A FICTION: The Day CM Wore Sikkimese-Nepali Topi

12:30 PM

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story

Writes: Amir Gurung

“घाम चर्को लाग्दैछ... its getting hotter by the day”, mutters the village tailor in some far flung village of Sikkim. Nearby his son is meddling on the Android phone not paying much attention to what his father has just said. They are generations apart.

The boy seems to be engrossed in the phone and the old man mutters with a half angry tone, “के गरि खान्छ होउ यो केटा ले... how will you survive” The boy looks up for a while, shakes his shoulders, “टोपी सिलाउने विचार छैन मेरो... I am not going to stitch topis”. Then he goes back to his mobile…

The tailor looks up at the sky. In his mind he is thinking along these lines… sunny days means hot days, hot days means more people looking for topi, more demand for topi means more income and then we have all those good festivals coming up… aha! Business is going to be good now.

He looks down at the green house nearby his house. The organic डल्ले खोर्सानी, the रातो रातो अर्ग्यानिक टमाटर all ready to be made into some ‘Sikkim Supreme’ pickle product. He feels a sense of achievement.

The Day CM (Pawan Chamling) Wore Sikkimese-Nepali Topi

He turns back to his son. “के गरेको मुबिल मा... what are you fiddling that Mubile for?”

“मूबिल होइन बाबा.. मोबाइल मोबाइल... हेइत कत्ति भन्नु होउ.. News पढेको बाबा Disturb नगर्नु होस् त .... its MOOBILE and not Muubile... how many times do I tell you that Baba? I am reading news, don't disturb me”

The tailor is hurt. Last time the CM was on one of his tours, he was impressed to know that he is still sewing the Nepali topi. The CM even wore it while addressing the people of the village. He looks at the boy and thinks, well, he knows more than me. Let me ask what the news is all about.

"के रैछ news मा... what's in the news?” The visible irritated boy tells him, “CM ले भनेको हामी चैं Sikkimese नेपाली हरे... अरु चैं सबै गोर्खे हरे... the CM says we are Sikkimese Nepali, while everyone else is a Gorkha”.

And then in the most emotive expression of the information he has gained from ‘intellectuals’ over Facebook, the boy explains to his tailor father, the difference between the Sikkimese-Nepali and the Nepali people living just beyond the Teesta. He tells his father how the other Nepalis are the "Gorkhas who came to be recruited from Nepal in the Gorkha Regiment and how the Sikkimese-Nepali were living in Sikkim from the ages past…"

By the time the son finished practicing his theory session on the ‘History of Sikkim and Beyond’, the tailor father is thinking deeply with his age old wrinkles twisted in confusion.

“ए ए ए ए तेसो भा अस्ति मैले सिलाको नेपाली टोपी CM ले लाउनु भाको थियो नि… त्यो चैं Sikkimese-नेपाली टोपी पो हो? So the Nepali topi which I had sewn and CM has won is Sikkimese-Nepali topi?”

The son is back on his Android. He is not listening. All he mutters is, “हेत्त बाबा तपाईंले बुज्नु हुन्दैन क्या. तपाईंलाई थाहनै छैन इतिहास चुप्पो लागि टोपी सिउनु होस्... ahhh Dad you won't understand much... you don't know our history... let it be.. focus on sewing the topis”.


Via TheDC

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Are We Actually Different, Mr. Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling?

1:26 PM

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Sikkim

Writes: Binu Sundas

The Honourable Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling, has blatantly denied himself being a Gorkha by differentiating those residing in Sikkim to be Sikkimese Nepalis and those outside of it to be Gorkha. He has vociferously denied the unity that the Gorkha of India have been rallying for. His differentiation of those Gorkhas living in Sikkim and those living outside of it is devoid of any historical and socio-cultural support. His only variable for such a thesis has been the military vocation one had chosen in the distant past. It would be interesting for all the Gorkha population to know the sources of his conclusion, as this would add a new dimension to the multiple  histories and historiography of the area. Dr. Chamling would do us a great favour if he can answer the question whether  the Gorkha population only joined the army, if not, then how would he categorise those who did not join the army?

