The Marxist government of Bengal found in Ghising a convenient tool to rule the hills by proxy and continue with its official policy of gross neglect, lack of concern and discrimination against the hill people. The rulers in Kolkata winked at the massive corruption, nepotism, misgovernance and wastage of funds by the DGHC under Ghising. It seemed the CPI(M) was happy that Ghising was doing exactly as it had always wanted: to take the hill people for a ride. But unforeseen developments saw a disgraceful end to Ghising's rule. It was because of Kolkata's acquiescence to, or suspected complicity with, Ghising's misrule that the people of the hills are once again demanding a separate state. Had Kolkata cared for the people of the hills, it would have removed Ghising a long time ago and ensured that the DGHC functions properly to meet their aspirations.
Gandhian Protests
A unique and glorious feature of the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, and of the current one as well, is that it was (and is) non-violent and non-sectarian. There were no attacks on people from the plains and, in fact, many became torch-bearers of the agitation. Like my friend Sandip Jain of Kalimpong, who headed the GNLF's youth wing in the turbulent 1980s and is now the Editor of Himalayan Times. Contrary to general belief in the plains, no non-Nepali was ever attacked or discriminated against in any manner during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation. Even now, when the agitation is again gaining momentum, visitors from the rest of Bengal and the world are perhaps safer in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong or any other corner of the hills than many other parts of the country, including Kolkata. Yes, during the earlier Gorkhaland agitation, many non-Nepali speaking people who had been residing in the hills for many decades sold their properties and shifted, but they did so not because they were driven out. They shifted because they could not put up with the climate of unrest and uncertainty that the agitation brought. Today, many of them (and I know quite a few) regret having left the hills. They still look at Darjeeling, or Ghoom, or Kurseong (or wherever) their hometown and return every year to reconnect with their roots.
Reprehensible Statement
In light of all this, the statement made by urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya (also the CPI-M strongman in North Bengal) asking tourists to keep away from the Darjeeling hills is reprehensible, to say the least. Bhattacharya said earlier this week it would not be safe for tourists to visit the Darjeeling Hills and suggested tourists from the plains could be targeted by the agitating masses in the hills. Nothing could befarther from the truth. Just two days before he made this mischievous and repulsive comment, I was in Darjeeling and found the people there to be their usual courteous, welcoming and helpful selves. If anything, they were more so and went out of their way to make me, and every other visitor there, feel at home. Not for a nanosecond did I feel unwelcome or unsafe.