People are shouting for freedom and their right of a separate state “Gorkhaland” in Darjeeling after the shots were fired and people sprung into action to hold their pride and passion against the suppression of the west Indian state government. The spark struck when West Bengal government’s imposed the Bengali language as a compulsory language in the school curriculum for the Nepali-speaking community in Darjeeling. The Gorkhaland Movement which was sulking was ignited by the west Bengal State Government in view of showcasing weak management skills.
People have taken it to the streets for the last three days in Kurseong, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Mirik, demanding withdrawal of the government’s decision. Many people have died and the whole Nepalese community are in a full swing of protest.
Past practice shows that Nepali, Hindi and English languages were being taught as compulsory languages in schools in the hilly regions of West Bengal where the new regulation added bengali. More or less with the tension the state government has censored internet services and communication channels.
Jeevan Pradhan a local said, “ Darjeeling is a Nepalese community, they cannot impose bengali like this, our language and culture has been recognized by the constitution of India and we have been staying here for ages. The state government cannot rule against the people’s interest. This is not a democracy, this is feudalism. The way they have treated our leader Bimal Gurung is not just an issue of how and on what level democracy is being practiced, but it shows how minority communities are treated in this country. We just want our pride and to live peacefully, but the government’s interventions of using force and power is wrong. We were protesting peacefully for our rights of separate Gorkhaland and now this issue has further pushed us to bring the issue of our existence. It is not just about the language. It is about living in our own country like a second grade citizen. We are and have been deprived they want to suppress us and our Gorkhaland movement where we will not bow down.”
The Indian government on August 20, 1992 had recognized the Nepali language as their National language, which is currently spoken by more than 40 million people.
