Gorkhaland stir gets support from Nepali groups living in Northeast

Nepalis feel the creation of Gorkhaland would address the identity crisis they witness to some extent.

Updated on: Jul 8, 2017, 22:58:08 IST

Guwahati, Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar

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The ongoing stir by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) seeking the creation of a Gorkhaland state by carving hill areas in West Bengal has received support from several Nepali groups in the northeast.

Supporters of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha during a protest rally in support of a separate Gorkhaland state. (AFP File)

Nepalis, who are residents of the eight states in the region, are keenly following developments in Darjeeling and many feel the creation of Gorkhaland would address the “identity crisis” they witness to some extent.

“Our family has been residents of Assam for over 100 years now but we still face queries asking if we are from Nepal. Hopefully, a separate state with a Nepali-speaking majority would address the issue,” said Hari Prasad Sharma, a businessman based in Guwahati.

As per the 2001 census, there are 5.65 lakh Nepali-speaking people in Assam — second only to West Bengal, which had 10.23 lakh. Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland also have Nepali-speaking residents.

Data for Nepali-speaking residents in the northeastern states for census 2011 isn’t available. But Nepali speakers in Assam believe their number could be well over 2 million. Nepalis have lived in Assam for close to two centuries - from 1826, when the British used Gorkha soldiers to annex Assam, there have been several waves of such migration.

The community has actively participated in several areas over the years.

There have been 13 Nepali-speaking MLAs in Assam since independence and a few MPs. “The demand for Gorkhaland isn’t wrong and the West Bengal government will have to grant it today or tomorrow,” said Ram Prasad Sharma, BJP MP from Tezpur in Assam, also chief of the Assam Gorkha Sanmilan.

Hundreds of Gorkha youths from across Arunachal Pradesh organised a rally in Itanagar last week. Several organisations in Sikkim, where nearly 63% of residents speak Nepali, including chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, have also supported the creation of Gorkhaland.

The Mizoram unit of GJM carried out a demonstration in Aizawl last week.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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