Darjeeling Man Robbed of Rs 35000, Mobile Phone in Delhi

6:36 AM

•

Gorkhas in Delhi

Writes: Bicky Sharma 

A 30 year old man from Dooars (Darjeeling) was beaten up and robbed of Rs. 35000 and his mobile phone by four men inside a cab in Delhi, just few hours after midnight.

Atit Limbu, who has been working in a bar in Sector 29 of Delhi, had boarded sharing a cab at IFFCO Chowk to Delhi's Ghittorni as usual at around 1 a.m. in the morning. After travelling a while, the taxi took an unusual U-turn, which raised suspicion into Atit's mind and when he asked the cab driver to stop, he accelerated the cab instead.

The culprits who had been acting like passengers, then suddenly started beating him. The duo sitting by his side covered his mouth to stop him from raising any alarm. They also tied his hands with his shoelaces, and later blindfolded him. They were carrying knives and pliers, as according to the victim, who also claims being hit on the face with the pliers.

The robbers snatched his debit card and withdrew 35000 from his account, after forcing him to reveal his PIN. They also took away his mobile phone.

After an hour, they dropped him in Sector 15, from where he took an auto to IFFCO Chowk. After reaching Ghitorni, he called the Police Control Room. An FIR has been registered at the Sector 29 Police station.

The Darjeeling Representatives of the Delhi Police for Northeast Region also went up to meet the SHO at Sector 29, who assured to find the accused as soon as possible.

Via TheDC

READ MORE

Maha Rally in Delhi for new states including Gorkhaland

2:34 PM

•

statehood

Joint rally in Delhi for statehood

Debraj Deb| Mar 20, 2018 00:00 IST - Telegrapg

Agartala: A group of the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) leaders on Monday joined a Maha Rally in New Delhi organised by the National Federation of New States seeking new states.

Failing this, the federation has threatened to launch a united political front before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Twipraland is a proposed separate state for indigenous communities of Tripura.

The federation organised a collective session on statehood demands at Hansraj College in Delhi on Sunday.

The rally on Mondaystarted from Rajghat and ended at Parliament Street.

Youth IPFT leader Shuklacharan Noatia told reporters that they were protesting to raise statehood demands from across the country at the national level. "Twipraland is a political demand and so are all others. The protest was successful," he said.

No central government representative has met the delegates so far.

NFNS general secretary Pramod Bodo said the protest was the first agitation of its type done jointly by all statehood demand groups in the country.

"After Telangana, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand, no new states were created," NFNS president Srihari Aney said.

The NFNS comprises the leaders of statehood movements of Vidharba, Bodoland, Bundelkhand, Gorkhaland, Twipraland, Kukiland, Karbi State and Poorvanchal.

On why his party leaders joined the rally despite being in alliance with the BJP in Tripura, which summarily rejected demand for a separate state, IPFT chief N.C. Debbarma said, "It was a pre-scheduled movement. A team of our party joined the agitation."

The All Bodo Students' Union, one of the participants in the rally, warned that the new state demand issue would "impact" the BJP in the next year's Lok Sabha polls.

It complained that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh did not reply to their letters for an appointment to discuss the issue.

Absu president Promod Boro told The Telegraph on Monday that if the BJP-led government did not fulfil their separate state demands, the NFNS would form a political front before the Lok Sabha elections. "Today we request the government to take a policy decision on the issue soon or the government will face the consequences," he said, adidng that the joint movement would continue.

READ MORE

गोर्खा फाउनडेशनले केन्द्रिय जनजाती एंव अदिबाशी मन्त्री जोयल ओरमलाई चडाए बिन्ती पत्र

3:10 PM

•

tribal news

अस्ती शनिबार दिनाँक ९ तारिकको दिन गोर्खा फाउनडेशनका प्रतिनिधिहरुले मानननिय केन्द्रिय जनजाती मन्त्री श्रीमान जोयल उराँव सित वहाँको बासस्थानमा भेट गरेर गोर्खाहरुको बिभिन्न माँगहरुले लिएर एउटा ज्ञापन सुम्पे। यस् ज्ञापन पत्र बिशेष गरेर ४ सुत्रिय माँग गरिएको थियो। प्रथम, गोर्खाहरुको एउटा सपना गोर्खाल्यान्डको निम्ती यहाँको समर्थन ग्रुप अफ मिनिस्टरको सभामा समर्थन गर्दै जोड तोडले कुरा उठाइ दिनु, वहाँले भन्नु भयो म यस्मा पुरा समर्थन गर्दै कुरा उठाउने छु। दोस्रो माँगमा, भारतिय गोर्खाहरुले गरीरहेको लम्बित माँग गोर्खाहरुको समुदायको ११ जातीलाई जनजातीको माँग चाँडो भन्दा चाँडो मान्यता दिया जावोस। स्मरण रहोस् यस् माँग सित बिभिन्न संगठनहरुले गरेको आर टि आइको कपी एँव सिक्किम सरकारको माँगमा केन्द्रिय सरकारको जवाबको कपी पनि मन्त्री महोदयलाई सुम्पे को थियो, अनी यसै सन्दर्भमा ११ जातीको मुद्दा मन्त्री महोदयसित ब्रितान्तरुपमा चर्चा गरिएको थियो अनी आँउदो सन्सदको सत्रमा यो पारीत होस् भनी गोर्खा फाउनडेशनको प्रतिनिधिहरुले अनुरोध गरे साथै वहाँले भन्नु भयो यो माँग चाडैनै पुरा गरिने छ। तेस्रो माँगमा केन्द्रिय जनजाती मन्त्रालयको बन बन्धु कल्यान योजना अन्तर्गत गोर्खा बाहुल्य क्षेत्र एँव जनजाती बहुल्य क्षेत्रमा घरहरुको निर्माण चाडैनै पुरा गरियोस।

अनी चौथो माँगमा एकलब्य मोडेल रेसीडेन्टल स्कुल योजना अन्तर्गत गोर्खा बाहुल्य क्षेत्र एँव जनजाती बहुल्य क्षेत्रमा स्कुलहरुको निर्माण चाडैनै पुरा गरियोस, यसमा यो माँग चाडैनै पुरा गरिने छ भनेर वहाँले भन्नु भयो। अन्तमा मन्त्री महोदयलाई जनजाती मन्त्रालयको सबै सुनीयोजित कार्य एव कार्यक्रम सठिक रुपमा लागु भएको छ कि छैन साथै कार्य पुरा भएको छ कि छैन भनेर यस्को जाँचको देखरेख गर्नको निम्ती समाज र मन्त्रलाय बाट सयुक्त समितीको गठन हुनु पर्छ भन्दा वहाँले, यस् माथि तुरन्त पहल गर्ने आसवासन दिनु भयो। आजको यस् सभा अतीनै सकारात्मक थियो। आजको प्रतिनिधि टोलीमा श्रीमती किरण सेवा, अरुण दास, बिनोद घले, निरज रावत, रुस्तम छेत्री, डि० के० प्रधान, लोप्सँग लामा, एन्ड्रु गुरुङ, सघन मोक्तान आदी उपस्थित थिए।
सघन मोक्तान
अध्य्क्ष
गोर्खा फाउनडेशन
नयाँ दिल्ली

Via  Gorkha Foundation

READ MORE

Gorkha Students Orientation and GYASA public meeting in Delhi

9:27 PM

•

GYASA FC

Report by: Sanjay and @Gautam Chhetry (DU Students)

Gorkha Youth and Students’ Association organized Orientation for New Students and Delhi/NCR Gorkha meeting at Gorkha Welfare Center, New Delhi today. Students from different colleges, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and eminent personalities from Delhi/NCR attend the event.
Opening the session, Dinesh Sharma social activist and founder member of GYASA introduced the history, objectives and activities of the association. Explaining the idea of the initiative he says “we don’t aspire to be an NGO claiming to do this and that for the community, but will make sure that the aspirations of the youths and the ordinary people are heard across social and political circle, when pursuing issues related to the welfare and betterment of the community.”

The event was divided into two sessions – ‘orientation for new students’ and ‘general discussion on issues facing Gorkha community in Delhi/NCR’.

Gorkha Students Orientation and GYASA public meeting in Delhi

SESSION I:
Adarsh Chhetry, Joint Secretary of NorthEast Students Society (NESS), Motilal Nehru College extended a warm welcome to the new students while motivating them to excel in their academic career. He emphasized on the importance of participating in various extracurricular activities and representing the community in every social-cultural aspect of college life. Sharing his own experiences, Aadarsh says “We are like sponges, and there is nothing different in any colleges; it depends on each student how much one can absorb from the teaching.”

Colonel (Retd) Sukul Pradhan then introduced Gorkha Football Club, a registered football society in Delhi. Col. Pradhan is a quiet activist who had raised and educated over 36 students from less privileged background in Bijanbari, Darjeeling. Starting his speech with “Moh ta Nepali ma baat garchu”, Col Pradhan emphasized on the need to build up confidence of the community. While lamenting the hesitation of many youngster in calling themselves Gorkha in public, Col. Pradhan shared his personal experience when he was asked to wash a car washer by his immediate neighbour thinking him to be another low wage labourer. After washing his neighbour’s car, Col Pradhan politely explains his neighbour how every honest job and sincere hard-working should never be looked down upon.

Urging everyone in the audience to help and support Gorkha Football Club, Col Pradhan said that “the idea of GFC is to connect to the community and youth through sports. We all love watching football and spending time with our friends and family doing something nice and positive. Let us all make every GFC match a Gorkha ‘mela’ in the coming days.”

