" "
Home > Journals > International Journal of Political Science

International Journal of Political Science

Submit your article Read this Journals View all journals
Full Text (PDF)
Review Article

Reorganisation of States in India: The Case of Gorkhaland

Anupma Kaushik , Anupma Kaushik

Author Information
Licence:


International Journal of Political Science 2(1):p 11-19, . | DOI:
How Cite This Article:
Received : N/A         Accepted : N/A          Published : N/A
Abstract

 India is a multi ethnic country with a federal polity. There are 29 States which are again multi ethnic in nature. The State of West Bengal is predominantly ethnic ‘Bengali’ however its famous Darjeeling hill station is populated by ethnic Nepalese. As a result the ethnic Bengalis effectively control the political, economic and social fabric of the State of West Bengal. This has caused lot resentment amongst the ethnic Nepalese, resulting in a very violent agitation in the early eighties, led by the G.N.L.F. The Nepalese demanded a separate State of Gorkhaland consisting of the Darjeeling hills. This would have resulted in bifurcation of the State of West Bengal which was vehemently opposed by the Government and the ethnic Bengali population of the State of West Bengal. After a lot of negotiations involving the Government of India, the Government of the State of West  Bengal and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (G.N.L.F.), a tripartite agreement was signed in 1985 and the Gorkha Hill Development Council (G.H.D.C.) was created. The G.H.D.C, an elective body, satisfied the urge of autonomy and self determination amongst the ethnic Nepalese of Darjeeling hills. It also satisfied the stand of the Government of West Bengal of non-bifurcation of their State. Since its inception in 1985 the G.H.D.C. has ensured peace in the Darjeeling hills of the State of West Bengal. Elections for the D.G.H.C. have been held periodically and its powers have increased with time due to repeated negotiations between the G.H.D.C. and the Governments of West Bengal and the Government of India. However, the hopes of development of the area have not become a reality due to non-performance of hill council. And movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland was revived. The government now offered GTA with more autonomy to the Gorkhas but things have not improved on the ground for the common Gorkhas. In a way the DGHC and GTA has been a victim of the same disease that affects the whole of Indian polity and administration i.e. autocratic and corrupt politicians and officials who are more interested in self-aggrandizement than welfare of the masses that they profess to represent and serve. 

Keywords: India; Reorganizations; States;  Gorkhaland; Gorkha; DGHC; GNLF.
 

References

No records found.

Funding

Author Information

Authors and Affiliatione

  • Anupma Kaushik
    ,
  • Anupma Kaushik
    ,
Conflicts of Interest
Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the supplementary material.

Rights and Permissions


About this article

Cite this article

Licence:


Download citation

Received Accepted Published
N/A N/A N/A
DOI:
Keywords

Article Level Metrics

Last Updated

Sunday 08 June 2025, 02:29:48 (IST)

3

Accesses

00
0
00

Citations


22
11
23

View full article metrics including social shares, article views and publishing history


Article Keywords

Keyword Highlighting

Highlight selected keywords in the article text.


Timeline

Received N/A
Accepted N/A
Published N/A

licence




Access this article


Reprint Order Form
Buy Single Article
Institutional Subscriptions

Share