Wrong thought on Gorkhaland

In the global democratic exercises since the Brexit episode when the ethnocentric Brits voted against European Union, and following it the last Presidential election in the United States of America, in which the incumbent President’s America First ‘identity’ issue – “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is” prevailed. When all the time it seemed that respecting and accommodating the issue of identity by modern inclusive democracies seemed to be the order of contemporary era of democratic governance and prevalence, the issue of making Bengali language compulsory in the Nepali language populated hills of Darjeeling has once again stirred the Gorkhaland movement for identity and inclusion.

It is very unfortunate that the incumbent state government in the state of West Bengal in India after more than three decades of Gorkhaland political uprising has blatantly failed to respect the fundamentals of stirring of Gorkhaland movement in Darjeeling for more than past three decades. Gorkhaland movement or preceding it the Gorkha League or Nepali Bhasha (Nepali Language Agitation) in India has always been about identity of Nepalese living in the largest democracy of the world called India as equal citizens in terms whether ethnicity or language.

What made the incumbent head of West Bengal state in India to come up with such a thoughtless and exclusive decision is beyond the imagination and speculation of an ordinary observer. But to interpret it flatly it does not appear anything more than being a feudal and underestimated attitude of the ruling Bengali majority in the state of West Bengal.  It would not have been an issue of if Hindi were to be made compulsory in schools in Darjeeling since it is the national link language in India. But making Bengali compulsory is too ethnocentric, monolithic, and exclusive democratic governance.

To quote Buddha, ”With our thoughts we make the world”. Which also means with our not right thoughts we may break the world. And so it seems there has been a wrong thought on Gorkhaland!

Federalism Heart of Nepali Media

The representation of the issue of federalism in the mainstream Nepali media if one is to look at it with upholding the basic tenets of independence at its best then it would not be far-fetched to say that the Nepali media has failed to do so. Though the Nepali media since the issue of federalism emerged in the firmament of Nepali socio-politics has done commendable job by raising awareness on the issue and provided ample room for public debate, the divide on the issue of federalism has been as good as anywhere in media as well.

During the recent bandh called by the Adivasi/Janjati groups following the ones earlier called by the Brahman/Chettri groups, there is no denying the fact during the latter bandh the attack on media was more. But why the media was attacked more during the Adivasi/Janajati bandh unlike the Brahman/Chettri bandh though the leaders of the Adivasi/Janjati groups have made it loud and clear, is something which the media practitioners themselves should have the conscience to introspect.

In line with the assertions of the Adivasi/Janajati leaders that the mainstream media in Nepal has been biased towards their position of ethnic identity based federalism if one is to generally seek the opinion of Adivasi/Janjati populace it would also be the same. Though there are not any tangible evidences that Brahman/Chettri dominated mainstream media in Nepal has been more biased towards their own community in advocating and making propaganda regarding the nature of federal structure in Nepal. By simply switching through the one dozen or so Nepali TV channels it is evident how lop-sided the media is. The Mountain TV which was reported by the TV media itself during the Adivasi/Janjati bandh for being threatened to be bombed for being biased towards the Adivasi/Janajati demand for ethnicity based federalism, live broadcasted the mass meeting organized by Brahman/Chettri groups on 26 May. Whereas no other media was not biased enough to cover live  or at least cover the mass rally taken out by the Newar groups just after the Brahman/Chettri called band last weekend on Saturday on 19 May, but the test transmission Newari TV channel Nepal Mandal.

The whole issue of ethnic federalism has been propagated by Adivasi/Janajati groups in Nepal given the multiple situations in which they do not feel they have been included and respected. The whole issue is about inclusion, mutual respect and co-existence. If the mainstream media in Nepal is to be exclusive and biased in covering the federalism diversions then it is not going to help much to contain the situation.

A friend of mine who is neither a politician nor a so called opinion-maker, but a simple person, says,  “We have had enough of netas and leaderships, intellectuals, educated professionals, experts and so on. But the right leadership and a social group who could lead the country, with the heart at the right place seems to be missing”. The Nepali media also, I would say should play its role in current socio-political pandemonium in Nepal with its heart at the right place.