Letters to Editor (telegraphindia/archives/archive.html) Troubled state Sir — The article, “Ten thousand whispers and nobody listening” (telegraphindia/1130829/jsp/opinion/story_17282645.jsp#.Uiqe63_oBKk Aug 29), by Anjan Dutt, offers an emotional insight into the problems that confront the people of Darjeeling. After Independence, Darjeeling was “slapped” on to West Bengal instead of Sikkim. It was indeed one of the biggest historical blunders. There is no denying the fact that the hill people have been exploited for a long time. No effort has been made to “integrate the folks of Darjeeling with Greater Bengal”. Darjeeling was only seen as a tourist destination and the government did not pay much attention towards the welfare of the local people. It has done very little to develop the infrastructure in the region. Dutt states aptly that it will take years to “sort out all the problems of Darjeeling”. The chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, should refrain from giving in to populist measures and do what is best for the people of Darjeeling. I do not think that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, which was formed after a tripartite agreement in July 2011, has done enough to bring development to the population. Even though I agree with most of Dutt’s arguments, I feel that he has given in to nostalgia on some points. This has resulted in him overlooking certain crucial facts. He argues that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader, Bimal Gurung, and his colleagues “have shown total restraint till date”. Then how can one explain the sporadic violence that continues to affect the hills? Moreover, unlike Jharkhand or Telangana, Darjeeling’s location has great strategic significance for West Bengal. Any decision to separate the region from the rest of the state should be taken after utmost deliberation. Banerjee must also consult the Centre and extend all kinds of assistance to the Lepcha Development Board. Such a step would help improve both infrastructure and commerce in the hills. Lastly, a political consensus should be arrived at to ensure a better future for Darjeeling and its people. Yours faithfully, I.N. Banerjee, Calcutta Sir — I was born in Darjeeling and like Anjan Dutt I have spent my school years there. I understand the needs of the people of that region. They will be happy if they have a government that provides them with basic necessities. I do not think the issue of identity bothers them that much as they are starving since they do not have a stable income to support their families. The question of identity is only a pre-occupation of a certain set of intellectual elites. The Gorkhas are a hard working and reliable lot. I feel bad for them as their livelihood has been severely affected on account of the prevailing political instability. Most visitors do not understand the needs of their Gorkha brothers, their customs or even their music. This has led to the widening of the gulf, alienating the Gorkhas further. The state government has taken the people from the hills for granted for far too long. It should grant greater autonomy to local bodies and help them as they are in their nascent stage. Yours faithfully, Mrityunjoy Chakraborty,
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 03:35:46 +0000
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