Rajiv Gandhi's Darjeeling visit during 1986 Gorkhaland agitation

9:54 AM

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Subash Ghisingh

REMEMBERING: Rajiv Gandhi

During the height of Gorkhaland andolan in 1986-88 the then Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi had visited Darjeeling...

But that was the time when Shri. Subash Ghising's GNLF ruled the roost... and the GNLF had called for a boycott of the Prime Minister due to the atrocities meted out against us by the CRPF and other forces.

Via TheDC

Despite the protest Shri. Rajiv Gandhi did come to Darjeeling and gave a speech at an almost empty NP school ground.

One of his closest aide was miffed at the fact that no one was present at the ground to attend the Prime Minister's rally other than the security forces, so he suggested that Shri. Rajiv Gandhi forgo his speech and return back to Delhi.

But despite opposition from his closest aide Shri Rajiv Gandhi refused to listen to anyone and gave his speech the way he wanted, even though in an empty stadium.

When one of his closest aides asked him why would he humiliate giving a speech at an empty venue? Shri. Rajiv Gandhi is said to have told his aide... "Even if they cannot come to see me, they can still hear me.."

While addressing the people gathered at the North Point ground, (the then) Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said, “Gorkhas are intermingled with the Indian culture. The Gorkha brothers have shed their blood for the sake of the country before and during the freedom struggle.” There was emotional outburst from the hill people to his remark for it was the first time by any Prime Minister of India who praised the glory of Gorkhas.

Rajiv had further said "Bengal is not for Bengali people alone, it is for the people of Gorkhas too. Gorkhas must not be treated second class citizens here."     

He was a visionary nation builder to say the least and had he not died an untimely death, the history of Darjeeling and the Gorkhas could have been very different.

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Subash Ghising - Was A Visionary, Who Dropped ‪Gorkhaland‬ Demand for National Interest

9:14 PM

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Subash Ghisingh

Writes: Anish Lopchan Tamang

Subash Ghising was not only a leader, he was a Visionary and Farsighted leader.... A true patriotic leader of national repute....

Yes, He had dropped the demand of Gorkhaland only for the sake of national interest and national decurity.... One must understand that above all the interests, "National Interest" must come first....
So, He was first an Indian and then a Gorkha.... As it is the duty and responsibility of every Indian to serve his nation first, setting aside his priorities and self-interests.... He has set an example of true and patriotic leader.... There is nothing above national interest and national security.... and no one should compromise it to meet their political and selfish objectives....

The 1986 agitation was a real agitation of the Gorkhas and made us realise our aspiration of a separate state of Gorkhaland within the Indian Union.... It was a wake-up call call to all the Gorkhas living across the Globe.... And the agitation gave us our lost identity, first class citizenship, and for the first time honoring the Sacrifice made by Subash Ghising for National Interest and National Security, The Govt. of India agreed and decided to insert the word "GORKHA" in the Constitution of India.... This is the achievement of 1986 Agitation.... And today I can proudly say that it was Subash Ghising who led the Gorkhas into the mainstream of National Politics....
I wonder whether Bimal Gurung and GJM knows the meaning and importance of National Security? They only seem to know their self-interest and party- interest....

Subash Ghising

And I humbly request to all the employees of GJM Pvt. Ltd. Company not to compare the agitation of 1986 with that of 2007....

The 2007 Agitation was just a political drama....
And Subash Ghising had rightly said, "Gorkhaland is the need of the country"....
It can be achieved only through Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.... And this is the truth.... The GJM may deny this truth inorder to serve their political interest.... It is their Political Compulsion....
.................................
This is an opinion piece and all views presented are that of the writer

Via The DC

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सुबास घिसिंगको पैत्रिक गाँव मंजु चियाबारीमा जन्मजयन्ती मनाए ।

8:13 PM

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Subash Ghisingh

-दिप मिलन प्रधान

22nd June 2016 मंजु चियाबारीको लाप्चे खोप स्थित सुबास घिसिंग को पैत्रिक गाव घरमा सम्पन्न जन्मजयन्ती समारोहमा सौरेनी समस्टीका अध्यक्ष-गणेश प्रधान,सचिव –जी.एस प्रधान,मिरिक समस्टी भिलेज प्रोटेक्सन सेलका प्रमुख शन्तमणि राई,टिंगलिंग भिलेज चिफ तिलक लुंगेली लगायत अन्य उपस्थित थिए भने यस अवसरमा दिवंगत सुबास घिसिंगको जन्मजयन्तीको अवसरमा उनको जीवनी तथा उनले गोर्खा जातिको निम्ति दिएको योगदान बारे वक्ताहरु ले प्रकाश पारे I

कार्यक्रममा मिठाईहरु पनि वितरण गरियो भने स्व. घिसिंग को तस्बिर मा धुप तथा दीप प्रज्ज्वलन गर्दै चिरशान्ति को प्रार्थना गरियो I

यसरी नै मिरिक समस्टी कार्यालय मा पनि सुबास घिसिंग को जन्म जयन्ती पालन गरियो भने तराई मा पनि गोरामुमो ले पार्टी सुप्रिमो को जन्मजयन्ती सादगीपूर्ण वातावरण मा पालन गरिएको जानकारी प्राप्त भएको छ I गोरामुमो सौरेनी समस्टी र मिरिक समस्टी ले आज सुबास घिसिंग को पैत्रिक जन्म थलो मंजु चिया बगान को लेप्चा गाव मा स्व घिसिंग को ८१ वा जन्म जयन्ती पालन गर्यो I

सुबास घिसिंगको पैत्रिक गाँव मंजु चियाबारीमा जन्मजयन्ती मनाए ।

या अवसर मा स्थनीय नागरिक, आफन्त तथा पार्टी क कर्मठ कार्यकर्ताहरु लगायत समस्टी का प्रतिनिधिहरु उपस्थित थिए I गोरामुमो का संस्थापक सुबास घिसिंग ले गोर्खा जाति को निम्ति दिएको योगदान तथा उनको जीवनी बारे प्रकास पर्दै वक्ताहरु ले स्व घिसिंग को सपना एक दिन पुरा हुने प्रतिबद्दता व्यक्त गरे I

जितस राई ले संचालन गरेको कार्यक्रम लाइ आसराम राई ले अध्यक्षता गरेका थिए भने कार्यक्रम मा सौरेनी समस्टी का अध्यक्ष गणेश प्रधान सचिव- जी एस प्रधान , भी पी सी चिफ संत मणि राई , टिंग लिंग भिलेज चिफ तिलक लुंगेली , लगायत अन्य को बिशेष उपस्थिति रहेको थियो I यसरी नै मिरिक समस्टी कार्यालय , लगायत तराई को बिभिन्न पाठशाला मा पनि स्व घिसिंग को जन्मजयन्ती पालन गरियो I

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GNLF - assembly election helped restoring democracy in the hills

8:41 AM

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Subash Ghisingh

Darjeeling 16 May 2016 The Gorkha National Liberation Front today heralded the recently concluded Assembly election as a force that has played a major role in restoring democracy in the hills even as it maintained winning or losing to be a secondary issue.

Indramani Rai, the GNLF Darjeeling town committee president, praised the part played by the district administration and the police, along with the election commission for ensuring polling went about peacefully. He said, “The election was peaceful and smooth and everyone could exercise their franchise freely. It is our opinion that democracy is not lost here and for this we must thank the election commission, administration and the police department.”