Pawan Kumar Chamling

It is very saddening to know that a person occupying such a responsible position in the polity of India is making such a rash statement. He and his office should know that the population dynamics are more complex and intertwined and migration of people has always played an important role in shaping the contemporary nation-states and in this matter the state of Sikkim. Historiography of the region has not been reliable, moreover there is no social history of the region which gives a lucid accounts of people belonging to different race, ethnicity and nationality inhibiting the region of Sikkim. There is no written history of the area and people, prior to the coming of the Tibetans from the Kham province of Tibet and the formation of Namgyal dynasty in Sikkim, as the Tibetans burnt all the written documents of the Lepchas (Foning 2003), the presumed autochthones of Sikkim, which left them only with the oral traditions.  However, it is mentioned that Sikkim claimed to have ruled Limbuan, there is evidence that people, particularly in the north-east of Far Kirat, recognised this overlordship (Pradhan 2009). On the other hand it is also known that areas of Sikkim at certain periods of history was also under the rule of Nepal Kings. The Sugauli Treaty of 1816 forced Nepal to restore the Sikkimese land under its control. Therefore it is evident that movement of people must have taken place between Nepal and Sikkim. Therefore to claim that Nepali/Gorkha people of Sikkim is different than those of the rest of India is absurd. If we go by the logic of Dr. Chamling then the population of Sikkim would not be as favourable to the Nepalis as the data below illustrates.

Table I: Population Profile of the Three Communities of Sikkim

Year     Lepcha     Bhutia      Gorkhas
1840     3010        1995        1995
1891     5762        4894       18981
1909     6000        6000        5000
1931     13060     11070     36105
1951     13625     15626     97863
1961     14847     36577     88916
1971     22306     36760     134236
1981     22147     21548     192295
1991     56904     65033     284520

A glance at the population composition of the three major ethnic communities of Sikkim shows that the growth of Nepali/Gorkha population has been much greater than the other two communities combined.  Population growth or decline happens in two ways a) natural growth or decline and b) due to in-migration or out-migration. Is the fertility rate of the Nepali population of Sikkim so high? The answer to this high decadal growth is not fertility but migration of Nepali/Gorkha population to Sikkim. Therefore Dr. Chamling the migrating Nepali/Gorkha population cannot be different from those residing in other parts of India, unless you have selectively allowed only those who did not have any military background or you thought them to be of different race than the rest.

This needs to be put in a context. The decades of 80s and 90s saw a very high growth of Nepali/Gorkha population. This was the time that Sikkim had recently joined the Indian Union. It was transforming itself from an aristocratic feudal state to a democratic state. During the monarchy the state had very low level of social development. It did not have a college till the late 1970s, therefore when it became the 22nd state of the Indian Union it lacked human capital to run the business of the state. For running the state, human resources of different varieties were encouraged to come to the state from the neighbouring areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and other places. This led to a large influx of Gorkha from the neighbouring areas. Can this historical fact be denied by the state of Sikkim and are these Nepali/Gorkha people different than the ones the Hon’ble Chief Minister is referring to, since many of these people also have papers to prove that they are subjects of Sikkim?

Dr. Chamling must have made such a dastardly  statement owing to the pressure he must have faced from his political circle in reaction to the Government of India notification to provide eleven communities of the Nepali/Gorkha ethnic group the Scheduled Tribe status. The Government of India through the notification dated 2nd April 2016 already reiterated that the granting of Scheduled Tribe status to these communities will be done in consultation with the state governments where the Nepali/Gorkha have a significant population. Is he differentiating Nepali/Gorkha of Sikkim and the rest of the country, so that the life chances of his state’s subjects increase manifold in comparison to the others. Otherwise why would he state that he would take his 28 MLAs and meet the PM to discuss the inclusion of Sikkimese Nepali/Gorkha in the ST list and not of the others when the Government of India has already notified it. Is he playing a political game here at the expense of the entire Gorkha population who are now, though stateless, but equal citizens as anyone from Sikkim or for that matter India.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister has fallen from grace in the eyes of all the Gorkha people residing outside of Sikkim with one Machiavellian statement and if his desire is to deprive these Gorkha, who have taken pride on him being the only Gorkha Chief Minister in India, of the ST status then it would be the greatest disservice one can do to its fellow beings.

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Hamro Prajasakti allegedly defaming Pawan Chamling

10:15 PM

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Sikkim Democratic Front SDF

Writes Deejay Bolo
It is very unfortunate that Anjaan Upadhya and Pabitra Bhandari have been defaming Sikkim and Sikkimese for the last 2 decades. They run a paper called Hamro Prajasakti.