The first session ended with an introduction of new students and address by Tshering Lepcha from JNU, who encouraged students to aspire big and extended all help from the senior Gorkha students from the prestigious university.

Session II
Shri Prem Prasad Sharma and Gopal Koirala of All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU-Delhi Leaders) opened the session by introducing the various issues facing the Gorkha community. They highlighted on the urgent need for all of us to collaborate as a community and come together for any emergency and urgent situation. Gopal Koirala emphasized the importance of Delhi Police for North East initiative and called upon everyone to work with the team at #1093 for assistance during emergencies.

Renowned social worker and poet Shri Uttam Kumar Chhettri lauded the efforts of GYASA in confidence building and slowing winning the trust of the community. “Sadly, there are still people in our community who hesitate to call themselves Gorkhas in public, or speak Nepali. Unless we speak our language, who else will? Unless we ourselves love and be proud to be Gorkha, who else will, Let us inculcate the spirit of being a proud Gorkha”, he added. Through his experience with Indian Red Cross, Uttam Chhetry also gave an overview of the mechanism behind donating and receiving blood. Requirements for blood being one of the most constant issues, he suggested that rather than donating individually, we must collective donate under the name of a community or organization, so that the blood banks can issue blood on the recommendation of the organization during any emergency.
Ramesh Singh Thakuri, eminent theatre personality, Ex-President and CEO of Dominos Pizza (India) and the son of Gorkha legend Capt. Ram Singh Thakuri mesmerized the audience with his motivational and inspirational address. “We should be confident about ourselves and never be bogged down under any circumstances. Learn good Hindi and English, and respond to the other person in the same language that they speak to you. Don’t be afraid and look into their eyes when you talk” he said. Citing his own example he says “My nickname in school was Chinku, but that didn’t bother me. I was a proud Chinky and I carried that attitude. I always respected the person before me, and that person would automatically respect me in return, without having to ask for it.” He called upon every youth to pursue their interest and not be bothered about parental or peer pressures, “but make sure you at least have a graduate degree because you may need a back-up anytime.”

Prem Chhetri, lawyer and advocate in Supreme Court while welcoming the initiatives by GYASA also focused on the need to distribute responsibilities and work with co-ordination for larger public issues. “We have too many issues to be handled by a single team – social, cultural, political, migration issues, pursuing government welfare benefits, reservations, and many more. A single team thinking about all these issues will burnout the activist on the ground. As a community, we must come forward and discuss how we can distribute responsibilities to various organizations. With a central team to coordinate and monitor the overall progresses, distribution of responsibilities will bring a proper structure and focus to our efforts.” Mr Chhetri also pointed out the as a community, we have been presenting a very confused public perception. “Organizations and individuals should stop representing the community without due consultation with all stakeholders. We must prioritize what we want - SC, ST, or OBC, but there should a consensus on the issues.”

“Today we have IGP Robin Hibu, IPS who is working tirelessly for the benefit of the entire region. What happens tomorrow if Robin sir is transferred or retires? Is it back to square one then? We must bring together all our police officials, bureaucrats, legal experts, and ‘grounded’ intellectuals on a common platform where we can discuss issues that are relevant to the community. This should be the think-tank that should determine what we should do and how, not people with hidden agendas and dubious standings,” Prem Chhetri added.

Adding to the discussion, Rajen Chhetry of GYASA asked “why a team of 4-5 members go about meeting ministers and officials and claim to represent the community?” He asked the audience if anyone of them were informed or consulted about the issues being raised in the memorandum because “seeing their reports on media and facebook, they seem to be claiming they are community representatives. Which community are they representing? Have they discussed about any community issue in a public gathering, outside of Facebook?”

Rajen Chhetry also pointed out the insensitivity of these so called leader and ‘apex organizations’ regarding issues of the North East, and Gorkha settled outside Sikkim and Gorkhaland regions. “While they go about taking names of Gorkhas across India, they don’t even seem to know the ground realities and local issues facing the community in different states.” Warning against any such moves by individuals and organization, Rajen added “Don’t think you can hoodwink and fool the people anymore. Gone are the days when the job of the public was only to clap; we have started questioning now and they don’t like it.”

The event ended with scholarship announcement for meritorious students by Haamro Swabhimaan representatives. Detailing the criteria and subjects for which scholarships are on offer, Mohan Karki, Yog Guru called upon parents and students to reach out to the organization for any such requirements. This was followed by an open forum where people asked questions and clarifications form the presenters.

GYASA would like to extend sincere gratitude to Gorkha Welfare Center Administrator and Manager Jolen Gurung for letting us use the premise for the event. We also like to thank Dipendra Basnet, good samaritan and Gorkha FC mentor, and Major Deepak Bista, NSG for financially helping us for the event. Mothers’ Group (Delhi), World Gorkha Foundation Trust, sister of legendary footballer Shyam Thapa, Gorkha FC boys, JNU community, and students for making this event a success. A big shout out to senior students for such a warm welcome to the new students. We wish you all the best.

Via GYASA

READ MORE

Working together to save a Gorkha brother injured in an accident in Delhi

7:02 PM

•

GYASA

25th June 2016 Delhi: Raju Chetry (24 years), a Gorkha brother from Duliajan, Assam defeated the death after getting extremely injured in a road accident in South Delhi.

Words are not enough to explain the smile that I have seen in his face today, though the wound is still profound and painful. It reminded me a quote from Dalai Lama and I quote “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us to develop inner happiness and peace”.

Today is the fourth day since the fateful night of 20th June, when the tragic road accident almost taken his life. God was kind enough to send IGP Robin Hibu (IPS), the Messiah in this case whose timely action and intervention make the positive difference. All Assam Gorkha Student Union (AAGSU) Delhi Unit has been constantly trying our best to provide all possible help and assistance whatever we can do with our limited resources. It is a huge encouragement and inspiration for us when we see people coming from different parts of the country extending a helping hand in this case. A special thanks to our Gorkha brothers and sisters from Delhi (Ms Rebecca Rai – Delhi Police For North East Representative (DPNER – Darjeeling), Mr Rajen Chetry (2) – DPNER – Manipur, Mr Rajen Chetry (1) – Gorkha Youth and Student Association (GYASA), Mr Sunil Tamang – Delhi Police for whole heartedly supporting and standing with us in the hour of need. It will take enough time to fully recover and heal the wound physically but our support and prayers will give him strength to overcome this darkest period of his life. A much needed support, prayer, encouragement, motivation is the need of the hour to keep his spirit high.

Following are some of the Photos from the hospital

We are very much thankful to the people who have generously contributed towards the treatment of Mr Raju Chetry and would like to update you all their name and contributions, as a gesture to acknowledge their contributions.

1. AAGSU Delhi Unit - 5500
(Gopal Koirala – 1000/-)
(P P Sharma – 1000)
(Amit Sharma – 1000)
(Keshab Tamang – 1000)
(Pratap Limboo – 500)
(Sibu Konwar – 500)
(Rahul Adhikari – 500) Delhi
2 IGP Robin Hibu IPS Delhi 5000
3 Mr Rajen Chetry (2) Delhi 500
4 Ms Ranjana Rai Hyderabad 2000
5 Mr Bhushan Rai Darjeeling 1000
6 Mr Vikash Chetry Assam 300
7 Mr S Sherpa Darjeeling 1000
8 Ms Rebecca Rai Delhi 500
9 Mr Sunil Tamang Delhi Police 500
10 Mr Mohan Rizal Assam 500
11 Mr Bishnu Karki Arunachal Pradesh 10000
12 Mr Yogsem Lama Darjeeling 1100
13 Mr Hiralal & Mrs Manju Sharma Assam 2000
14 Mr Vijay Rai Chamling Sikkim 10000
15 Ms Srijana Rai Darjeeling 2000
16 Mr Sanjeev Kr (SHO Fatehpur Beri) Delhi Police 5000
17 Mr Prem Kr Limboo Assam 1000
18 Mr Mukund Upadhyaya & Mr Varun Adhikari JNU Student 1000
19 Mr AIT Limboo 1000
Total Amount received 49900/-

We All Assam Gorkha Student Union (AAGSU) humbly request all the well wishers, brothers, and sisters to generously contribute whatever amount you can for the treatment of our brother Raju Chetry. You can deposit the amount in the following account:

Account Holder Name: Prem Prasad Sharma
Bank Name: Axis Bank
A/C No: 913010049307931
IFSC Code: UTIB0001129
Branch: Duliajan, Assam

(Note: Mr Prem Prasad Sharma is President of AAGSU Delhi Unit)
“Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that”.
~ Norman Vincent Peale

Thank you!
Gopal Koirala
Publicity Secretary – AAGSU Delhi Unit
gkinstyle@gmail.com

READ MORE

Gorkha Students JNU protests discriminatory citizenship policies of Assam Government (NRC)

8:49 AM

•

northeast gorkhas

23rd June 2016 JNU Delhi Gorkha Students JNU brought up a poster on 23rd June in the campus protesting against highly exclusionary and discriminatory citizenship policies of Assam government.

"Given the recent history of exodus of Gorkhas from different North Eastern states, Bhutan and Burma, the current threat emanating from Assam and Manipur is highly credible and too large to ignore. Even under such threat the calculated silence maintained by political leaders claiming to represent ‘Gorkha cause’ are highly shameful and smacks of their opportunism. Why the loud chorus of praises made by Indian political establishment of bravery and the sacrifices made by Gorkha soldiers protecting this country somewhat transforms into morbid.