The GNLF did not field candidates from the hills for the state Assembly election, and instead chose to extend support to the Trinamool Congress in Darjeeling and Kurseong and to the Jan Andolan Party in Kalimpong.

 Gorkha National Liberation Front GNLF Flag

Rai said the election was only an exercise to test the waters for the party’s future activities in the hills and that victory and loss were not the end factors. “We thank the voters who rallied behind candidates we supported. But the bigger issue for us is the difference in victory margin achieved by the winning candidates. This will pave the way for our party’s future political activities,” the GNLF town committee president said.

On whether the GNLF would participate in the upcoming panchayat election in November-December, Rai said, “We are not concentrating on the panchayat election as our agenda of implementing the Sixth Schedule in the hills is more important. Besides, we will first have to go through the provision of the Sixth Schedule to see if things like panchayat election can be conducted.”

In December 2005, GNLF president Subash Ghisingh and the central government had signed a Memorandum of Agreement to bring the Darjeeling hills under the Sixth Schedule. A bill had also been placed in Parliament in 2007, but it was put in the backburner following opposition by the BJP when the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha objected to it.

“We still maintain that granting Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills is the best and only plausible solution to the problems that keep haunting the region. It was our Subash Ghisingh’s vision and political acumen to make the demand because Bengal had given us everything in its power then. The issue is still alive in Parliament and all that is needed is to pursue it properly,” Rai said.

He also said his party would take into consideration factors like time and the current situation and take a call on whether to participate in the municipality election or extend support to other parties. 

EOIC

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Subash Ghisingh stood for the separate Indian Gorkha Troops

12:51 PM

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Subash Ghisingh

Shri Subash Ghisingh always stood for the separate Indian Gorkha Troops, so as to differentiate the “Indo – Nepal Agreement Troops” and the “Indian Gorkha Troops” and to save the whole settled Indian Gorkhas from unnecessary and permanent stigma and allegation of Foreigners, Mercenaries, Reciprocal people and Nepal subjects.

Finally after 30 years on 2nd April 2016, The Army have raised a new Gorkha battalion comprising entirely of Indian Gorkha troops i.e. Sixth Battalion of the First Gorkha Rifles (6/1GR), named “Kanchi Paltan”. Traditionally, the majority of troops in Gorkha regiments belong to Nepal, The stipulated ratio of composition of these regiments between Nepalese and Indian domicile Gorkhas is about 70:30:

Why the need of separate Indian Gorkha Regiment / Battalion?

The separate Indian gorkha regiment or battalion is required so as to have clear distinction between the “Agreement Troops” (the gorkha troops from Nepal / Nepalese citizen) and the “Indian Gorkha Troops ( The gorkha troops from Indian / Indian citizen )”

The Indian Gorkhas had faced and are still facing the unique identity crisis with regard to their Indian citizenship because of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1950) which permits "the citizen of Nepal or India, the freedom to reside, own the property, participate in trade and commerce and other rights of similar nature in their territory”. Thus, there are many Nepalese citizens of Nepal who have migrated after 1950 living in India. The Indian Gorkhas are mistakenly identified as the citizens of Nepal who have migrated to India in search of jobs and livelihood.

Whereas the history of Indian gorkha starts from The Gorkha War (1814–1816), the war that was fought between Gorkha Kingdom ( Nepal ) and the British East India Company which ended up by signing the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.
The Sugauli Treaty was signed on 2nd December 1815 and later ratified on 4 March 1816 between East India Company and King of Nepal: however, the treaty asked for the territorial concessions, in which large territory of Nepal was given to British India, and also allowed British to recruit Gurkhas for its military service.


Under the treaty, about “one-third of Gorkha Kingdom (Nepal)” was lost, including Darjeeling, Sikkim, territory to west of the Kali River like Kumaon (present Indian state of Uttarakhand), Garhwal (present Indian state of Uttarakhand); some territories to the west of the Sutlej River like Kangra (present day Himachal Pradesh); and much of the Terai Region, It caused Nepal to lose about “105,000 km2” of its territory.

Later on in 1947, when British India got its Independent creating India and Pakistan, the fate of Indian gorkha was neglected and remained unresolved as Nepal didn’t accepted it back or demanded its lost territory nor did Indian accepted it constitutionally to be its Union of State by declaring these gorkha dominated areas (territory which had come to British India as per Sugauli Teaty) as a state of Gorkahaland, a state which would uphold the identity of Indian gorkha, like the states of Wes Bengal for Indian Bangalis or Punjab for Indian Panjabi.

But rather India signed an agreement with Nepal in 1950 which created the confusion on citizenship of entire gorkha settled in India, the gorkha who had come along with their ceded land to British India began to be called as foreigner on their own homeland in present India.


Hence, Shri Subash Ghisingh not only led the movement for separate state of Gorkhaland, which he believed would resolve our identity crisis in Indian; But also demanded for the separate Indian Gorkha Regiment for Indian Grokha so as to have clear cut distinction between Indian Gorkha and Nepali Gorkha,

Historical archive below :

Date: 15th January 1987:

Telegram sent To Shri Rajiv Gandhi, P M of India, Copy to King of Nepal:

We have no other alternative but to ask the whole settled Indian Gorkhas not to join the “Agreement Troops” of Gorkha Rifles. Furthermore, we are compelled to ask the central Government of India to immediately establish a New and Separate India Gorkha Regiment so as to save the whole settled Gorkhas from unnecessary and permanent stigma and allegation of Foreigners, Mercenaries, Reciprocal people and Nepal subjects.

Date: 3rd February, 1987: Statement released:

Urging government for formation of separate “Indian Gorkha Troops” to save guard the Indian Gorkha community and in the larger interest of Indian.

Date: 22nd July 1987:

Letter To Rajiv Gandhi PM, India:

Point No 9, (iii) The “Indian Gorkha Regiment” must be established as soon as possible so as to make a clear distinction between the “Agreement Troops” and the “Indian Gorkha Troops” in the interest of the victimized Gorkha and in the interest of the country of Indian. After declaration of the Government Notification on the issue of citizenship, the recruitment of the aboriginal and the settled gorkhas to the “Agreement Troops” must be immediately stopped.

However MOS was signed 23rd August 1988 between Subash Ghising (President of GNLF) and CG Somiah (Union Home Secretary) in presence of Sd/ Buta Singh (Union Home Minister) in Delhi:

As regards raising a separate Indian Gorkha Regiment, the policy of the Government of India of not having any new regiment raised on class composition was acknowledge. However, it was clarified that it is not obligatory for Indian Gorkhas to join only specified Gorkha Regiments and that they have the option to join the Regiments of their choice. To this extent suitable instructions will be issued by the Army Headquarters…….

Finally now after 30 year of struggle the government of Indian understood the strategic need of Indian Gorkha battalion to uphold the gorkha regiment FOREVER in India. We view this STRATEGIC decision, not only an employment opportunity BUT also a clear cut distinction between Indina gorkha and Nepalese gorkha citizens.