Hamro Prajasakti (A Daily Nepali Newspaper), yellow paper in the garb of newspaper has been publishing news to malign and defame our Party SDF and the Leader Pawan Chamling for decades. This mouthpiece of frustrated and fallen antisocial and anti Sikkimese elements has misquoted the Chief Minister's speech on Sakewa celebrations on May 21, 2015.

The Chief Minister had asked the gathering to stay away from the propaganda spread by some politically frustrated people gathered as Gorkha Jagaran Sangh against the minorities in Sikkim . His speech was Sikkim-centric.

Shri Chamling while stating the history of Sikkimese Nepali said that we are known as Sikkimese Nepalese down the line in history before the state became part of India in 1975 and thereafter. We are known as Sikkimese Nepalese unlike our brethrens in some other parts of the country.

Hamro Prajasakti allegedly defaming Pawan Chamling 

The SDF Government led by Shri Pawan Chamling has stood by the demand of the Gorkhaland state of Darjeeling hills all along and piloted a resolution in Sikkim Legislative Assembly on 28 March,2011 and Sikkim is the first state to do so. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Shri Chamling raised Gorkhaland demand in all the national forums including UPA meeting in 2006 , in September 2015 at Gorkha Rangamanch in Darjeeling in full view of the galaxy of national representatives of Gorkha/ Nepali from all over the country . He has been consistently in support of the cause wherever possible.

The Chief Minister also eulogised the history of Gorkhas who have regiments in the Indian Army who have laid down their life for the security of the Country. In the context of Sikkimese Nepalese , it is a fact that they are in majority in the state and therefore bear the responsibility to protect the interest and rights of the minority Bhutia Lepchas .

Sakewa speech of CM dealt with contribution of Gorkhas to the nation and their valour right from the British empire till today. There was nothing against Gorkhas around the country. He never said Gorkhas came to India for recruitment in the army.

Prajasakti paper has hatched a conspiracy to create a difference and controversy to create misunderstanding among Sikkimese Nepalese and Nepalese / Gorkhas around India.

1.  Gorkhas have settled in India, they are Indians from time immemorial along with all ethnicity. Chief Minister said that. What is wrong about it??
2.  Shri Chamling asked the people to be cautious from Gorkha Jagaran Sangh, an anti minority outfit which is misguiding the people . What is wrong about it??
3. The CM dwelt on irresponsible and anti Sikkim activities carried out by defeated, frustrated elements who are trying to disturb traditional unity and affinity among Sikkimese BHUTIA LEPCHA NEPALESE AND BYAPARIS. As guardian of the Sikkimese people he does his duty.
4. Sikkim has amicable and close relationship and constant touch with the people of Darjeeling. Conspiracy of a yellow paper like Prajasakti should not be taken as truth.

Truth should prevail and words should not be put into our mouth. SDF advises all concerned to condemn this conspiracy of frustrated elements who have conspired with this yellow paper Prajasakti.

Writes Manju Kc Nanu 
प्रजाशक्ति पत्रिकाले आज नकारात्मक जातिवाद सोच भएका व्यक्तिहरुको मुखपत्र भएर एसडीएफ सरकार र मुख्य मन्त्रीको बिरोधमा नकारात्मक कुरा जनमानसमा फैलाउने कार्य गरिरहेको छ ।

मुख्यमन्त्रीको सम्भाषणलाई तोड़मोड़ गरेर जातिया अशान्ति फैलाइने षड्यंत्र यो पत्रिकाले गरिरहेको छ । पवन चामलिङको लोकप्रियता दूरदर्शी योजना र कार्यक्रमको डाह लोभ र लालचले जलेर यी नकारात्मक जातीवादी तत्वहरुले बिभिनन प्रोपोगंडा मच्चाए मुख्यमन्त्रीको बदनाम गर्नलागि रहेका छन ।

नकारात्ममक सोचले पत्रकारिता गरेर अशान्ति फैलाएर भाई चारा सद्भावना तोड़ने कोशिश कसैले पनि नगरौ ।
यस्ता नकारात्मक पत्रकारितलाई अब युवा चेली र जनता अघि आएर कड़ा भन्दा कड़ा जवाब दिन अति आवश्यकता देखिन्छ ।