And indifference when that community is brazenly discriminated and vilified in public sphere. It is such numerous instances of political discrimination and exclusion which consolidates and justifies the demand for separate state of Gorkhaland." said Dawa Sherpa.

Gorkha Students JNU 

The Poster

Reject the exclusionary and divisive policies of ‘them’ and ‘us’ in Assam

“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty!”- Thomas Jefferson

The wicked hands of majoritarian chauvinism have always tried to squeeze the identity and existence of marginalized communities through its clever tactic of othering and isolating people. History have witnessed, whenever such tendencies of racial and linguistic hatred have been unleashed it has brought misery to the weaker nations and unending guilt to those who practice it. But it seems humanity do not learn from history and so it repeat its mistakes time after time in all possible spaces on earth. Such an act of majoritarian exclusionary and divisive policies is manifested in the form of a National Registration Certificate in Assam, which identifies the Gorkhas and the Muslims as ‘outsiders’ in the NRC forms thus preparing them to be excluded from their rights in their own homeland. The NRC earlier had fixed the base year as 1951 as per which anybody who was enumerated in the NRC of 1951 and the electoral list of 1951 shall be declared as original inhabitant (OI) of Assam. But under recent specific government notification, the Gorkhas and Muslims are excluded from the category of OI in the NRC forms even though they had all the official documents proving their name enrolled in the NRC of 1951. Many British official documents(like by Krishna Ram Medhi, Sub Deputy Collector, Samuguri in 1937 and Deputy Commissioner of Darrang in 1937) shows that Gorkhas were living in Assam for about century with perfect harmony with the indigenous population. But situation changed after the beginning of Assam Movement in 1980s, when the Gorkhas, Muslims and some other linguistic and religious minorities were perceived by locals as cause of their underdevelopment and treat to their identity and opportunity. They were arbitrarily labeled as ‘immigrants’ who come to rob jobs and lands from the natives and some of them are labeled more brutally as ‘illegal migrants’. The irony is that even those people whose ancestors came during the British times and who have settled considering Assam as their home are branded as immigrants in popular culture. They are treated as undesirables in the society, thus ghettoizing and putting them under the lenses of suspicion always. The level of hatred towards these communities has always been at a high degree in Assam since many decades. The abhorrence spread by the Assam Movement in name of fighting against “foreigner” may be unseen by the majoritarian value system but to the minorities it was a propaganda specifically designed to put the Assamese society in illusion and prey of a false belief that hating specific communities could bring peace and development to them. Such hate propaganda was also seen in Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland in the late 80’s when thousands of Gorkhas were forced to leave their homes and many even died in some unwelcomed ethnic conflicts. All the people of Assam need is hope in the midst of multi-cultaralism where societies interact together in harmony as equal socio-political beings. The Gorkhas of Assam have always been in peaceful coexistence within the larger Assamese society. It even went to the extent of changing its very identity to ‘Assameli Nepali’( Gorkhas of Assam) and trying to intermix Gorkha culture with Assamese and other indigenous culture through various forms of socialisation like marriages, celebrations of indigenous festivals together and respecting the cultural values of everyone. On the contrary, it seems that a few anti-social majoritarian chauvinists do not want peaceful coexistence and want to divide society in name of language, ethnicity and religion. They want hatred to be spread everywhere so that they can divide people into ‘us’ and ‘them’ and rule everyone through the medium of fear and ignorance. Such brazen principles of exclusion and hatred are not only experimented in Assam but similar acts are peeping through the window to terrorize minority communities in Manipur in from of three new bills. Given the recent history of exodus of Gorkhas from different North Eastern states, Bhutan and Burma, the current threat emanating from Assam and Manipur is highly credible and too large to ignore. Even under such threat the calculated silence maintained by political leaders claiming to represent ‘Gorkha cause’ are highly shameful and smacks of their opportunism. Why the loud chorus of praises made by Indian political establishment of bravery and the sacrifices made by Gorkha soldiers protecting this country somewhat transforms into morbid silence and indifference when that community is brazenly discriminated and vilified in public sphere. It is such numerous instances of political discrimination and exclusion which consolidates and justifies the demand for separate state of Gorkhaland.
 
We condemn and reject such exclusionary and divisive policies which are pitted against linguistic and religious minority communities and demand immediate revocation of such discriminatory rules/bills from Assam and Manipur. Let us unite and fight against such majoritarian injustice!

 GORKHA STUDENTS, JNU

READ MORE

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh statement on meeting with Dr Jitendra Singh

5:35 PM

•

schedule tribe

STATEMENT OF THE BHARATIYA GORKHA PARISANGH REGARDING THE MEETING IT HAD WITH DONER MINISTER DR JITENDRA SINGH

With reference to the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh’s meeting with Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Development of Northeast Region (DONER), and the reports on the meeting as carried by various national newspapers, including The Hindustan Times of News Delhi, The Hindu of Chennai and The Tribune of Chandigarh, certain erroneous and mischievous views are being circulated regarding the objectives of the Parisangh’s meeting. We are clarifying some points here.

1. The granting of Schedule Tribe status is state-specific. (According to the Union Tribal Ministry website: “The list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State need not be so in another State/UT.” http://tribal.nic.in/Con.../IntroductionScheduledTribes.aspx )

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh logo

This clearly means that the demand for ST status in by the Sikkim Chief Minister and by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will pertain only to Gorkhas in Sikkim and West Bengal, and will not automatically extend to Gorkhas living in other states of India. Therefore, to infer that Parisangh’s meeting with Dr Jitendra Singh jeopardizes the move to have ST status for Gorkhas across India ignores these constitutional provisions and is based on ill understanding of such provisions. Any suggestion that Parisangh is being used to throw a spanner in the demands arising out of Sikkim and Darjeeling is erroneous, malicious and ill-conceived.

2. The demand for OBC status for Gorkhas in the Northeast is entirely in the context of the Parisangh’s meeting with the DONER minister and not any other Union ministry. When ST status for Gorkhas in Northeast states was broached to the minister, Dr Jitendra Singh said there were pending issues about OBC status for Gorkhas in these states. The Parisangh said that the demand for OBC was an old one, and it wanted ST status for Gorkhas there. However, since the issues discussed pertained only to Gorkhas in the Northeast and not to Gorkhas in general across India, the Parisangh told the minister that it knew that because the entire Northeast region was a complex interplay of tribal affiliations, various state governments and the policymakers of the Northeast were reluctant to accord TRIBAL STATUS to Gorkhas. An example is Mizoram, where the Home Department has suggest OBC status for the Gorkhas, but the state cabinet has been reluctant to accord even OBC status, deciding instead to hold a new census of Gorkhas in the state. Since ST status may not be forthcoming for some time, the best alternative for Gorkhas to derive policy benefits in the region is through recognition as OBC.

3. Even OBC status is state-specific. Gorkhas, for instance, are OBCs in Uttarakhand but their OBC status does not confer similar status to Gorkhas in other Indian States nor to all Gorkhas at the Central level. The Parisangh, in its meeting with Dr Jitendra Singh, requested that he use his influence to have the Central Government extend the OBC status, in addition to ST/SC, given to Gorkhas in certain Northeast and other Indian states to the Central level, so that Gorkhas can still derive economic and development benefits of the Central Government.

4. The letter of the Parisangh, attached with this statement, to Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram clearly proves that the only pan-India social organization of the Gorkhas wants Scheduled Tribe status for all categories of Gorkhas across India. In fact, a resolution passed in the 3rd Mahaadhiveshan of the Parisangh in 2012 called for the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh to contact the authorities to confer special category statuses, including Schedule Tribes, Schedule Caste and OBC, wherever best applicable so that the Gorkhas are not left out of the development processes of the various states in which they are resident. The Parisangh is committed to ensuring that Gorkhas across India has access to whatever benefits the Constitution can accord under various provisions, whether they by ST, SC, OBC or other social categorizations.

5. It is a journalistic practice to contact the person/persons/organization about whom the journalist is writing something. When office bearers are unavailable to clarify points that may seem inadequate, the article normally mentions the fact that no one answered the journalist’s queries. It is, therefore, against journalistic practices to assume and infer malicious motives without having tried to ascertain the facts from the organization named. No one bothered to contact the Parisangh office bearers to seek their clarification, so the Parisangh rejects such articles as individual fantasies and biased opinions.

Sukhman Moktan
President, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh.

READ MORE

GORKHAS CHANT PEACE AT PEOPLE'S CONVENTION, DELHI

8:08 PM

•

Manipuri Gorkhas

PRESS RELEASE: Manipur Gorkha Society, Delhi

MANIPUR GORKHAS CHANT PEACE AT PEOPLE'S CONVENTION, DELHI

11th June, 2016: A delegation of Manipur Gorkha Society, Delhi attended the trust building day-long People’s Convention for A United Manipur People's Forum for Hills and Valley Peace and Reconciliation Dialogue at the Deputy Speakers Hall, Constitution Club, New Delhi today.

Concerned citizens and eminent personalities from Manipur and outside including Harsh Mander, Director of the centre for Equity studies, Dr Anuradha Chenoy, Dean, JNU SIS, Mr David Boyes, Founder-Member, Northeast India Forum Against Racism, Dr Alana Golmei, General Secretary, Northeast Support Centre & helpline, Mrs Rose Mangshi Haokip, President, Kuki Women's Union, Mrs Sitara Begum, Muslim Woman Leader, Mr Lakpachui Siro, Co-founder of FUNICH (Forum for understanding the Naga-India conflict and human rights), Mr Babloo Loitongbam, Director, Human Rights Alert, Ms Lianboi Vaiphei, IP College, Delhi (TBC), Mrs Lucy Jajo, Conflict Widow, Ukhrul, Manipur, Mr Amit Luwang, Mr Jenil, Social Warriors, Mr Ghanashyam Moirangcha, Mr Nido Patra, Arunachal Pradesh, different student leaders.