Source HAMRO APPA

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Subash Ghisingh advocated for Scheduled Tribe status to whole Gorkha community

8:06 PM

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tribal news

Shri Subash Ghisingh always advocated that whole Gorkha community should be granted the status of Scheduled Tribe in India as per the census of 1931 of British Raj in India, which had shown all Gorkha community as “Tribes” under the banner of “Hill Tribes”. Further he knew it clearly that, if Gorkhaland is to be achieved in coming days, than, all Gorkhas communities should stand-up unitedly at any cost, therefore, he came up with his political strategy of Sixth schedule & Schedule Tribe for all gorkahs, so that the Indian Gorkhas may “exist together” united in one banner of “Gorkha as a Tribe (ST)”.

His Letter to the National Commission for ST:

D.O. No. 154 CHA/LK/ DGHC Date :- 9th April 2005

Sri Kunwar Singh 
Hon’ble Chairman National Commission for ST
Govt of India, New Delhi.

Dear Sir Singh,

I would like to expressed my thanks and gratitude for granting scheduled tribe status to “Tamang” and “Limbu” of India which was done vide Govt. of India Gazette Notification no 10 dated New Delhi the 8th January 2003. However, this action of govt. of Indian has created confusion, controversy and ill feeling among others Gorkha Tribes like “Khambu ( Rai)”, “Gurung”, “Mangar”, “Newar”, “Khas (chhetri)”, “Baahun (Brahman)” and other tribes etc who followed same language culture and religious beliefs and all of them including “Tamangs” and “Limbus” come under “Bonbo” (worshipers of stones, river, trees, deities etc) and as such grave injustices have been done to these above other left out tribal communities. 
This matter were already discussed in the 2nd round tripartite review meeting on Memorandum of Settlement of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council dated 28th Jan 2005 at Round Table Conference Hall of Union Home Ministry under the chairmanship of Shri Dhirendra Singh, Union Home Secretary at New Delhi. 
I would, therefore on behalf of DGHC, request you to consider the above case for granting Scheduled Tribe status to all the members of the other left out Gorkha communities as a special case.

With Regards 
Yours Sincerely Subash Ghisingh, Administrator of DGHC

Followed by:.......

Date: 1st June, 2005 .............

To : The Hon’ble Justice Ram Surat Singh (Rtd)
Chairperson, National Commission for Backward Classes 
Ministry of social justice & empowerment 
Government of India New Delhi:

Sub: Pray for conversion into the Tribal Status of all the gorkha hill tribes as recognized by the then British Govt. of India in 1931

Where he writes about the necessary to convert the whole people of OBC and other non OBC community into ST category explaining the history of hill tribes of Darjeeling district during British Raj of India

Date: 13th December 2007................

To: Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, 
Hon’ble Chief Minister – West Bengal

He writes about the burning issue of Hill tribes of Darjeeling stating that ……...................... before 1956 all hill tribe’s people of Darjeeling were happy and there was no any enmity among each other, But it was unfortunately smashed and destroyed after 1956 when the hill tribes of Darjeeling were divided into three categories viz Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Cast and Non Scheduled Tribes. At that time the ignorant hill tribes’ people of Darjeeling could not understand the exact meaning and its consequences of the above unwanted and merciless division of three categories. Actually the above unholy division of the hill tribes became like a slow poison for them and their future generation.

………………………………… Therefore, I would like to request you for taking the above matter seriously from the side of West Bengal Government and also request you to secure again the original tribal status to the above victimized tribal left out communities of DGHC areas, like ‘Khambu (Rai), [which includes Dhimal, Maajhi, Dewan (Yakha), Sunuwar (Mukhia), Gainay], Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Thami, Bahun, Khas [which includes Chetri, Thakuri, Gharti, Saneshi, Bhujel, (khawas), Jogi], Kami, Damai, Sark, Bedi, etc all of whom were already within the list of hill tribes, not only in the census of 1931 but also in the list of Darjeeling district gazetteer of 1947.




Via HAMRO APPA

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Gorkhaland: A performance Audit

6:07 PM

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West Bengal

Writes: N N Ojha

The demand for Gorkhaland as a political and administrative entity separate from the province of Bengal (now state of West Bengal) has the formidable distinction of being the oldest surviving statehood demand within the Indian Union. Equally redoubtable is its distinction of having enjoyed and also continuing to enjoy absolutely unconditional support from not just majority but totality of the masses in the region.

In the normal course such prolonged, uninterrupted survival of a movement, its intensity and the absolute mass support would be infallible catalysts for its sure success. In the case of Gorkhaland however ironically success has remained elusive for over a century notwithstanding the presence of all these prerequisites.

It is this paradox of elusive success anyhow that a performance audit of the stakeholders including the protagonists and the opponents of the movement is seriously called for. After all a performance audit is complete only if it assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the protagonists as well as antagonists.

Gorkhaland Map

First, the protagonists, the levels of their performance and a fiercely objective assessment to see if there are some Trojan horses and fifth columnists who taking advantage of the inborn simplicity of the Gorkha might be engaged in covertly subverting or weakening the movement even while overtly pretending to be its supporters. This is important, as hidden adversaries could be far more dangerous than open enemies.

Topping the list of diehard, unflinching supporters of Gorkhaland obviously would be the common men and women, the masses inhabiting the region irrespective of caste, color, creed or religion. The Hindus, Muslims, Christians, tribals, non-tribals, Marwaris, Biharis, Bengalis for whom the region has been home for generations are all without exception the staunchest supporters of state hood for Gorkhaland; their commitment absolutely unconditional right since 1907 when we have the first recorded evidence of the demand. It is indeed heartening that repeated efforts by the powers that be to divide the masses along communal or ethnic lines with lures of development boards or job quotas haven’t ever succeeded beyond a negligible degree.

Such absolute mass support is unique to Gorkhaland as in most others cases in which statehood has been granted till recently there were sizeable sections of population within the affected regions who were not supportive of the proposals and who accepted the divisions helplessly as a fiat accompli. In the case of Telangana, Chhattisgarh or Jharkhand there have been sections of th population who never supported the idea of bifurcation and who even today fondly recall ‘the good old days’ when their respective states happened to be united.

On the contrary in the case of Gorkhaland you won’t come across a single soul who would wish that the region should continue to be a part of west Bengal. The only exception perhaps could be some self-serving turncoats acting under the lure of mundane temptations from powerful vested interests operating probably at the behest of Kolkata centric ruling dispensation. The number of such fifth columnists mercifully is so small that one could count them on ones fingertips.

How do we assess the performance level of the masses; optimal, average or poor? Just look at the movement of the 1980s under the stewardship of the Late Subhash Ghising, the subsequent phase from 2007 to 2011 under the firebrand Bimal Gurung or the most recent spell of July – August 2013 under the combined might of the GJAC. Each time the response of the masses has been selfless and overwhelming. They sat on dhrnas, took out long marches, suffered long spells of strikes faced physical torture and mental humiliation at the hands of the police and paramilitary forces and above all sacrificed their lives in thousands without any expectation in return except for statehood. Even today the masses are ready to respond with full force to any call from a leadership that could command their trust and confidence. The level of performance of this segment of the stakeholders is thus optimal, extraordinary and highly commendable.