Writes Pravesh Stratosphere Chhetri
भारतमा नेपाली भाषी गोखाॅहरूको पहिचान गोखाॅको रूपमा पहिला भारत को ब्रिटिस सरकारले गोखाॅ रेजिमेन्ट आमीॅ मा बनाएर गोखाॅ हरूलाई छुट्टै पहिचान र सम्मान गरेको हो।अनि गोखाॅ हरू पनि देसको लागि ज्यान प्राण दिएर योगदान गरेको हो।

तर आज गोखाॅ हरू आफ्नो पहिचान र अस्तित्व को लडाई लडन परिरहेको छ, यस्को ज्वालन्त उधारण दाजीॅलीङ जिल्ला लाई छुट्टै राज्य गोखाॅल्याण्ड बनाउने हो।यस्को लागि सिक्किम को मुख्य मन्त्री पवन चामलिङ ज्यू ले सिक्किम बिधान सभामा दाजीॅलिङ लाई छुट्टै गोखाॅल्याण्ड राज्य बनाउनू पछॅ भनेर पास गरेको सबैलाई थाहा छ साथै मुख्य मन्त्रीको रूपमा श्री पवन चामलिङ ले देशका बिभिन्न राष्टिय फोरममा दाजीॅलिङ का गोखाॅल्याण्ड राज्य माँग को समॅथन मा बोल्नू भएको सबै लाई जनकारि भएकै हो।

यसरि सिक्किम छुट्टै राज्यको मुख्य मन्त्री भएर दाजीॅलिङ को गोखाॅ हरू को पक्षमा बोल्दा पश्चिम बंगाल सरकार र केन्द्र सरकार ले चामलिङ ले अकोॅ राज्यमा हस्तक्षार गर्यो भनेर चामलिङ ज्यूलाई Warning दिएको सबैलाई थाहा छ। यसरि चमलिङ ज्यू ले जातीको लागि गोखाॅको पक्षमा अडान लिएको सबैलाई थाहा भएको कुरो हो।

पवन चामलिङ ले अहिले सम्म गरेको काम हरू लाई बिस्वास गनूॅ पछॅ तर उसको बिरोधी हरू ले गरेको षंडयन्त्र र प्रजाशक्ति ले गलत प्रकारले छापेको समाचारलाई बिश्वाश गनूॅ भन्दा पहिला साचो कूरा के हो त्यो बुझ्नू पछॅ यस्तो षंडयन्त्र ले नेपाली अथवा गोखाॅ जाती लाई नै नोकसान गछॅ यो सिक्किमको नेपाली लाई मास्ने षंडयन्त्र हो अनि भारत भरि बसेको गोखाॅ हरू लाई कमजोर गनेॅ षंडयन्त्र हो यस कारण हामी सारा भारत मा बस्ने गोखाॅ हरू मिलेर बस्नू पछॅ षंडयन्त्रमा परेर आफ्नै जाती मा दुश्मनी गनूॅ हुदैन।।

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‎Gorkha‬ Apex Committee Sikkim Decries CM Pawan Chamling's Statement - Press Release

11:15 AM

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Sikkim

23rd May 2016 Gorkha Apex Committee vehemently refutes the statement of Chief Minister of Sikkim where he have said that Gorkhas are the people who had come to serve in army and later settled in different parts of the country and the Sikkimese Nepali are not similar to Gorkha”.

Such unfortunate statement has immensely hurt the sentiments of the majority Gorkha people residing in Sikkim and all over India. He has completely forgotten the history, contribution and sacrifices done by Grokhas in nation building. By such statement he have tried to play with the future of 1.5 crores gorkhas in India and have reflected his anti-gorkha stand by this misdeed.
A person is known as ‘Nepali’ who has the citizenship of Nepal and the people residing in Nepal are also Gorkha as community who has similar custom, language and belief as that of the Gorkhas in India. The inability to understand such a simple fact by our leadership has forced the majority Sikkimese Gorkha to live their life in utter injustice and suppression and have always been termed as immigrants in their own land.

