off and demeaning the Nepali / Gorkha Bhasa being a non-Indian language. Debating with Aruna Pradhan over the telecon, she said people of neighbouring countries who come and settle here in India are migrants not necessarily citizen of our country while the former tried to explain Indianness of Gorkhas.

Ramesh Bastola, General Secretary of youth wing of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) said, 'It is shocking to realise that an esteemed reputed organization like AIWC would have members, who seem to be absolutely ignorant about the fact that Nepali language / Gorkha Bhasa is one of the national languages of India spoken by the 10.5 millions Indian Gorkha community, duly recognised as such under the VIIIth Schedule of the Indian  Constitution."

'In an emergent virtual core committee meeting held today, Bharatiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh (BhaGoYuP) has decided to take up the issue legally if she doesn't apologise in public domain through social media within 24 hours of publication of our statement and in person in next AIWC meeting. Our team will parallelly file online petition too so that this incident doesn't happen again. We had taken up matter of 'Pataal Lok' Amazon Prime Video webseries where Nepali language speaking Gorkha character was not only shown in poor light but also derogatory remarks were used indicating the entire North Eastern community. Later Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India issued a guideline based on our collective democratic effort for censoring contents on OTT platforms ' said Bastola , general secretary, BhaGoYuP from Kangokopi Manipur over phone.

Sanjana Newar, member of Legal team of BhaGoYuP and an advocate from Tura, Garo Hills said, 'I am absolutely outraged and shocked at the lack of knowledge and obvious display of ignorance on the part of an All India Women's Conference (AIWC) member Chandra Prabha Pande, who rejected performance in Nepali language in her organization's 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations citing that 'Nepali is a non-Indian language. Yuva Parisangh has decided to file a legal suit in this matter and I have chosen to represent the case.'

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista who represents Gorkha populated Darjeeling constituency in Lok Sabha expressed shock and told in a press release that he is absolutely outraged and shocked at the lack of knowledge and obvious display of ignorance on the part of an All India Women's Conference (AIWC) member Chandra Prabha Pande, who rejected performance in Nepali language in her organization's 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations citing that 'Nepali is a non-Indian language'.

He further states, "What is further shocking is that when Ms Aruna Pradhan from Kalimpong, tried to reason with AIWC Executive member Ms Chandra Prabha, instead of listening to her, Ms. Chandra Prabha Pande further insisted "they [artists from Darjeeling Kalimpong region] cannot send performances in Nepali language for India's 75th Independence Day celebrations, as it is not a language from India".

"What I find absolutely infuriating is that an esteemed organization like AIWC would have members, who are absolutely ignorant about the fact that Nepali language is spoken by the 1.5 crore strong Indian Gorkha community, and it is duly recognized as one of the national languages such under the VIIIth Schedule of our Constitution, the release adds.

It further states, "By claiming that Nepali is not an Indian language, and not allowing performance in Nepali language, that too on the pious occasion of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, AIWC has shown deliberate racism against the Gorkha community of our nation.

The release states, "Perhaps AIWC members are unaware that our Gorkha ancestors have played a vital role in ensuring India's Independence, and I would suggest AIWC to read about the contributions of Gorkha braves like Saheed Durga Malla of INA, Ms. Helen Lepcha, Sh. Dal Bahadur Giri, Capt Ram Singh Thakuri of INA, Jangbir Sapkota, Subedar Niranjan Chettri and thousands of other Gorkha brave hearts who have laid down their lives for our nation's independence and keeping her safe from the enemies of our nation post-independence."

He has demanded that AIWC should issue an apology to the Indian Gorkha community forthwith, and ensure that racist individuals are all removed of their posts and positions ofthe organization.

The song is sung by Snehshree & Sannidhya, composed by late Saphal Thapa and music arranged by Daniel Gadal. Its Audio Engineer is Robin Chhetri, videographed by Viwas Subba, assisted by Kunsang Daniel Bhutia and edited by Shreedhya.