Bag the Rong
... the next Attempt
GTA Sabha agrees to keep the Lepcha from handling their own affairs.
For the sake of convenience, let's use the term "Gorkha". Gurung-Tamang-Chettri-Newar-Rai-Sherpa-whatnot is a bit unhandy. Suffice it to say, that the great majority of them is not what they claim to be. Gorkhaland activists put an enormous effort into bending facts in order to make the world believe they'd represent the heritage of the House of Gorkha. What heir clumsy constructs could not distort, so far, is history testifying they were subdued by the Shah Rulers of Gorkha. And, much to their misfortune, subjects do not qualify as legal heirs. Which, as such, is not relevant as the territory in question has, for the last two centuries, not been a dominion of Gorkha, a kingdom that, moreover, has ceased to exist.
The Lepcha, as well, prefer to be termed differently. They are Rong. In this case, it's not a make-believe, but the corresponding demonym in Rong-ring, their native language. As the true heirs of the Darjeeling hills, they have always been an thorn in the flesh of the Gorkhaland agitators. Attempts to embrace them claiming they were Gorkhas as well could not convince anybody and, accordingly, failed miserably. By the way, a similar effort to gather support from the Adivasis of the plain had the same outcome. Their ulterior motives were all too obvious for everyone. Indeed, the Gorkhas succeeded to lure one of their leaders, however, he was ousted from the tribal outfits and later repented.
Much to the discomfort of the Gorkhas, the Lepcha insisted on their rights launching a campaign for a certain measure of self-governance laying siege to Kolkata with a Dharna in 2011. Chief Minister Banerjee, well aware she had given away the Lepcha's deposit as a present to get, in turn, respite from the Gorkha's recalcitrance, did not feel like meeting the campaigners face to face. Instead, she let them know their demands would be considered giving assurance for the establishment of a Lepcha Development Council.
That was, however, a promise that did not suit the plans of the leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. They have always made clear they would not settle with anything short of absolute power and dominance and that they would not tolerate any other movement alongside GJMM. To that end, they held hostage the district's economy across the years, they were not above perverting democratic elections forcing competitors to withdraw from the race and they even did not hesitate to shed blood. So, one was wondering what steps they would take to distort the Chief Minister's pledge according to their taste.
More than a year later, the newly formed GTA Sabha takes the world by surprise with a peculiar solution for the embarrassing aspirations of the Lepcha. According to press reports, the Sabha agreed to include the Lepcha Development Council as a sub-entity within GTA. To this end, the council would have to be down-graded to a "board". On the other hand, more hill tribes were to be blessed with the same grace as no community should be favoured over another. And, to make up for the lean legitimation of the body to comment on this matter, Bimal Gurung felt the need to utter the usual threats, a few days later: If the State Government would dare to dishonour the resolution, the Gorkhas would opt for the route of agitation.
My foot! What kind of world do we live in where the encroacher deems it appropriate to decide upon the affairs of the landlord? Anybody ever asked the honourable counsillors for their consent? Do they expect anyone of sound mind to buy into such blatant manoeuvres to downplay the weight of the Development Council and, finally, the status of the Lepcha themselves?
Somebody ought to tell all those trapped within the Reality Distortion Field created by GJMM that the Rong are not just another hill tribe. They are the children of this land, they are the daughters and sons of the soil, and they do not have to bend the facts to justify their priority. They may stand with their back against the wall, they may be intimidated or confused, but they certainly aren't that silly as to respond to such transparent dodges!
Chopel Serkhangpa, 18th December 2012
Illustration: Barandash Karandashich