‎Gorkha‬ Apex Committee Sikkim

To end the misconception of Nationality and Community the Government of India had issued a notification on 23rd August 1988 explaining that the word “Nepali” means a citizen of Nepal and word “Gorkha” means a community. Further, in order to clarify the matter we had sought an answer from the Government of India asking whether the notification of 1988 applies to the people of Sikkim. The Home Ministry has replied that the notification applies to all the Gorkhas of Sikkim and India. The Gorkha Apex Committee have thus submitted the copy of notification, the copy of RTI reply and the copy of “Gorkha” certificate issued by the Government of Sikkim to all the District Collectors. District Collectors in turn have sought the clarification on this matter from the Government and at present the same is under consideration at the office of the Chairman, Law Comission, Government of Sikkim. Therefore, rather than showing attitude of a dictator the Chief Minister should take immediate decision on the matter to end the misconception looming in Sikkimese Society.

The person who promised the majority Sikkimese people to put an end to the stigma of “immigrants” to reach the power corridor in 1994 has now completely made them vulnerable and insecure. He have failed to stand for the majority community when the attempts were made to erase the history of majority people, he could not speak a single word when AOSS filed a case in the Supreme Court of India terming the majority as immigrants, he ignored when few organisations in West Bengal openly declared the Gorkhas as foreigners, he was again a mute spectator when a person filed a writ petition in the Rajya Sabha to declare the majority people of Sikkim as Immigrants. Further, Chief Minister of Sikkim becomes Gorkha automatically after crossing Rangpo and becomes Nepali after entering Sikkim. Therefore, Sikkim needs the answer on what basis is he calling himself as Gorkha outside Sikkim and Nepali inside Sikkim?

Moreover, Pawan Chamling had protested the demand of Nepali Seat reservation brought in by the opposition party in the State Assembly terming the demand of “Nepali” seat reservation as anti-national and now he is batting on term Nepali to gain his vested political interest.
However, the majority people of Sikkim have now understood the difference between Nationality and Community and will not be bewildered. The majority community will give a befitting reply to the leaders who are trying to malign their identity and existence.

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अब पनि हामी बोलेनौँ भने कहिले पनि बोल्नसक्ने छैनौँ - गोर्खा भारती विचार मञ्च

8:53 AM

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Sikkim

भारत एउटा गणतान्त्रिक देश हो अनि यहाँ सबै नागरिकलाई अभिव्यक्तिको स्वतन्त्रता प्राप्त छ । तर अभिव्यक्तिको स्वतन्त्रताको आढ़मा कसैले पनि अनर्गल अनि जातिलाई नै भड़खालोमा हाल्ने प्रकारको वक्तव्य दिन्छ भने त्यो कुरो सहन गर्नु हुँदैन । चाहे त्यो व्यक्ति कुनै राज्यको मुख्य मन्त्री नै किन नहोस् । आज पनि हामी बोलेनौँ भने कहिले पनि बोल्नसक्ने छैनौँ । पवन कुमार चामलिङलाई हामी भारतका गोर्खाहरूले एक जातीय विभूतिकै रूपमा सधैँ हेर्ने गरेका छौँ । भारतका प्रत्येक राज्यका गोर्खाहरूले नै चामलिङलाई एक उद्धारकर्ताको रूपमा हेर्ने गर्दछन् । सर्वभारतीय स्तरमा चामलिङको नेतृत्वको सपना देख्नेहरू पनि धेरै नै छन। तर आज चामलिङले गोर्खाहरू नेपालबाट भारतको सेनामा काम गर्न आएका हुन् भन्ने उट्पटाङ विचार पोखेर गोर्खा जातिको घोर अपमान मात्र गरेका छैनन् तर आफ्नै छविलाई पनि धुल धुसरित बनाएका छन् । साथै भारतका गोर्खा अनि सिक्किमका नेपालीलाई पृथक-पृथक बताएर जाति विभाजनको घिनलाग्दो प्रयास पनि चलाएका छन् ।

यदि चामलिङले "हामी सिक्किमे नेपाली हौँ" भन्छ भने हामीलाई कुनै समस्या छैन, यो उनको व्यक्तिगत विचार हो । तर भारतका सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाहरूलाई नै इंगित गरेर यिनीहरू नेपालबाट भारतीय सेनामा काम गर्न आएर गोर्खा भएका हुन भन्ने आशयको मन्तव्य पोख्ने चामलिङको कुनै अधिकार छैन । सिक्किमको सत्तामा आफ्नो वर्चस्व कायम राख्नलाई गोर्खाको जातीय इतिहासलाई नै गलत बताउने यस कुत्सित प्रयासको हामीले कठोर शब्दमा भर्त्सना गर्नैपर्छ । यदि आफ्नो राजनैतिक शतरंजको बाजीमा गोर्खा जातिलाई मोहोरा बनाउन चाहन्छ भने त्यसको दूरगामी नतिजा भोग्नको निम्ति पनि चामलिङ तयार बस्नु पर्छ ।

