Gorkha Land?
Another indefinite Bundh call from the Gorkhaland Janmukti Morcha.
For what?
There was a time, maybe three decades ago, when I believed that the hill people of Darjeeling should have their own State. I supported the idea of separation from Bengal.
Then came Subash Ghising and his violent struggles that held the hills to ransom.
In Sikkim, we suffered.
Every Bundh and strike in 'Gorkhaland' meant that essential commodities in Sikkim would become scarce.
And then there came the autonomous Gorkhaland district Hill Council headed by Ghisingh.
Not much good came of that, did it? Deforestation continued. Water sources continued to dwindle. Unemployment soared. The frustrated youth turned more violent, and used more drugs.
And now, this 'new' agitation, by this 'new' group of people. again in the name of the 'people' of the hills.
Another 'absolute leader' is born.
Somehow, after the brutal assassination of Madan Tamang last year, I don't see any hope for the hills of Darjeeling, especially not the way things are shaping up.
Now, when the hills are at their most beautiful, the people of the hills should be allowed to get on with their lives, welcome the tourists, open up the shops, but all this violence brings is a bitter hunger.
Sikkim, once again suffers, thanks to the disturbed areas of Siliguri, and the curfew and violence along the highway that's the only artery to the former Himalayan kingdom.
For what?
There was a time, maybe three decades ago, when I believed that the hill people of Darjeeling should have their own State. I supported the idea of separation from Bengal.
Then came Subash Ghising and his violent struggles that held the hills to ransom.
In Sikkim, we suffered.
Every Bundh and strike in 'Gorkhaland' meant that essential commodities in Sikkim would become scarce.
And then there came the autonomous Gorkhaland district Hill Council headed by Ghisingh.
Not much good came of that, did it? Deforestation continued. Water sources continued to dwindle. Unemployment soared. The frustrated youth turned more violent, and used more drugs.
And now, this 'new' agitation, by this 'new' group of people. again in the name of the 'people' of the hills.
Somehow, after the brutal assassination of Madan Tamang last year, I don't see any hope for the hills of Darjeeling, especially not the way things are shaping up.
Now, when the hills are at their most beautiful, the people of the hills should be allowed to get on with their lives, welcome the tourists, open up the shops, but all this violence brings is a bitter hunger.
Sikkim, once again suffers, thanks to the disturbed areas of Siliguri, and the curfew and violence along the highway that's the only artery to the former Himalayan kingdom.
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