Representatives of the Manipur Gorkha community Rajen Chhetry

The convention was initiated by a team of social activists and volunteers including Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network/Northeast India women initiative for peace.

In a full-day discussion, various speakers cutting across ethnic tribes and communities, discussed on various aspects of the ILP stand-off the Valley people of Manipur and the Hills tribe.

While some speakers pointed out the structural flaws in the legislation, others expressed their concern at the “mass” agitation, because almost 90 percent of the mass don’t seem to understand what exactly the legislation means. Some speakers called it a ‘manufactured crisis’ and some addressed the urgent need for all stakeholders to sit down and discuss, before it creates further rift in the society.

With a very interactive and positive note of discussions, the convention also expressed concerns that the never ending agitations that threatens to engulf the state one after another, can also be part of a larger ploy to keep the public away from talking about Development and Accountability. Appealing to the students to stay focused on their studies, the gathering also requested that schools students, medical and emergency services should be kept away from any such public blockades and bandhs.

Intellectuals and leaders from other NorthEast regions, bureaucrats and senior government officials also participated in the daylong discussion. Representatives of the Manipur Gorkha community was led by Rajen Chhetry, Sangeeta Pradhan, Gautam Chhetry, and Dinesh Sharma.

In an open-forum panel discussion various speakers including activists, intellectuals, community elders, mothers, youths and students speakers cutting across tribe and communities while agreeing on the need for a law to protect social political demography of the ethnic minorities,

Representing the voice of the marginalized communities in the ongoing agitation, Rajen Chhetry, social activist and youth leader from Manipur started by saying that his voice represents the “fears and concerns gripping thousands of marginalized communities, who are extremely vulnerable and are often at the receiving end.”
Highlighting the plight of the Gorkha community living in Manipur, Rajen Chhtery said, “Not just in Manipur, the Gorkhas have been the favourite punching-bag for any nativity propaganda across the North East. In the 1980s, thousands were forcefully evicted from Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and across the NE region and we still live without acceptance from the state government.”

He added “As a marginalized community, we have never enjoyed any welfare benefits or priviledges of a government. After 30 year of living my life, and with an ancestral heritage of over 200 years, I am still called an “outsider” and a “foreigner” in my own Motherland.”!!!. "It Pains" he added.

The Gorkhas have also been an equal contributor in the making of Modern Manipur. The community that came along with Maharaja Gambhir Singh’s troop and British army in 1824 played an important role in liberating Manipur from the Burmese in in Manipur after the Chahi Taret Kumbaba (Seven years Devastation). We had patriots like Subedar Niranjan Chhetry who sacrificed his life fighting for the native Prince Yubraj Tikendrajit, against the British.”

Appealing for peace and requesting introspection from all quarters, Rajen added “While I am not an expert in law or an intellectual who understand what is right or wrong. But as a youth of the state, I also believe there is a better way of address this real problem that affects us all equally.”

As was expected of every speakers to provide inputs for the solution of the vexed issue, Chhetry added, “As we are headed for a new beginning after such a historic event, this offers us a unique opportunity to resolve the crisis in the most satisfactory manner. While we step onto a new beginning, a modern state calls for “Inclusive Governance where the marginalized minorities are protected, and their rights safeguarded as per national and international laws. It is also equally important to recognize the contribution and existence of even the smallest section of the population, in the process of nation-building.”

Ending his speech with a call for peace, Rajen added “I am from Manipur and a Gorkha. I am proud to be from the North-East India, and from the land called the ‘Jewel of India’."

Via GYASA

READ MORE

गोर्खा फाउनडेशनका प्रतिनिधिहरुले अरबिन्द केज्रिवालसित गोर्खाहरुको मांग लिएर भेट गरे

10:52 PM

•

nepali

हिज दिनांक १ जुन २०१६ को दिन दिल्ली राज्यका सम्माननिय मुख्यमन्त्री श्रीमान अरबिन्द केज्रिवालसित गोर्खा फाउनडेशनका प्रतिनिधिहरुले गोर्खाहरुको बिभिन्न लम्बित मांग लिएर एउटा सौहार्द भेटघाट गरे। यस् भेटघाटमा गत फरवरी महिनामा चडाएको ज्ञापन पत्रमा छलफल गर्दै यस माथि बिशेष कार्वाही गरिदिने अनुरोध गरियो। जसमा निम्न बिषयहरु थिए- १, गोर्खाल्यान्ड मांग प्रती समर्थन गरिदिने अनुरोध, २,दिल्लीमा बसोबासो गर्ने समस्त गोर्खाहरुको सुरक्षा हेतु सरकारको उचित कदम र् ब्यवस्ता गरिदिने, ३ दिल्लीमा बसो बासो गर्ने समस्त गोर्खाहरुको निम्ती एउटा सामुदायीक भवन चाडैनै बनाइदिने, ४, दिल्ली सरकार सरकारी नोकरीहरुमा गोर्खाहरुको अवसर प्रदान गरिदिने, गोर्खा फाउनडेशनलाई सामुदायिक भवनको निम्ती जमिन स्वयम खोज्ने वहाँले हामीलाई भन्नु भयो।

गोर्खा फाउनडेशनका प्रतिनिधिहरुले अरबिन्द केज्रिवालसित गोर्खाहरुको मांग लिएर  भेट गरे

आजकै दिन भारत सरकारको सम्माननिय गृह राज्य मन्त्री श्रीमान किरण रिजिजु सित भेटघाट गरेर वहाँ सित बिभिन्न मांगहरु लिएर एउटा ज्ञापन पत्र सुम्पे। यस् ज्ञापन पत्रमा सर्बप्रथम, गोर्खाल्यान्ड मांगलाई चाडै संसदमा बिल ल्याएर, गोर्खाहरुको सपना साकार गर्ने अनुरोध गरियो। वहाँले यस्को जवाबमा - यस् प्रती चाडैनै सरकारले कार्य गर्ने छ भन्नु भयो, र् यस् प्रती हामी इमान्दार छौ भन्नु भयो। दोस्रो मांगमा, दिल्ली पुलिसको भर्तीमा पनि डुवर्स र दार्जीलिङका गोर्खा र डुवर्सको आदीबासी दाजु भाईहरुले अवसर पाउने छ भन्नु भयो, तेस्रो मांगमा दार्जीलिङ र डुवर्सलाई उत्तर पुर्बोत्तर राज्यमा एउटा संबैधानिक प्रावधान ल्याएर अन्तर्भुक्त गर्ने यस बारे पहल गरिदिने फाउनडेशन अनुरोध गरे, चौथो मांगमा, राज्य सभामा पनि हाम्रो जातीलाई प्रतिनिधि दिने मांग गरियो, पाँचौ मांगमा, राष्ट्रिय मानव अधिकार संगठन र नेस्नल फाउनडेशन फर कम्युनल हारमोनीमा हाम्रो जातीको प्रतिनिधित्व हुनु पर्छ भन्दा वहाँले यस् बिषयमा कानुन मन्त्रालय एव गृह मन्त्रालयको नियम बमोजिम अवस्यै गरिने छ भन्नु भयो, छटौ मांगमा, हाम्रो शहिद र शहिद परिवारको निम्ती मन्त्रालयबाट एव सम्बन्धित बिभागबाट अलग आर्थिक ब्ववस्था र परिवारलाई सुबिधाहरु प्रदान गरिनु पर्छ मांग गर्दा वहाँले बिभाग र मन्त्रालय सित बिचार बिमर्श गरेर जनाउने वहाँले आश्वासन दिनु भयो, सातौ मांगमा दिल्लीमा बसोबासो गर्ने गोर्खाहरुको सुरक्षा र आत्मा सम्मानको निम्ती वहाँले दिल्ली पुलिसलाई देख्ररेख र तुरन्त सहायता दिने बिशेष आदेश दिने छु भनी आश्वसन दिनु भए, गोर्खाहरुको एघारा जातीको ट्रैबल मांग प्रती पनि बिशेष ध्यान दिने अनी सम्बन्धित बिभाग सित पनि कुरा राखेर अनुमोदन गर्ने वहाँले भन्नु भयो । आजको यस् दुवै भेटघाटमा सघन मोक्तान, डि० के० प्रधान, मनिता प्रधान, एन्ड्रु गुरुङ, लोप्सँग लामा, रेबेका राइ अनी रुस्तम छेत्रीले प्रतिनिधित्व गरेका थिए.

READ MORE

Ranjana Pradhan Rai selected for "The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award"

10:27 AM

•

international news

Big shout out to Gorkhas daughter Ranjana Pradhan Rai from Darjeeling for being selected for "The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award". Over the past 60 years, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award has transformed the lives of millions of young people in 140 countries and territories worldwide. This year to celebrate their anniversary they've made 60 films of 60 seconds which tell the incredible stories of the Award from around the world.

Ranjana Pradhan Rai is from Darjeeling, West Bengal and is the proud daughter of Lt. Col (Veteran) Sukul Pradhan, Ex-Deputy Director - National Cadet Corps (NCC) and General Secretary of Nepali Sammelan Delhi (Regd since 1959).