Let us now go into the modus operandi and performance level of the political parties and leaders of the region as they come next in the list of stakeholders. While dealing with political parties we have to focus only on the hill based parties as the mainstream parties of west Bengal like TMC or CPM have been and shall continue to be openly against creation of Gorkhaland out of concern for their own survival back home. The national parties e.g. the Indian National Congress (INC) or BJP shall at best be indifferent fence sitters as the (Gorkhaland) issue hardly affects their political fortunes. After all our political worth is just one seat in the Lok Sabha. (Remember Ms Rough & Tough exhorting the BJP during the 2014 general elections not to break up Bengal for ‘just one seat’).

The hostility of west Bengal’s political parties and indifference of the national parties need not dampen our spirits as we are more than compensated by the unanimous support the movement receives from almost every hill based party barring the one that refuses to disengage from a senseless and futile propaganda that the region’s larger interest lies not in statehood but in being a ‘Sixth Schedule area’ within the state of west Bengal. We may however ignore this party’s activities, as these have been repeatedly rejected by the masses. (In two earlier write ups in this column I had given detailed analysis of their stand. ‘The Sixth Schedule Cacophony’ [details http://bit.ly/1Hgh7Sb] and ‘A Full & Final Settlement?’ [Details: http://bit.ly/1HYztKY)

In so far as the other hill based political outfits are concerned they are all agreed on the goal i.e. Gorkhaland even though they might differ in the approach to achieve the goal. The spectacular show of unity displayed by all the parties during the agitation of July – August 2013 when all of them came under the collective banner of the Gorkhaland Joint Action Committee (GJAC) however goes to prove that their differences aren’t insurmountable. It is however regrettable that the show of unity proved woefully short lived. In a nutshell the level of performance of the political parties and leaders of the region is barely satisfactory and in the absence of unity they may not be able to deliver.

Can we expect success in spite of undiluted hostility of the mainstream political parties of west Bengal and unconcern of the national parties? I am optimistic for at least two or three reasons. First the unconditional and undying mass support; second near unanimity among all he hill based political outfits and third, the compulsions of political morality on the part of BJP to react favorably to the demand because of the support it got from us in the last parliamentary election and a commitment made by BJP’s most powerful leader Narendra Modi during his campaign speeches.

Can we hazard any guess as to the likely time frame for success? My own guess for whatever it is worth is that till the west Bengal assembly elections due in May 2016 the BJP shall remain non committal as any public perception of conceding to the demand may cost them votes in the plains of west Bengal. Post 2016 however I do hope things to move favorably. How fast they move might depend largely on how unitedly and intensely we make the demand audible in New Delhi through memorandums, delegations and if need be the more common methods of protests such as dharnas and hunger strikes. Such activities shall be unavoidable to enable the BJP to argue across Bengal that the demand simply couldn’t be ignored any longer as otherwise the situation could get volatile and go out of control.

What happens if we miss the bus during the present BJP led government’s entire term of 5 years? Well we simply can’t afford to miss. Nor can the government afford to give us the miss going by the likely consequences that might follow such an eventuality. If Gorkhaland is denied, we end up as losers but the government too doesn’t emerge as a winner. What the government loses is the trust and good will of the Gorkha. Besides the BJP leading the government in Delhi loses its moral face for not honoring a solemn commitment made by its highest leader Narendra Modi to the people during his election campaign.

The people in the region are already disenchanted with the all the previous governments since independence and any further dillydallying could quickly turn their disenchantment into alienation. Leadership of the movement might pass into the hands of hardliners and its Gandhian character diluted beyond recognition. On the contrary if Gorkhaland is granted we emerge as winners and the government itself also emerges as the winner of the trust and everlasting gratitude of people in an important geostrategic region.

Given an option won’t a sensible government choose a win-win option over a loose-loose one? And no one can deny that the BJP led NDA government in Delhi is for sure a sensible government.

[We welcome back Mr. OJHA... Who just recovered from a heart surgery. He writes exclusively for DT and his column The Expositor can be read here: http://darjeelingtimes.com/category/columns/the-expositor-n-n-ojha/]

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The Gorkhas are treated like animals in a zoo - Subash Ghishing

3:45 PM

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Subash Ghisingh

Illustrated weekly of India, Bombay, June 28,1987

Why didn’t you let me tape you?

No, I got into a lot of trouble after your last report. You quoted me on very sensitive issues and declared that the extract were from a taped conversation. I could note even deny it as you had actually used a tape recorder.

Which statements of you created trouble?

I gave you name of R A W and SIB officers with whom I interacted. You published their names why? Are you working for some foreign intelligence agency? The home ministry was very upset by my statements.
I told you about Inder Jit of INFA. You published that too. I cannot understand your motives. But I have made a new rule. I will not allow any reporter to tape my interviews. I don’t want to get into trouble.

Are you aware that West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and Union Home Minister Buta Singh met on June 16 in Calcutta and categorically ruled out the creation of Gorkhaland ?

The WB state government and the Union home ministry have entered into a conspiracy to humiliate all Gorkhas. I have received this information from secret source.
Rajiv Gandhi has been imprisoned in a dark room. He is completely in the dark. Buta singh and Jyoti Basu are acting against the Prime Minister’s wishes. Is it not true that Buta Singh has agreed to send more para-military forces to suppress our genuine movement?

Yes, Jyoti Basu asked for reinforcements and Buta Singh quickly agreed, Six companies more, to be precise.

I cannot understand why Buta Singh came to Calcutta. Is Jyoti Basu the Prime Minister of Bengal that Union home minister had to call on him? Jyoti Basu is a mere chief Minister. Buta Singh should have summoned him to Delhi. By going to Calcutta, he has put down himself and the office he holds.

Were you expecting Buta Singh to make a dramatic announcement after the meeting with Jyoti Basu ?

Not Dramatic announcement. If he had announce the date for the delegation’s meeting with Rajiv Gandhi. I would have withdrawn the 13day bandh from June 20. Now the bandh is on.

I spoke to dozens of ordinary Nepali people, They are worried. Especially daily wage earners, who might starve for 13 days. The poor people will be crippled economically it will be a big economic loss ?

Why do you call it economic loss? call it sacrifice. Forget income and earnings, people are ready to sacrifice their lives for the creation of Gorkhaland. A separate state is a must. The Gorkhas are treated like animals in a zoo. You speak of 13 days, My frustrated brothers and sisters are exhorting me to organize a 13 year bandh to ensure the creation of Gorkhaland.

The central government has ruled out the possibility of separate state. Apart from Buta Singh and P Chidambaram, Union Home Secretary C G Somaiah stated at Simla on June 8 that Centre has categorically informed you that there is no question of a separate Gorkha state within India ?

There are chaiwallas, panwallas, rickshawallas, and mochis. They may say anything. Do your expect me to pay attention to their words? I want to discuss the genuine grievances of the Gorkhas with Rajiv Gandhi.

But Rajiv Gandhi too has said that there will be no Gorkhaland.

The WB police and the Centre’s para-militar forces have never treated Gorkhas as Indians. We have received the treatment reserved for enemies of India. If the police commits excesses. I cannot guarantee a peaceful band.

You met Buta Singh in Delhi on may 15 was the meeting fruitful?

I had to wait for 15 days to get 15 minutes of the Home Minister’s valuable time. This is how they treat the representative of the people. Buta Singh promised to arrange a meeting with Rajiv Gandhi. But he has not kept his word.
The kursis in Delhi are perfect but the men who sit on the kursis are hopeless.
Buta Singh served us tea, barfi and kaju. This is the politics of Delhi. And the fourth ingredient of Delhi’s politics is the press release. But my meeting was not covered by Doordarshan. Why ?

