Of course, many of those who are today fighting for the tribal status also don’t seem to be aware of this. They randomly say we want the “Hill Tribes” status back, but do not know when and how did we exactly lose the status. What most don’t seem to realize is that the Gorkhas’ demand for ST status is not exactly ‘inclusion’ but a ‘reinstatement’ of the lost tribal status.

The question to the government should be ‘why and how’ did the Gorkhas lost the status, rather than self-reassuring and cheering at public events saying “We are Gorkhas and We Are Indians.” I somehow don’t understand the sheer desperation to prove our ‘Indian-ness’ and looking for approval from fellow compatriots.

If the ST status wasn’t sneakily snatched away in the, the Gorkhas wouldn’t have to keep reminding the nation that “we aren’t immigrants and we came with the land” and wouldn’t have been called ‘foreigners’ in their own country. 

Today, the ST issue has also become an easy fodder for the politicians, who time and again claim “The government that you elected has started the process of your inclusion” or “The 11 left out Gorkha communities will be included under the Tribal list of India as soon as the Government comes to power,” and this line keeps repeating every 5 years when elections are around the corner.

But why do Gorkhas need ST:  A Common Perception

To be honest, I raised my eyebrows when I first heard about the demand for ST status for Gorkhas. Don’t get me wrong. As someone born and brought up in the Northeast, I very well understand the benefits of being an ST student – the 5% relaxation, scholarship money, job reservations, and even the legal immunity in many situations.

As a general student, when you see your ST friends availing these benefits and facilities, it is natural to complain and whine about the discrimination. However, it also made me realize very early not to keep any expectations from the government, administration, or the system. There was no other option but to pursue meritocracy in life and career. Looking back, it is indeed satisfying that I did not have to seek relaxation or reservation for anything in my life.

One day, some of us friends were discussing the issue of Gorkha ST and why it is necessary to demand ST status even after 75 years of our nation’s Independence.

ST reservations and benefits were a temporary thing to help ‘under-developed’ communities rise up in their socio-economic condition and bring them at part with the rest of the nation. Going by that logic, the tribal list should be reducing as we progress socially and economically, and not increasing.

Those speaking in favor of the ST demand, said promptly and in unison “don’t you know about the reservation in jobs, education, promotions, scholarships, and even the financial supports STs provided by the government.” Not something I wasn’t aware of.

Others talks about the lack of development among the Gorkhas, and some believed reservation will allow Gorkhas to have a bigger voice in policy-making as it would help produce more IAS officers and bureaucrats.

A friend who has just passed out from a top university also shockingly accused me of being ‘upper caste’ and inconsiderate, and bluntly said that ST inclusion was to stop the hegemony of the upper caste. I wanted to slap him, but again he would have perhaps accused me of curtailing his freedom of speech.

Another friend, while trying to console me said that even I will also benefit from the ST inclusion, because my caste also ethnically belongs to one of the proposed communities for inclusion.

I understood the concerns that at our community lagged behind in terms of socio-economic progress and development, but I was not convinced that the demand for ST and the benefits of ‘reservations and relaxations’ will deliver us from this situation. But, I felt it wise to keep quite rather than putting my ‘pointy upper-caste nose’ into it

Is the ST demand all About Jobs and Reservations?

Can the demand for ST status be boiled down to our ‘communal’ aspirations and desire for economic progress? Does it only mean benefits and reservations?

If that is the case, why would the Government add more tribal communities to the ST list after 75 years to independence? Doesn’t it expose the government’s failure to bring development and integration of people? And why would other ST communities support inclusion of more tribes in the list and let them eat away their benefits and reservations? Shouldn’t they protest?

There seems to be a lack of understanding the significance of the ST status among general public.

Being a ST community most importantly means that you are Indigenous to the land and that the land is yours. The maato—ragat (land and blood) connection is what the ST status will establish. When the land is yours, your life, culture, and traditions are tied to it, and nobody can question your rights for any political propaganda.

The ST status, to me personally will bring an end to the ‘identity’ issue the Gorkhas face in terms of being labelled as ‘foreigners’ or ‘citizens of Nepal’ – a ethno-political propaganda that led to disastrous consequences in the 1980s across the Northeast, Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars. Many were killed and thousands of families uprooted in this politics of outsider/insider.

The ST status, to a great extent, will bring closure to the search for the Indian Gorkha Identity. A sense of relief that our ancestral lands and heritage will be protected. And more importantly, not to be called ‘foreigners’ and be at the receiving end of all political propaganda. And no more need to remind the country that even we are Indians.

This article was first published on East Mojo.

