Speaking on the Gorkhaland issue, Prof. Chattopadhyay historian, and Professor at the prestigious Jadavpur University started with informing the audience that he supports the formation of Gorkhaland. He rejected the idea that the Gorkhaland is a “secessionist movement,” and said that Gorkhaland should be viewed in the context of India not something out of it. He stressed the fact that the cause of Gorkhaland can and should be supported without supporting any kind of political leadership.
Giving the historical paranoia associated with the “bhadralok” syndrome, he stated that Bengal was the first province to be colonized, because of which in the earlier days of the British Empire, those who benefitted the most were the Bengalis, and hence this idea of “Bhadralok” was born. The “bhadralok” image prevented the Bengalis from seeing other communities as equals; rather they have continued to see other as culturally and economically inferior. He gave an example of during the time of Bengal’s partition when there was talk of a university being formed in Dhaka, the “Bhadraloks” of Kolkata protested, as they felt that Calcutta University would loose its prestige if another university was formed in the region... a classic case of "Bhadralok syndrome"
He further mentioned that the Lepchas are being used as a pawn by the West Bengal government, which he said was made obvious from the fact that the Lepchas were mentioned today only when Gorkhland agitation is round the corner. He stressed that one should go to the proceedings of West Bengal assembly to look for statutes and acts if at any time the government had given any thought to them, prior to the Gorkhaland demand getting prominence.
He also came our strongly against the chauvinistic “Bhadraloks” and condemned a series of derogatory posts made against the Gorkhas in social media sites such as Facebook and referred to those posts as unmediated self-reflection of some Bengalis who have written “aei salader dhuktae dhiya hoichilo bholae ajkae aera aetokani dokhol korate chai chae” he said such posts have no relation with historical reality.
He stressed the fact that someday in the future Gorkhaland will be a reality, and said that West Bengal government is trying to make the situation more difficult.
Source : Facebook DT
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| Prof. Kunal Chattopadhyay on Gorkhaland issue in Jadavpur |
Giving the historical paranoia associated with the “bhadralok” syndrome, he stated that Bengal was the first province to be colonized, because of which in the earlier days of the British Empire, those who benefitted the most were the Bengalis, and hence this idea of “Bhadralok” was born. The “bhadralok” image prevented the Bengalis from seeing other communities as equals; rather they have continued to see other as culturally and economically inferior. He gave an example of during the time of Bengal’s partition when there was talk of a university being formed in Dhaka, the “Bhadraloks” of Kolkata protested, as they felt that Calcutta University would loose its prestige if another university was formed in the region... a classic case of "Bhadralok syndrome"
He further mentioned that the Lepchas are being used as a pawn by the West Bengal government, which he said was made obvious from the fact that the Lepchas were mentioned today only when Gorkhland agitation is round the corner. He stressed that one should go to the proceedings of West Bengal assembly to look for statutes and acts if at any time the government had given any thought to them, prior to the Gorkhaland demand getting prominence.
He also came our strongly against the chauvinistic “Bhadraloks” and condemned a series of derogatory posts made against the Gorkhas in social media sites such as Facebook and referred to those posts as unmediated self-reflection of some Bengalis who have written “aei salader dhuktae dhiya hoichilo bholae ajkae aera aetokani dokhol korate chai chae” he said such posts have no relation with historical reality.
He stressed the fact that someday in the future Gorkhaland will be a reality, and said that West Bengal government is trying to make the situation more difficult.
Source : Facebook DT
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