About the The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
The Award equips young people for life and work.The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is available to all 14-24 year olds and is the world’s leading youth achievement award. It equips all young people for life regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests. Doing the Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others; it pushes young people to their personal limits and recognises their achievements consistently. Since its launch 60 years ago, the Award has inspired millions of young people to transform their lives. Through non formal education, the Award can play a critical role in a young person’s personal development and is achievable by any 14-24 year old who wants to take up the challenge.

In her 1 minute film  “THE AWARD BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER” Ranjana says the following:-

There is more in you than you think. The Award directly or indirectly helps in building our society and community, it brings everybody together.The award programe engages, equips and empowers young people. It equips them with essential life skill and it gives them a sense of responsibllity to give back to the community.Ever since I got involved with the Award itt has changed my life. It helps people practice democraccy in the true sence, because every individual involved with the award programme is free to practice and pursue what they wish to without cultural bias. And the prejudice in society that often occurs in small pockets are erased with the help of volunteers who reach out to people in a more sober through the award programme.

READ MORE

Gorkha Foundation re-submitted memorandum to Arvind Kejriwal

1:29 PM

•

Gorkhas in India

Gorkha Foundation - India met honorable CM of Delhi Shri Arvind Kejriwal. They have re-submitted memorandum regarding Community Hall for Gorkhas in Delhi and Delhi Govt. job opportunity for Gorkhas residing in Delhi. Safety for Gorkhas living in Delhi was one of the priority and most importantly in the issue of Gorkhaland.

Gorkha Foundation (India) is a social organisation dedicated for the enlistment of the Gorkha Community of India.

Gorkha Foundation re-submitted memorandum to Arvind Kejriwal

Via Gorkha Foundation - India

READ MORE

Gorkha Students JNU condemns rape and murder of gorkha girl from Assam and the Dalit girl in Kerala.

7:32 AM

•

student

"Gorkha Students, JNU condemns heinous acts of brutal rape and murder of gorkha girl from Assam and the Dalit girl, Jisha in Kerala. We condemn, in the strongest terms the despicable crimes committed against Jisha, against the girl from Assam who was brutally raped and murdered and to the continued apathy shown by the University officials towards the girl from Sikkim. We demand a proper investigation in all these cases with speedy trial for the perpetrators to be booked and be brought to justice." - Gorkha Students, JNU 

Gorkha Students, JNU  Condemn the rising atrocities on the Oppressed and Marginalized

The misery of the oppressed seems to be unending in the world’s largest democracy. Every minute we come across stories from the length and the breadth of our country about oppressed communities and their daily struggle for existence. This agony of the oppressed goes unheard, unattended and unaddressed.  Democracy fails us and the ugly Brahmanical exploitative structure rears it’s hydra head everywhere. Recently, a young Dalit student, Jisha was raped and brutally murdered in Kerala. The perpetrators of this despicable and horrendous act are yet to be punished. The atrocity that went unto raping and killing the young woman is pure evil. How is it, that ‘a body’ becomes prone to more torture, pain, and abuse and why is it that ‘this body’ belongs to an adivasi, a dalit, a minority and a woman. Our political institutions and society are yet to address these issues. However, they are but symptoms of a larger malaise affecting us all. For Jisha and many others, her identity as a woman and a Dalit was enough for the perpetrators to carry out the abhorrent crime with impunity. Such acts have been historically ignored and neglected. Becoming all though more troubling when we see that the so called ‘progressive’ fonts pays only lip service to such gross injustices, thereby, confabulating this struggle for justice and equality

 Rising atrocities on the Oppressed and Marginalized

In yet another similar incident, in Margherita, Assam, a young Gorkha girl of just 20 years was found to be raped and brutally murdered and thrown in a river (inset pic.1).  He deformed body later showed the degree of brutality meted out to her. When some public spirited citizens and organizations came forward and protested against such atrocity, the Tinsukia police rather than finding the culprits were quick to condemn such protests as fomenting anarchy. The police and the administration in no uncertain terms have tried to belittle the issue and with no media coverage of this heinous act, we fear that this incident too would be in the long lists of cases, where justice goes dying with the dead.

Sadly, this is not new. We encountered similar apathy of our government and our political leaders two years back when a student from Sikkim was sexually molested by her seniors and blackmailed into silence at the prestigious Visva-Bharati Central University in Bengal.  Social media uproar forced a few political leaders to speak on this, who vouched to fight for her and to put the accused behind the bars. Sadly, when the furore died down so did their promises. Till now, the girl still has to undergo medical treatment for her traumas while the culprits still roam free inside the campus, allegedly, because of help and protection from the officials of the University itself.  Her father however remains determined and continues to run from pillar to post hoping that one day he will be heard and his daughter will get the justice she deserves.

Our question remains, as to why that people from certain background are more easily prone to crime and criminals. Why is it easy for the perpetrators to carry out such horrendous acts without the fear of law or justice on the them.  Only too recently a girl from Manipur was abducted right from the middle of a street in a foiled attempt in the city of Bengaluru. Thankfully, the girl was able to free herself not because people chased away the perpetrator or caught him but because of the sheer grit and courage of the girl alone, while we see in the cctv captured video of the act that people stroll by in the vicinity as if nothing has happened. This is indeed shameful and reprehensible.

 Also, in continuation of the series of racial attacks. Closer to campus, on  May 2nd John Thapa and his friend John Rana hailing from Gorkhaland, were brutally beaten (inset pic. 2) up by the locals of Chakkarpur in Gurugram  for raising objection against throwing dirty water on them by the locals. Both of them were brutally beaten by rods and sticks by locals for daring to raise their voice. What is more disturbing is that last year similar kind of racial attack  had occurred on 18/05/2015 when Abishek Rai and his two friends all hailing from Teesta Valley, Gorkhaland, were brutally beaten up by their landlord's son and his friends in Gurugram. Everywhere there seems to be one common thing. The identity of the oppressed becomes an incentive for the oppressor to victimize them. These incidents clearly show that racism for people with certain ethnicity in India is daily living experience. It’s not alone limited to people from Northeast. Even non-north eastern people like the Gorkhas, the Ladakhis, and the Tibetans face it.

Also, it is alarming when we see that such casteist, racial, communal and linguistic discrimination seems to have permeated from our society and unto our political institutions as well. Allowing for a fascist and repressive system to thrive and which represses anything which comes as progressive or just. Such repression got showcased again when two people were killed over police firing in the Tawang District of Aruncahal Pradesh (inset pic 3). The victims were demanding the release of Gyatso, the Secretary of the Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF), who were questioning the building of the dams in an earthquake prone area and were demanding more local consensuses to be built on the issue. We have already seen such roughshodding when huge dams were built on the river Teesta in Sikkim and West Bengal repudiating the concerns raised by the locals about the adverse impact these dams might have on their life, livelihood and the environment. Sadly, we as a society seemed to have normalised this repression and given into the ideology advocated by this repressive regime that makes anyone standing against them typecast as criminals or anti-national. Such typecasting takes away from them their political rights and allows for the full force of the repressive machinery to be turned on them while the citizenry is lulled into looking the other way by the mantra of “greater good”. Such plundering of the tribal forest lands and flooding of huge hill areas are all carried out in the name of the greater good. However, the question remains whose greater good? Is it the good of the regimes over the blood of the oppressed nationalities or is it the blindness of the collective conscience which fails to see the dark side of this greater good? Violence against the oppressed communities has always been structured and programmed well by the authors of oppression, ever and always. History will never forget and forgive the killing of about 1500 people under the state repression during the 1986 Gorkhaland agitation or the atrocities that were meted out to people under the Armed Forces Special Power Act in the North East since 1958. Such state repression is sophisticatedly designed to combat and repress voices of dissent in any form.

In the recent times too we see how such forms of repression has permeated and penetrated even into our educational institutions like HCU, JNU, FTII or JU wherein all and any voices of dissent are criminalized. We have seen how the progressive environment of our own university too is being poisoned by the same repressive state apparatuses manifest in the recent dictatorial High level Enquiry Committee (HLEC) report and the farcical dossier which tries to isolate and profile certain sections of the student community and teachers as immoral and anti-national based on their caste, religion and racial ethnicity.

Such typecasting is what allows for certain sections of our society to be devoid of law and to their claim to its equality, justness or fairness. People with no claim to law are hence then found to be easy target of the repressive regime and the casteist and racial society that we have come to exist in. It is what has allowed the perpetrators of the heinous crime against Jisha to the reach the level of horrendousness yet unheard. It is what is making the Tinsukia administration and police to brush the horrible rape and murder of the bright young Gorkha girl under the carpet of nonchalance. It is the lulling and normalising of such depraved acts that has allowed the molesters in Shantiniketan to roam free, or the violent acts in Gurugram to be reported unheard. It is this ideology of supposed ‘growth’ which excels in repressing and killing its own people.

Gorkha Students, JNU condemns all such heinous acts and travesties of justice. We condemn, in the strongest terms the despicable crimes committed against Jisha, against the girl from Assam who was brutally raped and murdered and to the apathy shown by the University officials towards the girl from Sikkim. We demand a proper investigation in all these cases with speedy trial for the perpetrators to be booked and be brought to justice. Only the unity among an oppressed can break the chain of patriarchy, racism and castiesm!