परायाहरूले लगाएका घातहरू अनि दिएका चोटहरूले थिल्थिलो भएको गोर्खा अस्मितामाथि आफ्नैले थपेको यो विवेकहीन प्रहारले आज भारतका हतभागा डेड़ करोड़ गोर्खाहरू मर्माहत् बनेका छन् ।

भारतका सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाहरूको शिरमौर बन्नसक्ने चामलिङ यदि रम्फू खोलाको पारिको सानो क्षेत्रको मात्न नेता भएर बाँच्न चाहन्छन् भने यो उनको निजी मामला हो तर त्यो नेतृत्वलाई बचाइराख्न सम्पूर्ण जातिको भूत, वर्तमान अनि भविष्यसित खेलवाड़ गर्न चाहन्छ भने त्यो हामी कुनै हालतले पनि हुन दिने छैनौँ । मुख्यमन्त्रीको ओहोदालाई दिएको आदरभावलाई हाम्रो समर्पण सम्झिने भूल नगरियोस् ।

हामी गोर्खा हौँ भन्ने भारतका समस्त संघ-संस्था-संगठनहरू अनि व्यक्तिहरू मिलेर यस कुराको ठाड़ो विरोध गर्नै पर्छ । सत्ता मदमा जातिको हित र मर्यादाको पनि ख्याल नराख्ने मुख्यमन्त्रीलाई यो जातिघातक वक्तव्यई फिर्ता लिने अनुरोध अनि भएन भने चाप पनि दिनै पर्छ ।

याद राख्नोस् - अब पनि हामी बोलेनौँ भने कहिले पनि बोल्नसक्ने छैनौँ !!!(सभार पूर्वान्चल भारती)

गोर्खा भारती विचार मञ्च

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Open Letter to Pawan Chamling Manipur for his statement about Indian Gorkhas

8:10 AM

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Sikkim

Writes Prateet Pradhan

Open Letter to Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling by Prateet Pradhan on behalf of the Gorkhas in Manipur for his statement about Indian Gorkhas.

Sir Chamling, you are an lone Gorkha CM in India and for that everyone used to be proud of you. Its democracy and you kept your words. But please let me keep my words too. Indian Gorkhas as told by you are all former soldier of Indian Army who later settled here. But i think its not the fact. Their are various Gorkhas dominated regions in India  which came to the Union of india through various historical events(From the than Nepalese Kingdom like Parts of Uttrakhand and also Sikkim through the Treaty Of Sagauli 1816). I am from Manipur and i called myself Manipuri and Gorkhali at a same time. Also, in my whole life i have not come across the term "So Called Gorkhas".  

We may not be majority in our States but one thing is clear and that even our vote matters a lot. We are also good enough to elect our own representative. Their are various Constituencies in India (like Assembly Constituencies of Digboi, Margheritha, Sadiya, Tezpur etc in Assam, Kangpokpi and Sekmei AC of Manipur to mention a few apart from those within GTA) where the votes of Gorkhas matters a lot to decide the faith of an Representative. Even the recent election results of West Bengal and Assam gave us an example by electing 5 Gorkha MLAs. Still we are being called as minorities and the unity we sought are explained as an outcome of our Minority Status.

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The “Nepalis of Sikkim” and Their Un-Gorkha CM Pawan Chamling

7:59 AM

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Sikkim

Writes Upendra For TheDC

If we are to believe the Un-Gorkha CM of Sikkim Mr. Pawan Chamling, apparently the “Nepalis of Sikkim*” are a different breed than the rest of us mortals. He claims while they are purer version of Indian, rest of the “Indian Gorkhas” or “So called Gorkhas have emigrated from Nepal after recruitment into the army.” I applaud him for his knowledge and also his ability to call a spade a spade.