Perhaps, because they didn’t want to give you legitimacy.

I am very confused. The Gorkhas are simple people. But nobody should take advantage of their simplicity. There are thousands of ex-servicemen living in Darjeeling, what will happen if they get arms? Do you think that the CRP and BSF will be able to hold us? Nobody should at least blame me if the situation goes out of control.

Are your receiving financial assistance from China?

No. we are patriots. We are funded by the people. There is no dearth of funds. We collected Rs 5.70 lakhs in May to finance the delegation to Delhi. Each person paid only Rs.10

Where is the unspent money?

I am not accountable to the press. I am accountable only to my people.

You are still confident of getting Gorkhaland ?

Very much. Surely by the end of 1987 by hook or by crook. After the 13 day bandh, I will let the people steer the course of the movement. And the people are becoming increasingly aggressive. The state cannot give us anything. And the center has flirted with us for too long.


HAMRO APPA

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Politics is not just making speeches - Subash Ghishing

3:14 PM

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Subhash Ghisingh

The Illustrated weekly of India: 2/10/1988

I am a philosopher, not a politician. Today a knowledge of philosophy is essential. It gives you an extraordinary vision. Only a philosophical leader can truly lead his people. Politics is simply a child of philosophy. And philosophy is the guardian of all knowledge. Once you have acquired philosophical knowledge, you automatically understand psychology, sociology and politics. A leader can then use his vast knowledge for the good of his people.

Our agitation had a scientific approach. I used psychology and philosophy in it too. It was a disciplined exercise. We would increase the tempo and then bring it to a halt. It wasn’t an agitation without a break like in Punjab or Sri Lanka.

Politics is not just making speeches, it goes much beyond that, it is ocean -deep. To kill one bird with one stone is not politics, but to kill 10 or 20 or 30 birds with one stone is politics. In politics 2+2 does not equal to 4 but 2+2 is equal to10 or 20. That is why I say, if one wishes to be in politics, one must possess this knowledge. Otherwise you indulge in “Bull Politics” – that is, attacking whatever you see in front of you. It took me several year to acquire the knowledge.

Politics is not just making speeches - Subash Ghishing

Today, there is a crying need for leaders all over the world. Not leaders hunched with the weight of borrowed politics, but leaders with an inner vision. Indira Gandhi was the best prime mister we had. An iron lady, nothing frightened her, only the authors, for authors possess philosophical knowledge. I have heard her speeches on radio, read her writings and I can make out that she was afraid of their wisdom. Such is the strength of this knowledge that even god cannot criticize it.

This knowledge and the inner strength helps my power of oratory too. Handling the public requires a special technique. When I give a speech women, and even men, weep. I have the power to pacify an angry public, and if I am in the mood, I can make stones melt.


Via HAMRO APPA

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A documentary on Subash Ghisingh "Khoji Chinhariko" released

9:00 PM

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Subash Ghisingh

The Gorkha National Liberation Front’s (GNLF) women’s wing has launched ‘Khoji Chinhariko,’ (in search of identity) a short documentary on their party chief Subash Ghisingh.

The video was released in Mirik under the Kurseong sub-division during the 10th Sixth Schedule Accord Day the party celebrated in Mirik on 6 December.

Former GNLF MLA from Kurseong and the chief guest of the programme, NB Chettri, and the Gorkha National Women’s Organisation, Darjeeling branch president, Manjila Tamang released the CDs.

Talking to reporters here, Mrs Tamang said the CD aims at making GNLF supporters and members aware of the different work Mr Ghisingh has done for the Gorkha community.
She added that they have compiled several work and facts about Mr Ghisingh from diffrent sources and compiled them into the CD.

The documentary shows the Hill leader’s fight against governments while he spearheaded an agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland in Darjeeling Hills, the birth of the autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, and his demand for the Sixth Schedule status for the Hills.

Mrs Tamang said there is no price tag for the 31-minute film and that only limited number of copies has been distributed among GNLF supporters only.

The CD cover has a picture of Mr Ghisingh from the time he led the Gorkhaland agitation in the 1980s, the GNLF party symbol, khukuri, and three stars, and a lotus flower, the symbol of the GNLF’s women wing. sns

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GNLF to intensify its agitation for Sixth Schedule

9:13 AM

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Subash Ghisingh

The GNLF held a meeting in Darjeeling on Sunday to commemorate the signing of a memorandum of settlement by the Centre, state and former party president Subash Ghisingh on December 6, 2005, to bring the hills under the Sixth Schedule.

At the meeting, Bhanu Lama, the organising secretary of the GNLF, said the party would intensify its agitation to bring the hills under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

GNLF marks 6th Scheduled Accord Signing Day Samjhauta Divas

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Gorkhaland is a Need of India - Subash Ghisingh

10:33 AM

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Video

The political legacy of Subash Ghisingh i.e. “Treaty of Sugauli, Article 1 & 8 of Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950, Article 1 (3) C, Article 2 of Indian Constitution and International court of justice Hague” are being used by The Greater Nepal Activist in Nepal to claim its old legitimate Territory from India.

I, still remember once Mr Ghisingh said in his chowk bazar’s speech..., Now Gorkhaland is a Need of India, as India have NO other option BUT to declare Gorkhaland as its union of state under Article 1 (3) C, Article 2 of Indian Constitution as it is only the way out left with India to incorporate the No-man’s land of Darjeeling and Leasehold Land of Kalimpong and Dooars Constitutionally within the Republic of India.

Decoding Article 1 (3) C, Article 2:
Article 1, Name and territory of the Union:

Article (1) = India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States (2) The States and the territories thereof shall be as specified in the First Schedule.] (3) The territory of India shall comprise- (a) the territories of the States; (b) the Union territories specified in the First Schedule; and (c) such other territories as may be acquired.

Article 2 = Admission or establishment of new States.-Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new States on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.

Hence, Article 2, Article 1 (3) C here stands with = “The Parliament may by law establish a new state comprise of others / foreign acquired territories"

Subash Ghisingh

Which means, considering the proposed area of Gorkhaland as unclaimed legally dispute land of Nepal, Bhutan or India; The only option left with Indian to claim the land is to declare the territory of proposed Gorkhaland as its Union of States, considering it to be others acquired territories as per Article – 1 (3) C of Indian Constitution, as it is the only article in our constitution which fits the most to claim the mentioned territories in said circumstances.

The Fate of Indian Gorkhas are waiting for its bad days or good days just like an old graveyard of an unknown soldier.

Watch the video here

Jai Gorkha ! Jai Gorkhaland ! Jai Hind !

Via Gorkhas N Gorkhaland and HAMRO APPA

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OPEN LETTER TO GNLF CHIEF MANN GHISING

3:05 PM

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Subash Ghisingh

Open letter to GNLF‬ president Mann Ghisingh on his controversial statement on traditional dress of Daura Sural and Chowbandi Choli in his recent press release.

Writes Dipendra Khati

Dear Mann Jojo,

I am very confused about on what language should I write this letter to you. Though English emanated from England (Official language of England), I found it to be universally accepted, so that is the language that I chose to communicate with you today, hope you will not be displeased with it, as it seems these days you are getting annoyed at things that are not from Darjeeling.