Gorkha Students, JNU

READ MORE

Darjeeling and North East Gorkha youths come together to rescue a girl in Delhi

9:05 AM

•

northeast gorkhas

NORTHEAST AND DARJEELING GORKHA YOUTHS COMES TOGETHER TO RESCUE A ‪‎GORKHA‬ CHELI IN DELHI:-

Big shout out to Good Samaritans Chogyal Sherpa Sherpa his sister Upasna, Karan from ‪‎Darjeeling‬ and All Assam Gorkha Student's Union Delhi Unit (AAGSU Delhi) Amit Kumar, Gopal Koirala and Prem Prasad Sharma for going all the way out and helping out Uma Magar, a lady from Margherita, Assam who was in Police station helplessly alone. A Big big Thank You always to honourable IGP Robin Hibu Sir Nodal officer of Delhi Police For North East Folks for guiding us and holding our back always and Delhi police Amar Colony PS Sub Inspector Om Prakash for the swift action and coordination. Thank you to all the generous Gorkha elders in Delhi who were more than willing to offer accomodation for our cheli.

Darjeeling and North East Gorkha youths come together to rescue a girl in Delhi

Gopal Koirala writes:-
Uma Magar, a Gorkha lady from, Margherita, Assam who came to Delhi nine months back and has been living with Amit Mukhiya (who hails from Darjeeling) as married couple in Chhatarpur in Delhi. Everything was good, but on 8th April, Amit left their rented accommodation and since then his mobile has been switched off and there is no information about him. She was helpless and was crying at Amar Colony Police station for help.

Today, Chogel Sherpa and All Assam Gorkha Student Union Delhi Unit visited the police station and offer a helping hand. We can provide food and shelter for a few days, we will assist her to get a job so that she can stand on her own. We also appreciate if any Gorkha brothers, sisters or well wisher can offer suitable job for her. She is currently staying at Wazirabad at P P Sharma's house, who's wife also belongs to Margherita, Assam. I talked to her Cousin (brother) who is working at Ashoka Hotel and asked him to come to visit her.

Via GYASA

READ MORE

पहाडमा बिभिन्न राजनेतिक पार्टी चुनाउ तिर भने गोरानिमो गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति भोक हड़ताल दिल्लीमा – दावा पाखर्नी

10:17 AM

•

Politics

April 12th and 13th 2016 Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha hunger strike in Delhi for separate  state for Gorkha community in India.

दिल्ली देखी राजेश शर्मा
नयाँ दिल्ली 12 अप्रेल। भारतको राजधानी नयाँ दिल्लीको जन्ता मंत्ररमा पुर्ण गोरखाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनको नारा गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य निर्माण मोर्चा नव राज्य निर्मण महासंग सयूक्त रुपमा गुंजीयो ।आज दिल्लीका बासिन्दाहरु पूर्ण गोर्खा जातिहरुले नियाई पाउनको निम्ति गोर्खल्याण्ड राज्य हुनी पर्छ भनेर बंगालको ममता सरकारलाई सुनो एवं मोदी सरकार सुन्योस गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठन गराउने उठायो आवाज । यस आजको जन्त मन्तरमा आयोजित 12 एवं 13 सम्म चल्ने भोक हड़ताल गोरानिमो पार्टी अध्यक्ष दावा पखरिण को अगुवाईमा दिल्लीको समिर राई , दिपेन भूजेल ,दोर्जे भूटिया, समिर बिश्वकर्म, दावा शेपा , एल वि राईले भाग लिएको थियो ।

आजको यस भोक हड़तालमा गोर्खाहुरुको निम्ति मोदि सरकारले अलग राज्य दिनू पर्ने माग लिए दिल्लीमा प्रधान मंत्री अनि गृह मंत्रीलाई ज्ञापन चड़ायो । यस अवसरमा बिगत दिनको गोजामुमोको यूवा मोर्चा सम्पूर्ण सदस्यहरुले गोरानिमोको झण्डा पकड़ीएको छ । यस अवसरमा समिर राईले भने दिल्लीमा बस्ने गोरखाहरुको एउटै लक्ष्यमात्र लिएर उत्रिएको थियो जब कि पहाड़ले जिटिए तिर लागे पछि गोरानिमोले गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्यको निम्ति बारम बार आवाज उठाएको देखे पछि दिल्लीको सम्मूर्ण गोर्खा जातिले गोरानिमोको हात बलियो बनाउने अपिल गर्दै आजको भोक हड़तालको कदर भारत सरकारले दिनू पर्ने माथी जोड़ दिए । आज भारतो राजधानी नयाँ दिल्लीमा नव राज्य निर्माण महांगको तत्वधानमा आज नयाँ दिल्लीमा गोरखाल्याणको राज्यको मांगलाई लिएको एक दिने धर्मामा गोर्खाल्याणडको राज्य निर्माण मोर्चाको पार्टीको पार्टी अध्यक्ष दावा पाखरीन अनि नव निर्माण रायज महासंगको अध्याक्ष आर के तोमार लगायत अवसरमा दार्जीलिङदेखी गोर्खाहरुको उपस्थिति थियो भने आज दिल्ली , गुड़गांव अनि हरियामको गोर्खा जातिको नारी अनि यूवा मोर्चाको उपस्थिति थियो ।

Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha hunger strike in Delhi

यसरी नारी मोर्चाको तर्फवाट दिप माला तामंगले गर्खाल्याण्डको आवज उठाउदै गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति आत्म हत्य गर्न परे तयार छ र गोर्खा हाम्रो गोर्खा सन्तान जो आज चार सिमानामा प्रणको आहुति दिएर सुरक्षा दिने ति गोर्खा सैनिको सन्तान हो र भारत सरकारले यसूगोर्खा सन्तान हो भन्दै आके तोमारले भने गोरखाहरुको अलग राज्य हुनू पर्छ भन्दै तिनले भने जसको निम्ति पूर्ण समर्थन रहेको बताए । यस अवसरमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य निर्माण मोर्चाको अधियक्षले भने भारतको भित्रै भएर अलग राज्य वनाउन भारत सरकरारले सोचनु पर्छ । पार्टी अध्यक्ष दावा पखरिनले भने पहाड़मा अहिले गोर्खाल्याण्ड मांग गर्ने पार्टी छ भने गोर्काल्याण्ड राज्य निर्माण मोर्चा हो जब कि यस पार्टीको लक्ष्य एक मात्र पहाड़ तराई एवं डुवर्सलाई लिएर अलग राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्यको निम्ति गठन भएको हो भनि तिनले भने पहाड़ होवस दिल्ली सम्म रहेको सभा देखी वहान गरिहिन्छ कि आन्दोलनमा आब बृहत समर्थन दिन पर्छ भनि आवहान गर्दै भने हाम्रो संसद देखी अन्यपार्टी नाम नलिकन पहाड़मा चलि रहेको राजनैतिक पार्टीलाई निनाउसाना बनाउदै भने आन्दोलनको नाममा गोर्खाल्याण्ड मागी खाने भाड़मात्र बनाइ रहको छ भन्दै तिनके पार्टीको लक्ष्यम गोर्खाल्याम्डको निम्ति मात्र आफ्नो लक्ष्य रहेको छ भनि तिनले भने अघि तिनि पहाड़मा रहेको गोर्खा राष्ट्रीय मुक्ति मोर्चामा 1986 देखी अलग राज्यको निम्ति खटि आएको थिए भने आज सम्म अलग राज्यको निम्ति गोर्खाल्याडको निम्ति खटि रहेको छ भन्दै तिनले भने केन्द्र सरकारले अब सोचनु पर्छ कि पहाडमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड सोचनु पर्छ भन्दै प्रधान मंत्रीले 2014को चुनावी सभामा सिलगोड़ी आउदाँ गोर्खाको सपमा मेरो सपन उनको सपना भनेको थियो भने उनले दिएको आवाज पुरा गर्ने अनुरोध गराएको छ । हिले पहाडमा सबै राजनैतिक पार्टी चुवाउको तिरी दौड़ी रहेको छ भने तिनको पार्टी गोर्खाको सपना अनि जन्म सिध्द अधिकारलाई पुरागराउनको निम्ति आफू तिनको समर्थकहरुलाई लिएर आज राजधानी दिल्लीमा धर्ना गरिरहेको छ जब कि आज सांसदको समर्थन जुटुनको निम्ति पारलिमेन्ट चलिरहेको समय गोर्खाल्याण्डको वाज गुजाइरहकेको छु भनि बताए । तिनले भने आउदो अप्रेलमा बंगालमा चुनाउ हुन्छ तर त्यो समय पुर्ण दिल्लीमा धर्ना गरि गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति नव निर्मणको राज्य महा संगको सयुक्त सगको साथ भब्य धर्ना गरिने छ भनि अन्तमा घोषना गरे । यसरी आर्को बक्ताको रुपमा संगम राईको भाषणमा भने गोर्खाल्याणको निम्ति बंगाल सरकार संग होइन अब केन्द्र सरकार समक्ष मांग गर्नु हो , जब कि अहिले पहाड़को क्षेत्रमा गोर्खाल्याण्डको साटो गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रसासन जस्तो प्रवाधान दिएर पहाड़को गोर्खा जातिको जन्म सिद्ध अधिकारलाई वालाउन प्रयास गरि रहेको तथा बंगालमा वाभिन्न राजनैतिक पार्टीले गोर्खाहरुको एकतालाई समाप्त गर्ने जन प्रयास गरिरहेको छ ।