The post The Lost Gorkha Tribes appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Here is a full press release issued by Bishal Chettri, Vice-President of the GJM (Bimal) group.

“Today a high level team led by Darjeeling MP and Minister of State for Electronics and IT Shri. SS Ahluwalia, GJM members Shri. Bishal Chettri, Shri. Anil Lopchan, Shri. Rohit Thapa, and Gorkha history expert Shri. BP Bajgain, Members of Himalayan Forest Villagers Organization representatives Shri. Lila Kumar Gurung and Shri. Lal Sing Bhujel met with the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Jual Oram to press for the introduction of a Bill calling for the inclusion of 11 left out Gorkha sub-tribes – Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakkha and Dhimal as the Schedule Tribes of India, in the upcoming winter session of the Parliament.

The Honourable Minister for Tribal Affairs Mr. Jual Oram has in turn, informed the delegation today that the Home Minister of India Shri Rajnath Singh has already called him for a meeting to discuss this issue tomorrow 10th of October, at 3 PM. He further assured the delegates that he will be doing his best to introduce a bill to include the 11 left out Gorkha sub-tribes under the ST status in India.

The team, led by Shri SS Ahluwalia informed the Minister Shri. Oram, how from 1931 the entire Gorkha community living in India were regarded as “Hill Tribes,” however when the West Bengal Alienation of Land (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1954, better known as the “Absorbed Areas Act” was implemented and Bengal occupied the Darjeeling, Kalimpong Terai, and Dooars, the “Hill Tribe” status of the Gorkhas was conveniently quashed.

The delebation reminded the Tribal affairs Minister that despite 71 years of independence, 11 sub-tribes communities have been suffering from the “injustice of recognition”, which has not only marginalized the Gorkhas socially, economically and politically but has continued to deprive our community of the basic dignity to live the kind of lives that they value living. The non-recognition of the distinct and unparalleled historical, cultural and traditional backgrounds of these diverse ethnic Gorkhas, particularly in the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayan regions of India, and in Dooars and Terai region of West Bengal, and different parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Garwal and Kumaon hills, Assam and other NE states and Bengal amounts to denying their very existence in the first place and thereby perpetuated the historic injustice.

The delegation informed the Minister how the Govt of India had formed multiple committees to examine the issue, and how the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had himself assured the Gorkhas that the government has already started the work towards addressing this historic injustice, back on April 7 2016 itself.

The Honourable MP Shri SS Ahluwalia informed the Tribal Affairs Minister that on October 5, 2018, following instructions from the Prime Minister, the Union Home Secretary met with a team of Gorkha representatives to discuss the Gorkha aspirations for a separate state, and other issues that incorporated inclusion of the 11 Gorkha sub-tribes as ST, and the administrative oppression the Gorkhas are currently facing under the West Bengal government.

After discussing these issues in detail, the Honourable Minister for Tribal Affairs Mr. Jual Oram shared his solidarity with the Gorkha community, and in turn informed the delegation today that the Home Minister of India Shri Rajnath Singh has already called him for a meeting to discuss this issue tomorrow 10th of October, at 3 PM. He further assured the delegates that he will be doing his best to introduce a bill to include the 11 left out Gorkha sub-tribes under the ST status in India in the upcoming winter session of the Parliament.”

The post JUST IN: GJM Demands Introduction of ST Bill in the Winter Session of the Parliament appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

When people think about caste-based reservation in India, often we think it started with Dr. B R Ambedkar and the constitution of independent India. My take on it is slightly different.

During the earliest Rig Vedic period, society was divided into Varnas (classes). Those who chose to pursue learning, philosophy and education were called Brahmins; those who decided to fight wars were called Kshatriyas; those indulging in trades and agriculture were called Vaishyas; and those who undertook menials jobs were labeled as Sudras.

During the the Rig Vedic times, Varnas were decided according to an individual’s choice and ability to undertake the tasks. The system was fluid in nature and change of one’s caste was a common practice. A Brahmin child could become a Kshatriya or a Vaishya according to his choice and ability, and a Sudhra could become a Brahmin by attaining education.

For instance, Aitareya Rishi was born as a Daasa, but he became a Brahmin of the highest order and wrote Aitareya Brahman and Aitareyopanishad. Aitareya Brahman is considered critical to understand Rigveda.

Even in Bagavad Githa, it is clearly stated that

“cātur varṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇa karma vibhāgaśaḥ” [B.G. 4.13]

Which translates to mean, “The four fold system was created by ME in accordance with guna and karma.” Where: Guna means – nature, ones capacity and Karma means – activities based on the segregation of society for its effective functioning.

However with time Varna which was meant to define class, gradually got converted to Jaat/jaati (caste/race), and that is where reservation comes into play.

