In a world where Global positioning system (GPS) can locate the coordinates of an individual or thing exactly, the doom of Gorkhaland movement seems to have gone out of range, at least from a common man’s perception. The veteran players of kolkata who have had nullified several uprisings in their respective political carrier have been successful to punctuate supposedly the ‘last fight’ of Gorkhas too, which some might argue was done under various pretexts. The course of the non-violent movement as asserted by GJMM is inside inverted commas now with holdup of second tripartite meet which was “promised” by state government to be held in last weeks of November. Ironically, the initial tone of agitation had been relaxed to make environment “conducive” for the tripartite talk on honorable Governor’s request. Now, with no sign of parley, at least from state government, the relaxation seems to have proved a mere mockery of GJMM’s acknowledgment to honorable governor. Whether or not peace or rather silent is permanent; whether or not this will weaken the movement or aggravate it beyond one’s willful control; whether or not this will solve the crisis or dent it irreversibly making more uncompromising-it is hard to conjecture given the fact that CPIM government has little influence in Darjeeling hills.
With reports of clashes here and there the harbinger of movement taking ugly turn has already become lucid. Moreover, with opposition parties of the state looking for opportunities to pounce, the CPIM led state government will be duly held responsible for any unwanted incident in near future and rightly so.
When the movement was at a feverish high a few months ago, the announcement of the first tripartite meet came but it was subjected to no pre-condition from GJMM for obvious reason. In hind sight, as things stand now, it seems the purpose of the meeting was just to sever the momentum of the movement rather than to commiserate Gorkhas standoff for identity.
The most worrying truth is that whenever Gorkhas demand separate state, some of the “pressure” groups knowingly or unknowingly make it a Bengali vs. Gorkhali issue in a country where innocent people are often seen running for covers when one of such differences in ideology, religion, faith, region, language and party take explosive forms. The last thing Gorkhas expect from them is to tell that the movement has Nepal connection or was financed by “external” force or something comical.
I am not sure if these kinds of vote-based policies will get a lot of support in the long run within the state too as after Mumbai incidence the nation has started substantiate a strong message: “public sab janti hai” (people know everything) against those who play partisan politics. With a sizeable mass of rational Bengali individuals unequivocally taking Gorkhas side time and again, the very stance of CPIM government on Gorkhaland issue is under a scanner.
Now, amidst all the strategies that are being formulated in writer’s building to curtail the constitutional demand of Gorkhas by giving it biased names or trying to paint it with communal colors, a compelling question looms large: How long can someone take ride on falsehood? How long can someone treat the symptoms (read as greater autonomy) instead of disease (read as Gorkhaland)? Time has come to see beyond party and community. Time has come to confront Gorkhas problems head on without strategies or gambles. Time has come to take on Gorkhaland movement with open heart and honest mind without giving it false names: division of Bengal or greater Nepal. Time has come to call a spade what it is before it is too late.
The need of the hour is to stand by what is printed just below the national emblem: truth alone triumphs.
Darjeelingtoday 