 Late. Subhas Ghising always wore his Dhaka-Topi with pride

According to your official statement dated 21/8/2015, you claim that Daura Suruwal is the official dress of Nepal and people going to Delhi and Kolkata in this dress are ‘पट्ट मुर्खहरु - Patt Murkha haru”.

Here, I would like to inform you that Daura Suruwal is not just Official dress of Nepal, but also the traditional dress of Nepali/Gorkha people, though some communities have their own dresses, but majority of the Gorkhali people wear it. I don’t find any logic behind your statement. Do you want us to not use Daura Suruwal, Chaubandi Choli and all other Nepali dresses and ornaments just because they are – according to you – “Official dress of Nepal?”

Ok let me accept that…

But what about language? Your official statement came in Nepali language… isn’t that “Nepal ko Sarkari bhasa”??

Going by your logic we should not be using that language too, because it’s the “official language of Nepal.” So pray tell me, why did you choose to communicate in Nepali?

Our Nepali proverb, “काम पायिनस बुहारी कनिका पोखौंदै उठा" summarizes what you just did.

I think there are many issue and topic you can talk about, and of all the things you could have talked about, you chose to speak about our जातीय पोशाक??

Late. Subash Ghising must be turning in his grave, for he always wore his “जातीय ढाकाको टोपी” with pride and in fine style. I wonder what he would have said to your comment on our जातीय पोशाक??

Moreover, I found that you sound more hypocrite when you talk about “पुरनो रिती रिवाजहरुले भरिएको बहुमुल्य संस्कृतिलाई सन्बैधनिक सुरक्षा प्रदान गर्नको लागि साथ् साथै गोर्खा जातीको चिन्हारीलाई पनि सजिलै बोक्नसक्ने नयाँ नाम करण भएको "गोर्खा हिल्ल काउन्सिल” this and later you phrase out “नेपाल देश को सरकारी पोसाक लगएर दिल्ली कोलकाता”... don’t those Daura Suruwal come under “पुरनो रिती रिवाजहरुले भरिएको बहुमुल्य संस्कृति”????

Ohh and most important issue here, you said, “गोर्खा जाती को चिन्हारीलाई पनि सजिलै बोक्नसक्ने नयाँ नाम करण भएको "गोर्खा हिल्ल काउन्सिल” really?? If the नाम करण of ‘GORKHA Hill Council’ can carry carry गोर्खा जाती को चिन्हारी then why GORKHALAND Territorial Administration (I am not a supporter of GTA) wouldn’t do the same, if not better?

By the way it seems you were not told why our Aappa Late. Subhas Ghising came and fought for Gorkhaland. As I see no mention of word Gorkhaland in your official statement. May be you forgot or.....??....

You have said “यदी यी कुराहरुमा सरकार अघी बढ़दैन भने गो रा मु मो ले हाम्रो भुभागबारे केन्द्र सरकारसित वार्ता को बाटो खोल्न वाध्य हुनेछ” what was that? What stops you? Why not??

If you want to engage with central Govt. about our land, that will be very appreciable, but I am very suspicious about that comment of yours.

Sorry Jojo, I am no body to judge you, but what I felt is... ‘हजुर पनि त्यहि ढ्यांग को मुला हुनु हुदा रैछ”

Thank you
Dipendra Khati
Well wisher of Maato and Jaati... Not Neta or Party


Via The Darjeeling Chronicle

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Ghisingh's desire to write a book on Gorkhas dead in WW II unfulfilled

9:50 AM

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Subhash Ghisingh

PRASHANT ACHARYA, SILIGURI, 3 Feb 2015: Evereyone knows that Subash Ghisingh, who can be unarguably credited for kindling the dream of a Gorkhaland state in the hearts of the people of Darjeeling, has died before realising his political goal.

Subasyh Ghishing's last rite - Pic by Chendup Lepcha

It is little known, however, that his desire to write a book on the sacrifices made by the Gorkhas during the Second World War has also remained unfulfilled. He had done his homework well and had even visited Myanmar and Thailand to gather facts as these places were where the maximum number of Gorkha soldiers died during the war.

GNLF central committee member and Ghisingh’s close aide Prakash Dahal said on Tuesdsay: “Ghisinghji was planning to write a book on the Gorkha soldiers who sacrificed their life in World War II. We visited Myanmar seven times and Thailand once to gather detailed information including photographs for the planned book.”

Dahal said Ghisingh took pictures of the graves of Gorkha soldiers and noted down their ranks, names, addresses and areas of activity. Ghisingh’s last visit to Myanmar was in 2012. In Thailand, he toured the famous Death Bridge in Kanchanburi to gather detailed information of the Gorkha soldiers who had died there. Made famous as ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ internationally, thanks to motion pictures, during WW II thousands of allied prisoners of war had been engaged by the Japanese army to construct the bridge. Many of them had perished because of brutal treatment by their captors.

World War II had no fewer than 40 Gorkha Battalions in British service, and they included parachute, garrison and training units to take the total to 112,000 men. Together with British and Commonwealth troops, the Gorkhas have fought in Syria, the Western Desert, Italy and Greece, North Malaya to Singapore, and from the Siamese border through Myanmar to Imphal and again to Rangoon.

While still a young boy, Ghisingh’s mother had told him how his maternal uncle was killed in the Burma war. Since then he had nursed a keen desire to visit Myanmar to gather more information on the brave Gorkha soldiers who died fighting for India.

Source: EOI

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Mohan Ghisingh officially took charge as the president of GNLF

8:46 AM

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Subash Ghising

Mohan Ghisingh, the younger son of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) founder Subash Ghisingh who died on January 29, on Monday took formal charge of office as the new party president by issuing his first press statement thanking everyone for extending their support in this hour of bereavement.

Mohan Ghisingh youngest son of Gorkha National
Liberation Front (GNLF) founder Subash Ghisingh 

Mann, who is erroneously called ‘Mohan’, was anointed the party president on January 30, the day after his father expired, by the GNLF central committee. However, he chose not to speak about his elevation saying it would be decided later, and this was announced today through a written statement issued to the media in Darjeeling.

The GNLF chief’s first statement, written in the party’s official letter-head, thanked supporters, people and business establishments for observing spontaneous bandhs on two days (January 31 and February 1) as a mark of respect for his father. The statement in Nepali also thanked regional and national parties for showing respect to his father by sending their representatives including Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling who personally went to Ghisingh’s house on Sunday morning to pay his last respects.

The new GNLF president’s first public statement is in stark contrast to the

zeal and enthusiasm shown by party supporters in Darjeeling who gave a political undertone to Ghisingh’s funeral procession. They chanted: “Sixth Schedule lai saath deu…GTA lai laat deu” (Support Sixth Schedule and

kick out GTA). “Pahar ko bhagya bigarnu paudaina…hamilai jhattai DGHC pharkai deu” (no one can ruin the future of the hills…reinstate the DGHC immediately). The slogans hardly concealed the fact that they were meant for the ruling Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which runs the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

However, senior GNLF leaders brushed aside any speculation that their new president had no political ambitions. “He (Mann) is yet to get over the loss of his father. Besides, the family is in mourning and special religious rituals will continue for some more days. Once the mourning period is over, we are sure he will be motivated politically,” said a senior GNLF leader from Darjeeling not wanting to be named.