यसरी आज गोरानिमोको मुख्य उदस्यह लिएर आज जो नव राज्या निर्माण माहसंगले जुन कदम उठाएको छ गोर्खाल्याण्ड अनि विधर्ब राज्य गठन गराउन पर्छ भनि आज जुन धर्नाद्वारा राज्य गठनको माग गरिने कार्य दिल्लीमा भएकोमा यो बुझनू पर्छ कि पहाड़मा देखी गोरानिमो पार्टीलाईर्थन दुनू पर्छ भन्दै भाजपाले आफ्नो चुनावी मेनि फेस्टोमा सानो – सानो राज्य गठनको निम्ति पक्षदान छ भनेर लेखीएको कथन सत्य छ भने किन गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठन गर्नू बिलम्भ किन गरि रहेको भनि प्रश्न तेर्साए । आजको दिनमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य बनाउनको निम्ति आज आन्दोलन गरिएको निम्ति दिल्लीमा अन्या पार्टीहरुले गर्नू पर्छ भनि आवहान गरियो ।

यस अवसरमा नव निर्माण राज्य महा संघको अध्यक्ष आर को तोमार ले भने गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य भारत स्वाधीन हुन भन्दा अघि देखी भएको हो , जब कि गोर्खाको योगदान देशको निम्ति ठूलो भुमिका छ जब कि भारतको भारतमाताको रक्षाको निम्ति देश सुतेर बस्दा पनि यो गोर्खा जतिले चार सिमाको रक्षा गरेर आज भारत माताको रक्षाको निम्ति जुन योग दान छ जसको निम्ति कदर बंगाल सरकार अनि केन्द्र सरकाले सोचनू पर्छ भनि बताए तिनले भने गोर्खाल्याम्डको निम्ति अलग राज्यको निम्ति पूर्ण समर्थ रहेको छ बचन दिएको छ । तथा तिनले भने पहाड़को निम्ति सांसदहरुको देखी समर्थन जुटाको निम्ति पूर्ण समर्थ कार्य गर्नू पर्छ भनि बताए ।

आजको यस भोक हड़तालमा आकास रामुदामु , समिर राई, सिनिल शेर्पा राज सुनार, , दिपेन भूजेल लाक्पा लेप्चा, हरि घताने , नारी दिपमाला तामंग, प्रंका राई , जोतिका तामग कबित गुरुङ , सपना विश्वक्रम , सुवला राइ, सतिम राइ , उपस्थिति देखीयो


Via:The Times Dooars

READ MORE

A Tale of two stories: Finding Suraj Subba and losing Tirtha Tamang from Sikkim

4:10 PM

•

Sikkim

Writes: Dinesh Sharma

SURAJ SUBBA, FOUND on 28-03-2016 (Delhi): 
Rajen Chhetry, Delhi Police for North East representative and a Gorkha Youth activist received a phone call from another DPNE representative from Manipur, Timothy Chongthu. Timothy informed Rajen about a youth from Sikkim found sleeping in a Park at Munirka, South of Delhi.

Rajen Chhetry and Sandeep Pandey immediately swung into action and headed to Munirka to meet the boy. 23 years old Suraj Subba said he is from Manipal, Sikkim and had come down to Delhi a couple of weeks ago looking for his Lover and a ‘happy life after’. However, the story did not work out as he had idealized, and he found himself out on the streets a few days after landing in the city.
He has been sleeping in the park for three days and did not have any money to buy food or to go home. Whatever little he had in his bag, cloths and money was robbed at the ghettos near the railway station. Delhi Police Sub Inspector Ranveer from Vasant Kunj Police station had met Suraj the previous day in the park. After inquiry, the police officer had given him Rs. 600 to buy his tickets and go home. However, when the boy was seen in the same park the next day, the police inspector informed Timothy who then reached out to Rajen Chhetry.

Rajen Chhetry with Suraj Subba 

Rajen approached a nearby ‘Namastey Café’ run by a good hearted Gorkha, Puran Rai from Darjeeling. Upon hearing the story, he offered to provide food and shelter for Suraj for the interim few days. Meanwhile, Rajen contacted Sikkim House using the number given in Delhi Police brochures for emergency state help. After narrating the entire story to one Mr. Ganesh over the phone, he requested accommodation for Suraj and arrangements for him to go back to Sikkim. Ganesh told us that such matters are handled by the Resident Commissioner and he provided us his direct number. Unfortunately, all our calls went unanswered.

Having no other option, we asked Suraj if we can put up his information on our Facebook page and try getting some help. We then reached out to different people and online media, Voice of Sikkim, The Darjeeling Chronicles, Indian Gorkhas, and other media outlets. We received massive support on the information posted on GYASA and the associated online media channels page, with people caming back with information about his village and parents.

Earlier that day, GYASA members collected had some money within themselves and handed it to Suraj. Namastey Café owner Puran Rai volunteered to accommodate Suraj till he is settled. Mr. Arun Dubey, working as a Sales Director for a UK based-firm offered to book the tickets and travel expenses for Suraj Subba. Christina and Caleb from Sikkim also called in to offer their help with tracing the family of Suraj in Sikkim.

Then, the next challenge was to get the identification papers for Suraj. Arun Dubey and Rajen Chhetry also helped in arranging identity papers for the journey. Puran Rai, the café owner safely dropped him to the auto-stand. Rajen Chhetry received a call from Suraj after he reached safely back home and reunited with his family on 1st April 2016.

TIRTHA TAMANG, LOST on 3rd April 2016: 
A newly recruited Delhi Police personal from Sikkim, Tirtha Tamang committed suicide at Police Training School, Kharoda Kalan, Delhi. Reportedly Tirtha Tamang was going through depression for some time. With the aim to facilitate integration of North East people in the city, Delhi Police had recently recruited more than 600 police personal from across all North Eastern states. The new recruits had reached Delhi for their training just two days earlier.

As the news of the death reached Robin Hibu IPS, Jt. CP and Nodal Officer for North East folks he tried reaching out to Sikkim House for help. Reportedly, the person at the reception desk informed IGP Robin Hibu IPS that ‘it is a holiday today and he cannot help’. On requesting if he could inform his official, he asked Robin Hibu IPS to do that himself. Finally, Robin Hibu IPS did manage to reach the Resident Commissioner and got someone from Sikkim House to rush to the venue.

The Undercurrent:
If you have observed a striking similarity in these two stories, it is the callousness of the Sikkim House reception desk who is not efficient for emergency response. Both times, the person manning the emergency helpline has reacted badly during emergencies. If the phone number is not meant for such emergency, then Sikkim House should not have published it officially on Delhi Police emergency helpline numbers.

In a city like Delhi, people don’t have time to spend days and night trying to help each other. The state and government machineries in Delhi should be more proactive in helping their citizens. How does it reflect on the state or the region to find its people homeless and begging for food in cities? How difficult is it for the person manning the reception desk to differentiate between a SOS call and a leisure enquiry?

As Delhi Police representatives, we all try to help best in our personal capacity. Under Delhi Police for North East People, the police force is also involving community leaders and social activist to assist the government in handling such issues. However, all these good work by the Delhi Police stops when the state houses keep their doors shut and mouth mum during such emergency. When citizens are willing to help voluntarily, what does it take for the State Houses to involve them and hear them out? The saddest day would be when such good Samaritans get fed up of the Babu culture and the Great Walls of the State Houses.

Via GYASA

READ MORE

SAHITYA AKADEMI LITERARY PROGRAM ON INDIAN NEPALI LITERATURE HELD IN MANIPUR

8:26 AM

•

nepali

Writes: Dinesh Sharma

Sahitya Akademi, Delhi and Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur jointly hosted a one-day literary meet "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Kathako Pravriti" with a panel discussion on post-Independence Indian Nepali Literature, on 27th March, 2016. The program was held at Charhajare, a tiny Gorkha village in Senapati District bordering the hill district and the valleys of Manipur.

Shri Devendra Kumar Devesh, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Sahitya Academy Delhi and Shri Prem Pradhan, Nepali Language Advisory board (Sahitya Akademi) attended the program as Guests of Honor. Shri Lok Bahadur Basnet, President-Nepali Sahitya Parishad, and Smt. Durga Devi, retired Professor D.M College, Manipur also attended the program.

Other dignitaries present during the occassion were P.V Shelman from North-East Centre for Oral and Tribal Literature (NECOL), Manipur University and Shri Biswajit Roy from Kolkata, Shri Arjun Pradhan from Darjeeling, Sukraj Diyali from Silliguri, and Gopichandra Pradhan from Darjeeling.

PROGRAM ON INDIAN NEPALI LITERATURE HELD IN MANIPUR

The discussion of the one-day program centered around the changing trends in post-independence Indian Nepali literature. Ms. Pushpa Sharma, Lecturer Presidency College, Manipur presented a paper on "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali kathako prabriti", a discussion on the changing trends in Indian Nepali short story.

Dr Tankanath Khatiwada, Lecturer Presidency College presented a paper on "Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Sahitya maa Yuddhha", a discussion on post-independence Nepali war literature.

Shri Milan Bantawa from Darjeeling presented his paper on 'Swatantratottar Bharatiya Nepali Katha ani Uttar Adhunikta', a discussion on post-modern elements in Indian Nepali Literature.
The literary program was organized by Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur and was supported by students, organizations and individuals from various Gorkha organizations across the state.

Calling the event a huge success, Kritimani Khatiwada, General Secretary stated that “this is perhaps the first time that a program of this scale was directly organized in collaboration with Sahitya Akademi, Delhi. The contribution of Manipur Gorkha scholars to Indian Nepali literature is immense and this is a fruitful recognition of the same.” While thanking all organizations and individuals and organizations for the success of the program, Khatiwada hopes that Manipur Gorkha community continues to witness more such programs in coming days and generate more interest amongst the youths and students towards the language.