Indeed, “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not Gorkhas and that’s a fact... here are some reasons why

In 2014, a few months after TheDC was formed we got a request from a young girl studying at Lady Brabourne college, Kolkata. She was very upset when she contacted us, so we asked her what had happened? She had informed us that they needed to perform at a cultural show at their college for which they needed traditional dresses. These girls were aware that Sikkim House do have these dresses, so they had requested the Sikkim House manager to let them borrow the dresses for one day – they were declined, since the girls were from Darjeeling and not Sikkim. The girls explained to the Sikkim House manager that they had represented Sikkim in a basketball tournament only a few months ago, and had won the tournament for Sikkim, but the manager wouldn’t budge... “that was sports... this is cultural thing...” is what the manager’s final words were to the girls. Distraught the girls reached out to us, and thankfully we were able to assist them with the dresses.

Sikkim's Un-Gorkha CM Pawan Chamling

When you think about it, it’s a very trivial and small matter, however it clearly exemplifies that the “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not Gorkhas, for no Gorkha would decline to assist someone in need, especially not after those someone had assisted your state to win a basketball tournament.

In 2015, a girl from Sikkim was sexually assaulted and brutalized in Shantiniketan. We were outraged here in Darjeeling, so were the people over social media in Sikkim. However, when it came to providing on the ground support and solidarity, “Nepalis of Sikkim” were missing. In Shantiniketan protest marches were coordinated by PhD students from Darjeeling, so were protest marches in JNU, Jadavpur University, NBU and GJVM organized protest marches all over GTA region. TheDC on our part, coordinated “I Stand With My Sister From Sikkim” campaign in which thanks to Mr. Nawang and Mr. Nadong Bhutia we were able to get National level footballers from Sanju Pradhan to Bikas Jairu to Nirmal Pradhan to speak out against this heinous act. Nadong Bhutia from Kalimpong lead the campaign [details: http://bit.ly/1rHHaIO].

While all of this was happening elsewhere, nothing was happening in Sikkim itself. Shocked at the non-reaction, the editor of a leading online news page had private confided to us, “hamro manche haru k bhako hola esto... they are so indifferent... I feel ashamed...” Almost 20 days after the incident, a group of Bikers finally managed to organize a protest rally in Gangtok, and that was that.

Indeed “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not Gorkhas, for had they been Gorkhas their blood would boil over seeing one of their daughters so brutalized, sexually assaulted and blackmailed.

In October of 2015, around 40 students from Sikkim studying at the Himalayan Institute in Uttarakhand were brutally attacked by around 400 students from Jammu and Kashmir. Some of our readers informed TheDC that the students were living in fear of their life as no one had taken any action to protect them. We took the initiative to call up the institute Director, the Hostel in- charge, the Inspector in-Charge of Kala Amb police station and also the District SP and demanded action. Thanks to social media, following widespread outrage the Sikkim government finally intervened and the students were rescued [Details: http://bit.ly/1U6N0RK].

Thank God, Gorkhas in rest of India are unlike the “Nepalis of Sikkim” who couldn’t care if it does not concern their state. It is most likely that our initial demand for action and pressure we put on University and police authorities helped to protect the life of those students.

In March of 2016, a youth Suraj Subba from Manipal in Sikkim was found sleeping in a park in Delhi. After coming to know that the youth was from Sikkim, representatives from GYASA requested Sikkim House in Delhi to allow him to spend a couple of nights there till his travel arrangements could be made, Sikkim House in Delhi were untraceable and when we here at TheDC approached a Sikkim govt official to get the Sikkim House involved, the first question she asked was, “does he has “Sikkim Subject?” – we were left aghast. Never mind the fact that he was beaten up by drug addicts and all his belongings were looted, for Sikkim to help and intervene they needed to verify his “Sikkim Subject” status first.

Thankfully it was a Darjeelingey Puran Rai who runs “Namaste Cafe” stepped up and provided him with food and shelter, Mr. Arun Dubey, working as a Sales Director for a UK based-firm booked the tickets, and GYASA activists, most of whom are from rest of India, assisted Suraj throughout the process and Suraj reached home to Sikkim safely.

Indeed “Nepalis of Sikkim” are not like the Gorkhas, for we – the Gorkhas care and care deeply, even if it is someone entirely unknown and unrelated to us. Sikkim ma testo hundaina.

You can and I insist you must read this account of how another Sikkimese youth Tirtha Tamang committed suicide and how Sikkim House in Delhi didn’t help him when he needed the help most [http://bit.ly/1Vf7AVq].

No Gorkha would leave one of their own to die if they could save him or her in any way, but perhaps such are the specialities of “Nepalis of Sikkim” that they are just too busy, just too rich and just too pure blood to care for such trivialities.