Original Reservation
I believe that reservation based on caste originally started in the 2nd century BC after Manusmriti was misinterpreted to suit those who were in a place of privilege, which greatly skewed the social order in favour of the Brahmins. Prior to Manusmriti caste system in India was based on merit – any individual depending on the vocation s/he chose for life and livelihood defined his/her caste.

However, things started to change after Manusmriti and its faulty interpretation allowed for reserving the posts of privilege, power and social standing for “upper caste” communities, while it grossly discriminated against the people belonging to the “lower castes.”

Everything from land to wealth, from political power to education, from trade to spiritual leadership was reserved for a select few, and that I believe is where reservation actually originated.

Historical Wrongs
Based on the faulty interpretation of Manusmriti, people belonging to the so called “lower castes” were made to suffer for centuries. They were treated as socially untouchables, who had no right what-so-ever over themselves, over their life, their family or their land. They were treated like a non-being, who could be dealt with in any way, shape or form.

Millions of people who were labelled as the “lower caste” or the “dalit” were subjugated to humiliation, discrimination, prejudice and made to suffer.

Varna system which was developed to define “classes” for better social order during the Vedic period, went on to become a means of controlling one section of our society and thus a scourge which our country is yet to get rid of.

Founding Principles

Given this, after India became Independent, the founding fathers of our Constitution introduced reservation only for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in an attempt to right this historical wrong. Their argument was that, within the 10 years the SCs and STs would have attained equality in the newly freed India. Dr. Ambedkar was against this caste-based reservation, and he had argued that if there were to be such reservations, then it should be confined to a maximum of 30 or 40 years, with no provision for extension. However others disagreed and the extensions have continued for nearly 70 years now.

The caste-based reservation system has today become a Frankenstein’s monster which is threatening to engulf our country, take Gujarat for instance when Patidar andolan for reservation broke out and turned violent, or Haryana where Jat andolan for reservation broke out and turned violent.

Nearly 70 years since our independence, and yet the discrimination against the SCs and STs have continued unabated in many parts of the country. Despite reservations, those who were poor have continued to remain in the margins. So definitely the system that is in place today is not working.

Flaws In The System

You may disagree, but I strongly feel that the benefit of reservations are getting more and more confined to the hands of an elite few, while majority of the SCs and STs continue to suffer.

Let me give you a real life example of my two very good friends (daju haru) Dorjey and Sangay. Dorjey is a driver. He works hard for his living and is doing his best to provide proper education and upbringing for his children. My other friend Sangay is a WBCS officer and much like Dorjey he is also striving to provide the best for his children.

While both of Dorjey’s sons studied at Ghoom Boys School, Sangay’s son studied at St. Joseph’s and his daughter studied at Loreto Convent. Later one of Dorjey ko son joined the driving profession, the other completed his undergraduate degree from Jorebunglow Degree College, Dorjey could not afford to pay the hefty fees and daily expense to afford his son to study elsewhere. Sangay ko son in the meanwhile completed his education from IIT Kharagpur, and his daughter completed her law degree from National Law School in Bangalore.

Both Dorjey and Sangay are STs.

Now be honest to yourself, and tell me this – which child has more chances of clearing IAS or WBCS or any other competitive examinations?

Let us assume for a moment that all of the three youths have same level of smarts and are equally hardworking, so if you had to put your money on any two of the above to make an IAS or WBCS who would you bet on to make it?

I am not sure about you guys, but I am firmly placing my money on both of Sangay’s children. As much as I love Dorjey ko chora, I don’t think that he stands a chance against these two youths who have received the kind of exposure which Dorjey’s son could never get.

There might be an exception every once in a while, but sad truth remains that every child born into privilege will always hold an edge over a child born into an economically or socially marginalized families.

And I think that is what makes our system flawed.

Changing The Parameters

Reservation based on caste alone as the critiera., tends to render people in the margins more marginalized. The above example I gave, shows how elites within a “reserved” category go on to usurp the opportunities, while others from the same group who are economically marginalized stand no chance to compete.

With education and hard work today Sangay is an elite, and not just amongst the STs, but also amongst the rest of Darjeeling denizens. He is a “Class A” government officer, and earns one of the highest salaries, perks and privileges that the state government has to offer. So he can afford the best for his children, and the chances that his children will continue to uphold their elite position in the society are very high.

Whereas Dorjey, despite his best intents, cannot ever hope to level the playing field for his children. His son will NOT get the kind of exposure, privileges, training and education like Sangay ko nani haru.

So is it fair to let Dorjee ko children compete with Sangay’s?

