Gorkha Identity and Separate Statehood Movement
The present Darjeeling District was formed in 1866 where Kalimpong was transformed to the Darjeeling District. It is to be noted that during Bhutanese regime Kalimpong was within the Western Duars. After the Anglo-Bhutanese war 1866 Kalimpong was transferred to Darjeeling District and the western Duars was transferred to Jalpaiguri District of the undivided Bengal. Hence the Darjeeling District was formed with the ceded territories of Sikkim and Bhutan. From the very beginning both Darjeeling and Western Duars were treated excluded area. The population of the Darjeeling was Composed of Lepchas, Nepalis, and Bhotias etc. Mech-Rajvamsis are found in the Terai plain. Presently, Nepalese are the majority group of population. With the introduction of the plantation economy and developed agricultural system, the British administration encouraged Nepalese to Settle in Darjeeling District. It appears from the census Report of 1901 that 61% population of Darjeeling belonged to Nepali community.1 The Nepali language used in Darjeeling in the admixture of various Kura or dialects used by different castes and tribes who have their own distinct dialect like Sherpakura, Limukura, Rajkura etc. Due to social intercourse in the Tea gardens and market places among the different caste and tribes in the hills, this khaskura or Gorkha language developed. In due Course KhasKura or Gorkhali language became the lingua-franca in the hill 2. The emergence of this syncretism language had helped Gorkha ethnicity. Since mid 1930 a new middle class began to emerge among the Gorkhas. With the emergence of this new middle class feeling of Nepalese sub-regionalism began to grow. The formation of Nepali Sahitya Sammelan helped to grow a sense of love for the Gorkha language and culture 3. In order to establish fraternity among Lepcha, Bhutias and Nepalese Hill people social union was established in 1934. It’s another motto was to look after the upliftment of the Hill people.