As much as we may not like Bimal Gurung he has always been the 1st to speak out when Gorkhalis across India are threatened or harmed. He was the 1st to speak out in case of brutal rape and murder of a Gorkha in Manipur, he was also the 1st to speak out in case of Shantiniketan. He was also the 1st to speak out in case of recent brutal rape and murder of Gorkha girl in Assam. He has earned my respect in that regard. Even Darjeeling MP Shri. SS Ahluwalia – a “non-Nepali” hai, wrote to the MHRD and Home Minister demanding justice for our sister from Sikkim in the Shantiniketan case, perhaps that is the Darjeeling ko GORKHA influence which made him to speak out while the Govt of Sikkim was still sleeping.

What Mr. Chamling said yesterday was a statement of convenience to keep his vote banks intact, and as a shrewd politician he told the people of Sikkim out loud, what many of them believe to be true privately – that they are not Gorkhas, rather they are “Nepalis of Sikkim.”

However, I’d request the Hon’ble CM to kindly explain what does the word “Nepali” itself mean in reality? Hope he realizes that the very word NEPALI is derived from the country - NEPAL.

Mr. CM claims that “so called Gorkhas came to India and settled after joining the Army,” thus making all of non-Sikkimese Nepalis immigrants. For his political convenience he humiliated the rest of us, and I have no issues with that. However, I feel sorry for those who saw in him a world class GORKHA statesman, which sadly he is not.

During the Sikkim Legislative Assembly elections of 2014, Mr. Chamling had used “Sikkim lai Gorkhaland banauncha” narrative to scare people of Sikkim to vote against SKM, that was the first time I had realized how low Mr. Chamling can go to secure votes. However, in labelling the rest of Gorkhas as being immigrants for his own convenience, Mr. Chamling has shown that there is no end to his politics of opportunism.

I am not sure about the “Nepalis of Sikkim,” however here is an appeal to the GORKHAS of Sikkim, please brood over what Mark Twain had once said, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason”…

.........................
*The phrase “Nepalis of Sikkim” is used to mock the statement made by Mr. Pawan Chamling, and is not the generalization of entire Sikkimese Gorkhas. Please note this is a reaction to his statement and not a commentary on the amazing Gorkhas of Sikkim... we are and we remain one FAMILY, despite what Mr. Chamling may think or say.

Jai Gorkha!!


Via TheDC

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Limboo, Tamang reservation in Sikkim Legislative Assembly before 2019 elections - Pawan Chamling

9:18 AM

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Sikkim

The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, declared that the Limboo and Tamang Community will get tribal reservation in SLA before 2019 elections and will be able to contest elections from the reserved seats in 2019 elections on the basis of the Burman Commission Report. Sikkim has special protection through Article 371(f) of the Indian Constitution and the binding of 2026 for delimitation Commission will not be implemented for the State of Sikkim.

Seats will be increased to 40 as per the report of the Burman Commission, he added.
The Chief Minister was speaking on the third day of the Budget Session 2016 at the Sikkim
Legislative Assembly on the Private Member Resolution NO. 1 of 2016 entitled "vis-a-vis Seat Reservation for the Sikkimese Limbu and Tamang Tribes in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly" introduced by Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Member which was recorded in the House after detail discussion.

The Chief Minister further said that the Government is also very much committed on the protection of 12 seats reserved for the Bhutia Lepcha Community.

He elaborated that with 40 seats the Government will ensure 2 Sangha seats as well and also protect the political interests of the majority Gorkha community of the state.

Pawan Chamling

It was our government which worked for the Tribal Status of the Limboo and Tamang communities and we will provide seats reservations for them in the state Legislative Assembly, he reiterated.
The Chief Minister during his address to the house elaborated on the various activities and initiatives undertaken by the government for providing reservations to the Limboo and Tamang communities.
While talking about the private member resolution, the Chief Minister said that the Private Member Resolution introduced in the house today is an one sided resolution which is aimed against the interest of the majority Gorkha Communities of the State.

Earlier, Shri R.B.Subba, Minister for Law and Parliamentary affairs department while participating in the discussion placed the legal aspects of the issue while Shri D.D.Bhutia, Minister for Energy and Power Department who is the Chairperson of the High Power Committed illustrated on the terms of reference of the committee and the activities taken by the committee so far.

Source IPR

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