I think that now time has come for changing the parameters of reservation, even if it is based on caste or ethnicity. Wouldn’t it make sense that only one generation gets the benefit of such reservations in education, academia and jobs?

If my father is a WBCS or a Professor or a Police Officer or a Lawyer etc, then do I continue to remain marginalized? I don’t think so.

So if our government changed the parameters of reservation, and introduced the system of “expiration of reservation,” where by only those people who are economically marginalized a generation before can avail the facilities afforded under reservations. A system where people who attain the posts of privilege and economic well-being are automatically denied reservation for their next generation, as their children can avail the best of education and exposure and, are thus or should be, capable of competing with everyone else, without the need for any quota or reservation.

Let Economic Status Be the Marker

Wouldn’t it make sense to let those who are economically more deprived gain the facility of such a reservation system, and not let those who are already elite take advantage of the system to keep on remaining elite, while others from the same community continue to remain marginalized and thus discriminated against.

Perhaps time has now come for the Elite amongst the SCs, STs and OBCs to give up their claim to the Quota or reservation, much like how our countrymen are giving up their claim to subsidized cooking gas.

If we want a just and equal society, then we need to change it ourselves. Let us level the playing field ourselves, instead of waiting for the government to do so.

The post Caste-Based Reservation – Time we changed the parameters from equality to equity appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

उक्त विमर्श कार्यक्रममा राष्ट्रीय दलित-अादिबासी परिसंघ: नैश्नल कान्फेडेरेसन अफ दलित अादिबासी अर्गनाइजेशन्स् (नैकडोर) का राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष सुबास मणि सिंहले देशको सम्पूर्ण अनुसुचित जाति अनि अनुसुचित जनजातिहरू का हितमा प्रधिकारीक माँगहरू वित्त मंत्री अरून जेटली समक्ष राखेका छन।

अध्यक्ष सिंहले नैकडोर द्वारा अघिल्लो वर्षमा राखिएको विशेष अनुसुचित जाति अनि अनुसुचित जनजातिहरूको बजट जनसंख्याको अाधारमा अावंटणको निम्ती संसदमा नयाँ केन्द्रीय कानून बनाउन साथै ५१ वाँ नेश्नल डेवलोपमेन्ट काउनसिलको निर्णय अनुसार बजट जनसंख्या अनुसार आवंटन गर्नु पर्ने माँग फेरि एक पल्ट वित्त मंत्रीका अवगत गराए।

वहाँले दलित अनि आादिवासीहरुका विकासको निम्ति बनाइएको विशेष कोष शिड्यूल कास्ट कम्पोनेन्ट प्लान (एस सि पी) अनि “ट्राइबल सब प्लान (टि एस पी) मा आवन्टित राशिले गरिब दलित अनि आदिवासी बर्गको कुनै विकास नभएको बताए अनि देशको २५ प्रतिशत दलित अनि अादिबासी कोषको सठित अनि सदउपयोग गराउन प्रधान मंत्रीको अध्यक्षतामा नयाँ अनुसुचित जाति एवं अनुसुचित जनजाति विकास प्राधिकरण बनाउने सुझाउ राखेका थिए। उक्त प्रधिकरणले अनुसुचित जाति तथा अनुसुचित जनजातिका विकास स्थरको भौतिक तथा आर्थिक प्रगतिको माथी निगरानी राख्ने साथै विकास लक्ष्य सम्भन्धित कार्यक्रमहरू पारदर्शीक ढंगले अमलमा ल्याए मात्र जमिनी स्थरमा विकास हुने बताए। शिक्षा, पोषण, महिला शशक्तिकरण, हेल्थ इन्शोरेन्स, जल अनि स्वच्छता साथै ब्यापार वाणिज्य को निम्ती कर्पश फण्ड तथा दलित अनि अादिबासी साहित्य अकादमीहरूका विकास को निम्ती विशेष आर्थिक आवंटनको निम्ति माँग राखेका छन्।

अन्तमा वहाँले वित्त मंत्रालयलाई देशका अन्य पछौंटे वर्गलाई नेतृत्व गर्ने महाराष्ट्रका अो॰ बि॰ सि मुक्ति मोर्चालाई पनि अन्य पछौंटे वर्गका पक्षमा सुझाउहरु राख्न भविष्यमा हुने बजट पूर्व विमर्श कार्यक्रममा निमंत्रण गर्ने अनुरोध राखेका छन।

The post नैकडोर का राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष सुबास मणि सिंहले वित्त मंत्री अरून जेटली समक्ष राखे देशका २५ प्रतिशत दलित-आदिबासी जनसंख्याहरूको प्रधिकारीक माँगहरू । appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.