The GNLF’s key demand is to revive the defunct Darjeeling Gorkha Hill

Council as it has constitutional guarantee until the Sixth Schedule status is granted to the Darjeeling hills. In 2001, Ghisingh had demanded the Centre to grant Sixth Schedule status to the Darjeeling hills. And in December 2005, a Memorandum of Settlement was signed between the state and central governments and the GNLF.

The Sixth Schedule bill was placed in Parliament in November 2007

by then Union home minister Shivraj Patil. However, it had to be referred to

the parliamentary standing committee after the GJM opposed the bill and started an agitation. The bill was eventually shelved in February 2008.

Source:EOI

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Subash Ghisingh last rites at his ancestral place Manju tea estate

8:41 AM

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Subhash Ghisingh

Sherab Ghisingh was today brought to his birthplace at Lepcha Khop near Darjeeling. He came back as Subash Ghisingh.

Subash Ghisingh last rites at his ancestral place Manju tea estate

The GNLF chief when alive had not stayed for even a night at a home built for him in his ancestral village. Today, too, the body was not taken there for religious reasons - once a body leaves a home, it does not enter another.

Other than Ghisingh's family and a few village elders, few know that Subash Ghisingh was born as Sherab.

Phurba Ghisingh, the cousin brother of Subash Ghisingh, said: "When I was small, I used to call him Sherab. Then he changed his name to Subash when he became an author and then, I too, started referring to him as Subash Ghisingh. Apart from his family members and our villager elders, few know him as Sherab."

It was in the 1960s that the GNLF leader first published his novel titled Fulmaya. He went on to write more than 22 novels, plays and compilation of poems.

He only used "Subash" in his published works. "He was Subash the writer, Ghisingh the leader," Phurba said.

This morning, thousands of people lined up along the streets when his body was brought from his Dr Zakhir Hussain Road residence in Darjeeling to his ancestral place Lepcha Khop that is near the Manju tea estate, 50km from Darjeeling town.

Residents of Sukhiapokhri, Mirik, Dudhia and other places in the hills shut their shops to pay their last respects to Ghisingh.

Darjeeling town, which had downed its shutters yesterday, remained closed in the morning till noon today.

Ghisingh was born at Lepcha Khop village at Manju division of Singbul tea garden on April 22, 1936.

He had, however, lived most part of his life in Darjeeling town.

Ghisingh started staying in Darjeeling from the 1950s, soon after returning from the army.

His family wanted his body to be brought to his native place and to his newly constructed home, in which for some reason, he had never spent a day.

Uma Tamang, the granddaughter of Ghisingh, said: "There was this old wooden ancestral home here. However, in 2001 the house was dismantled and a new structure was erected as a gift by his well-wishers. The house was completed in 2003 but for some reason he never stayed there."

Ashram Rai, a relative of the leader, said: "In 2004, he had come to his house but was very angry that the cemetery of his younger sister, Maichang, was not kept properly. This was probably the last time he came to this place."

Ghisingh had three elder brothers, Jita, Sindel, Lalit and an elder sister Manu. Maichang was his younger sister.

Today, his body was brought to his ancestral home - the three-hour journey from Darjeeling to Manju taking more than seven and half hours - but even then, Ghisingh's body did not enter his house because of religious reasons.

"Once a body is bid farewell from a house, it cannot enter a second house," said Phurba.

Ghisingh's body, which left Darjeeling around 9am today, reached the Lepcha Khop residence around 4.20pm.

The hearse was parked on one side of the two-storied house that has five rooms, for about 15 minutes, before the body was taken to Manjushree Park, about a kilometre away. Ghisingh's elder son Sagar lit the pyre at 5.15pm.

The park is about a kilometre from Ghisingh's ancestral place. The place is at present, looked after by his relatives. In Lepcha Khop there are about 20-odd houses of which five families are related to Subash Ghisingh.

Source: Telegraph

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Crossroads...or the roads still to be crossed

11:40 AM

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Subash Ghising

Writes: Ashwin Lama

We woke up today to the sad news of the demise of the Father of the Gorkhland movement in India ...Mr Subhash Ghising passed away in a Delhi hospital last night....must be in peace or may not have been..Where ever he is now may his soul "Rest In Peace"...I am a little down right now not because the man was personal to me but these days my moods have been such...I cant even call it the monthlys ...may be call it the "Cross Roads"...

I dont know how lucky we were or are to have been born in a generation which we today call "The Boot Cut Generation"...The magniicient 80's is what I am talking about..It gave to us torn jeans...long hair..a lot of heavy metal bands ...the so called Maiden...ACDC...Metallica...They all came up to us then or may be we went into them with our pencils knowing exactly how to rewind and forward and get to the exact song that we wanted to hear..

We get everything on a touch screen today...I don't know what to call the method we used then...the swing..the pencil or how good and accurate we are at knowing what we exactly we wanted and how went about achieving it. That small pencil and the way we swirled it around the cassete to go to the exact song we wanted to hear might sound weirdish in front of the life we live today...But then I am sure a lot of us have those beautiful pencil memories..

The warriors who fought CRPF armed with automatic weapons... with their Khukuri and Khanduwa.

Talking about Pencils ...I was around six years old still writing with pencils(pens were for boys...infact North Point my Alma Mater didn't allow us to to wear trousers and use pens till the 5th grade...pencils were fine ..but the half pants in the cold wintry mornings still serves as a memory of bliss and beauty...We exactly know how does the cold wind blow...and where does it hit you the most..ask any North Pointer....It was during those years that we had major school breaks.....major in a sense that other than the mandatory three months winter break.

I still remember one long break for a forty day period..To us those days holidays meant fun ..fun and fun....And probably in the fun and fun...I saw my father fire a hand made gun into the skies just about where my grandparents lived. I could never understand the significance of it but then Dad used to say "Times are Such" we need to be prepared..I didnt really understand the importance of the preparation and what it was for but then as a I kid ..I was proud that my father knew how to shoot a gun...

Ah yeah...I learnt one more word then " Revolution"....Someone rightly said some where if its a revolution then we are sorry for the inconvenience...Today after all these years ...I would say they ought to be "sorry"...it was one morning as per my father right in front of the old "Bata" in town he saw three well combed and oiled heads without their bodies attached to them...

For us those days those were stories and tales...But then now after so many years of the sad and horrific 1986 that the people around our place saw and lived...They are not stories and tales from "Aesops Fables" any more...They are hidden silences of what we call the most tear ful times in the history of our place..It was 1986 when I first heard the name "Subhash Ghising"...

I am not writing a tribute on him..nor am I crticising what we did and didnt...or what could have been...They were funny stories too that we heard during the era .. A Pala (Tibetans adress the fathers as Pala}in toonsong made momos for his restaurant ...not trusting the fact the town would actually be shut down for forty days...Infact he had made momos in plenty (btw what they sell in streets here in delhi are not momos..they probably can be called "NOMOS"..injustice even there...they have killed the way our momos look and taste) but then the town didnt open....on the third day he had no choice but to throw away the momos as they had started stinking...he unwillingly served it his pigs and to his utter surprise the pig for once in his gulp and gulp looked up at pala and asked "Pala Gorkhaland Payo ki keh ho.?(Pala did we get Gorkhaland or wat?)..Never had the pala been so generous on the pig..lucky him at least an animal fared and was fed well..."