POSTSCRIPT: In written records, the first Indian Nepali literature came out of Manipur as “Manipurko Ladaiko Sabai” in 1893 by Tulachand Aale . Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur plans to hold an elaborate celebration of the literary milestone with its 125 years’ celebration in 2018. The proposal has been forwarded to Sahitya Akademi and the Parishad humbly request the support and wishes of everyone for this landmark celebration.

[Pictures courtesy: Rahul Rai]

READ MORE

GYASA FC for wins friendly football match against HMAR FC

8:30 PM

•

sports

Shout out to Gorkha Youth & Students' Association (GYASA) FC for winning a friendly weekend football match with HMAR FC. GYASA FC registered their first vistory over HMAR FC with a score of 4-0. Sanjay Rai from GYASA FC was the star of the match scoring a HATRICK. The 4th goal was scored by Rahul from GYASA FC.

GYASA FC had met with the same team on an earlier ocassion and lost 4-0 during the North East Festival tournament. The victory was a sweet reward for the team who have put in so much of effort in the last few months. Now that the scores are even, both the team are excited to play again in the future.

TEAM GYASA FC & HMAR FC

Congratulating GYASA FC on the victory, HMAR FC official James Sanate said it is really good to see GYASA team improve so much in such a short time. Speaking after the victory, Amit Sharma, Manager of the GYASA FC team said "All of us from different parts of North East Region. GYASA FC has Gorkha boys and others players from Manipur, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Dehradun, Assam, and other parts. We have come a long way as a strong Gorkha team in Delhi/NCR. We hope we continue receiving support from sports lovers. This way, we bond, have some fun and win tournaments too."

The football match was graced by Shri. Kirti Mani Khatiwoda, General Secretary, Manipur Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Manipur.

Special Thanks to Dinesh Sharma & Jeeten Basnet for bringing refreshement and water for the boys.


Via GYASA 

READ MORE

Darjeeling‬ Woman Murderd in Gurgaon, Body Stuffed in a Sack and Dumped

10:11 PM

•

murder

A murder case was cracked inside the mortuary of the Lok Nayak Hospital after a SIM card was found concealed in a woman’s undergarments, moments before a post-mortem was conducted. Police have now identified the deceased and nabbed the killer.

According to police, the 33-year-old woman was killed by her live-in partner who suspected her of cheating on him. The accused, 45-year-old Dhan Kumar Gurung, was arrested in Gurgaon, where he works with a hospital.

A native of  Darjeeling, the deceased had reportedly abandoned her husband and children a few years ago to live with the accused, who too had left his family.

The woman’s body was found stuffed inside a plastic sack in Central Delhi’s Daryaganj area on February 5. She was strangled with a dupatta and her feet were tied with a string.

Darjeeling‬ Woman Murderd in Gurgaon, Body Stuffed in a Sack and Dumped

The sack, meanwhile, was filled with potatoes and radish in an attempt to fool people.

Parmaditya, DCP (Central), said that the woman’s facial features suggested she hailed from north-east India. The sack in which her body was found bore the words ‘Kalash Tiptur Copra’, which led the police to Mithai Pul area in Lahori Gate — where these sacks are sold. Police then visited all guest houses and hotels in the area to check if the woman had checked in at any of them.

“We narrowed down to one dharamshala where this woman was believed to have stayed. The vital clues, however, came from the post-mortem room,” the DCP said.

The doctors who found the SIM card handed it over to the police, who were then able to identify the woman and the killer.

The problem allegedly began a few months ago when Gurung doubted her of being involved with other men. “He suspected that she had more SIM cards, which she would use to talk to other men,” the DCP said.

Recently, the woman had expressed her desire to visit her native home in Darjeeling. Police quoted the suspect as saying that he had insisted on accompanying her, which the woman did not agree to.

The accused then followed her to the dharamshala at Lahori Gate on February 3. An argument ensued between the couple, which ended with Gurung allegedly strangling her. After this, he reportedly bought a sack and some vegetables, stuffed her body inside and sealed it. Later, he took the sack to Daryanganj with help from an unsuspecting rickshaw puller.

Source The Hindu

READ MORE

Gorkhas in Delhi Honour Our ICON - Rangu Souriya

8:13 AM

•

icon

Writes: Dinesh Sharma

In an interview to TheDC Ms. Rangu Souriya who is one of the "100 Women of India" awardee, thus recognized by the Government of India had said, "As history is our witness, there is nothing that woman cannot do… we can do what any man does, and in a better way… I think the inner interest, courage, bravery and sense of responsibility towards my society is perhaps because I am a woman."

Yesterday, as our Host/MC Ms, Bhumika put it, "it was a women power day... the hands which rock the cradle rule the world..."

It felt amazing to see one of the most outstanding HEROES from North East Jt. Commissioner Robin Hibu (of DPNEF) and Ms. Rangu Souriya (anti-Trafficking crusader) together. Comm. Hibu stated that Ms, Souriya was "an ICON for all of NE," and Ms. Souriya said "it was my dream to meet the most noble hearted person, about whom I had heard so much..."

At the end of the meet and greet, Commissioner Hibu pledged his support to the cause championed by Ms Souriya and assured her of guaranteeing support not only in Delhi, but all of NE India. Comm. Hibu stated that if there was any person who evoked the feeling of saying "JAI GORKHA" it was Ms. Souriya.

The feeling that Ms. Rangu Souriya has accomplished so much, despite having to face such an ordeal was not lost on the Gorkha community in Delhi, who got together to give a rousing welcome and felicitate Ms. Souriya.

It might be recalled that Ms. Souriya is in Delhi for the Presidential Honour she is receiving at the Rastrapati Bhavan, New Delhi later today - on 22nd January 2016.

Ms. Rongu Souriya is one of the "#100 women in India" who will be felicitated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Yesterday the Gorkha Foundation, India, an umbrella body comprising various Gorkha social organizations and Individuals in Delhi/NCR organized a felicitation program to honour one of our HEROES.

The Program was attended by eminent Gorkha personalities in Delhi/NCR including Jyoti Thapa Mani, author of The Khukri Braves, Ramesh Thakuri, theatre personality and grandson of legendary Ram Singh Thakuri. Local leader and Delhi MCD Councillor, Shri Dharamvir Singh also joined the program including Colonel Sukul Pradhan, Advocate Prem Chhetri, businessman Neeraj Chhetry, Mothers’ Group Delhi/NCR, and other individuals from across the city.

The event began with a recital of Vande Mataram by BIkram Khatri followed by an introduction of Rongu Souriya by Shri Prem Chhetri. Speaking at the occasion, Rongu Souriya narrated the life threatening ordeals and challenges she faces when dealing with criminals and child traffickers.

As she spoke, Ms. Rangu mentioned that even after rescuing children from traffickers and brothels, the bigger challenge is in rehabilitating the rescued girls. In most cases, the society at large refuses to accept the rescued girls which traumatizes them further, often leading to suicide and vulnerable to fall back to the same crime again. In the absence of any such children home or rehabilitation center for her girls, Rongu Souriya stated that many a times she is forced to take it on herself to normalize their lives. She sometimes even have to fight with the parents who refuse to accept their daughter back.

Listening to her, we all felt that the society needs to change its mindset if it wants to seriously tackle the issue of child trafficking and prostitution, a trade in which the Gorkha community is extremely vulnerable.

Ms. Rongu Souriya also emphasized upon the need to create awareness amongst the rural and the economically weak section of the population. There is also an urgent need to awaken the consciousness of the Gorkha community and tackle such issues and a collective resolve to stand up against any such crimes.

As she spoke of the seriousness of the situation and her failure to get any government support, she appealed to each individuals present in the gathering to do their part and support her initiative in whatever way they can. Ms. Souriya’s passionate speech had the audience spellbound, shocked, and teary at some points.

Speaking at the occasion, MCD Councillor, Shri Dharamvir Singh spoke about the need for a collective fight against such social evils. He assured his full support for any assistance required at any point of time.

Eminent Gorkhali author Ms. Jyoti Thapa Mani spoke about the need for a community oriented approach for tackling such evils that has plagued the Gorkha community. Rescuing a child is just the beginning of the ordeal, the real challenge is in rehabilitating the girl child. It is indeed a wonder that Rangu Souriya has successfully rescued and rehabilitated more than 500 kids even without a shelter home. Jyoti Thapa later presented a copy of her book The Khukri Braves to Rongu Souriya and said that “Rongu’s fight is the spirit of Gorkha that refuses to cower down in the face of any back-breaking challenge.”

Mr. Rajen Chhetry of GYASA, while assuring his whole support for Rongu Souriya’s fight against child trafficking called upon the authorities and the government to acknowledge the contribution and impact she has made to the community. He said “While the President of the country invites her for a felicitation, we as a community have never actually even supported such Gorkha bravehearts. She has been fighting this war alone and here we are clapping only when the President invites her. We must wake up soon and take a stock of the real situation.”

Several speakers at the event spoke and assured support for Rongu Souriya’s project. Some of the attendees also made financial commitment to support her cause. Neeraj Chhetry, social worker and business man called for a deeper introspection onto the root cause of the problem. He said that creating opportunities and government support for entrepreneurship will go a long way in keeping a check on the rising crime rates against girls and people from the region in general.

The evening ended with casual interaction and sumptuous dinner prepared and hosted by Mothers’ Group Delhi/NCR.

READ MORE