I guess that where i first heard the word "Gorkhaland" from a pigs mouth...The innumerable days when my father and the entire male members of the family had to sleep in jungles and forests cos they would be raids anytime of the day or night...and then once caught you never knew whether u were coming back alive or not...I still remember we used to have a small kitchen downstairs and a small peep window through which Ama used to peep out the whole night and watch what was happening around...

A lady with short hair was shot in her chest cos the CRPF guys took her for a male,,,My uncle and his band of musicians famously ccomposed the song "Hain Bharat Timilai Gorkha ko Maya Cha"(India do you love the Gorkhas or not)...We were taught small but significant war cries...I still remember my three year cousin always raping and humming "Ek Do Ek...Gorkha Marena..CRPF ko goli leh Gorkha Marena(One to one..the gorkkhas didnt die....the bullets of the CRPF couldnt kill the Gorkhas")

But know they did die...they died in plenty..they died in a counts which may be innumberable....had there been a survey like those that happen on tvs these days for everything...or Had there been an over the top Arnab Goswami shouting on News hour tonight we would have the exact figures and the extent of damage it caused...I dont feel sad or infact i feel numb about what exactly is "Gorkhaland"...

I mostly crack jokes on life and people...I hardly crack jokes on times and situations or causes or revolutions ...not my cup of tea at all(the Green tea is in right now..and how ironic infact the foreigneers made us realise its benefits and values though we boast that the best teas are produced in Darjeeling)...In so many years of drinking tea...I dont know but this is my personal opinion I havent come across a family in Darjeeling that actually knows how to brew tea the way its supposed to be..Arent we caught up there as well?Its like an Italian not knowing how to do a Feta or a French unaware of Riesling or Pinot Knoir....

Yes an "ERA" has passed away (in reality death is the only constant) it took an era away...But then don't you ever ask yourself that more than two decades later we are still at the "Cross Roads"...Will we ever actually be able to cross the road...

Cheers!!

[This is my own personal view point...No intentions to hurt feeling and sentiments...No intentions to defame or be insensitive towards any one.. Its a joke that I thought needed to be cracked today....Hope u all would share the joke around]

Source: The Darjeeling Chronicle

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Hills Unite to Mourn Late. Subash Ghising

10:21 AM

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Subhash Ghisingh

Hills Unite to Mourn Late. Subash Ghising - Praise His Contribution Towards Gorkhalis in India

Forgetting for the moment their political and ideological differences, leaders of various political parties in the Darjeeling hills trooped to Subash Ghisingh’s house on Saturday to pay their last respects to the veteran Gorkha leader who died on Thursday in Delhi.

Hills Unite to Mourn Late. Subash Ghising- pic:The Darjeeling Chronicle

One of the first to reach Ghisingh’s house on Dr. Zakir Hussain Road was Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) president RB Rai and other senior CPRM leaders. “We must pay respect to leaders who have made contributions to society. Ghisingh was one such leader. He created mass awareness about the Gorkhaland issue and was the first person to raise the statehood demand before the state and central governments. With his demise, a chapter has come to an end in the politics of the hills,” said Rai, a former Rajya and Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling.

Echoing similar sentiments, CPI (M) district secretariat member KB Wattar said, “An era in the history of the Indian Gorkhas has ended with Ghisingh’s departure. We had differences but it must be said that he was an astute leader. His demand for implementing the Sixth Schedule in the hills paved the way for the ongoing clamour for securing tribal status.”

All India Gorkha League (ABGL) general secretary Pratap Khati was another prominent face at the residence of the erstwhile chief of the Gorkha National Liberation Front and he placed ‘khadas’ and a wreath before speaking to Ghisingh’s family. “He was a great leader. It is because of him the word ‘Gorkhaland’ has become synonymous with Darjeeling and its people,” he pointed out.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) was represented by party vice-president RP Waiba and central committee leader Urmila Rumba. On Friday, GJM chief Bimal Gurung expressed his condolences and said he would send party representatives as he would not be able to come personally due to prior commitments. Hill Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders were also present at Ghisingh’s house to pay homage to the late leader.

As a mark of respect to Ghisingh, all offices of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) remained closed today. Shops and business establishments in town also voluntarily pulled down their shutters for the day although vehicular movement was normal. Employees of the Darjeeling court attended office but did not work for the day.

GNLF supporters from various places of Darjeeling district stood in long queues since 5:00am to offer khadas and flowers to their revered leader. Ghisingh’s younger son Mohan, who is the new leader of the party, said his father’s body will be taken to their ancestral home at Manju in Mirik on Sunday at 9:00am.

“The cortege will first make a round of Darjeeling town to allow people to pay their last respects and then leave for Manju for the last rites,” he said. Senior GNLF leaders have requested the people to observe an hour long bandh to facilitate smooth passage of the hearse and the convoy.

Source: EOI

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Sikkim CM Chamling to Attend Late Subash Ghising's Funeral

9:58 AM

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Subhash Ghisingh

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling will be arriving in Darjeeling to pay his last respect to his ‘friend’ and GNLF chief Subash Ghishing who died on Thursday.

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling 

Mr Chamling is scheduled to reach the Dr Zakir Hussain Road residence of Mr Ghisingh in the morning after all the rituals are completed and before the cortege moves from his home, GNLF sources said today.

Mr Chamling yesterday expressed deep sorrow at the death of “a scholar, novelist and a great Gorkha leader.” “In him, I have lost a good friend,” the Sikkim CM said in a statement.

GNLF party leaders said the cortege will move around Darjeeling
town before proceeding towards Manju village in Mirik, Mr Ghisingh’s ancestral home, where the GNLF leader’s body will be cremated.

According to the party sources, the rituals in Darjeeling will be completed by 8.43 am tomorrow, and that the cremation will be held at Manju Park, near the GNLF leader’s house, at around 2.30 pm.
The cortege will halt at Sukhia Pokhari, Mirik, and Soureni for 10 minutes each for people to pay their last respect, before it reaches Manju.

Source: SNS

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Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling deeply saddened by passing away of Subash Ghisingh

5:54 PM

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Subhash Ghisingh

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling on Friday said he is “deeply saddened” to hear the passing away of Subash Ghisingh, the founder president of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). Ghisingh breathed his last at a hospital in Delhi on Thursday afternoon. The 79-year-old once undisputed leader of the Darjeeling hills was suffering from several health complications.

Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling

Chamling said, “My prayers and condolences are with the bereaved family.  Shri Ghisingh will always be remembered for his yeoman service to the Indian Gorkhas who had been pining for identity in view of the immense contributions they have made in maintaining the sovereignty and integrity of the country by defending the motherland ever since struggle for independence. The credit for raising the Gorkhaland statehood and identity issues of the Indian Gorkhas at the national level goes entirely to Shri Ghisingh. It was his movement for separate statehood that led to the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).”

The chief minister also noted that Ghisingh was a novelist. “I have lost a good friend whom I held in high esteem,” he added. With his demise the Indian Gorkha community has lost a stalwart, visionary and senior leader.” (IPR)

Source: EOI

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