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What difference did you find between Gorkha and Nepali?

By himalayanreview

There are different interpretations of the definition of Gorkha and Nepali. Actually, they are two sides of the same coin. This problem only arose because the Indians used to see us as if we were like the people living across the river Mechi. As far as I am concerned, there should not be any geographical limitations of language and literature. It is not that the English language is meant for the English people in England only and the Nepali language for Nepalispali of Nepal only. Language and literature are two things that become more prosperous and richer as they expand their spheres. Considering that the term Nepali reflects the citizens of Nepal, we have developed the concept of calling ourselves Gorkhas to differentiate ourselves from them. ABGL has worked in this field for a long time at its own level. 

Our identity is better safeguarded and segregated in India by calling us the Gorkhas. That is why Mr Subash Ghisingh might have called Gorkha. As for the language, I disagree with both him and me; I think it's better to refer to them as Nepalese-speaking Indian Gorkhas. The following may be the reason to distinguish ourselves as Nepali or Gorkha: (a) In 1946, the late Damber Singh Gurung, of ABGL had said in the constituent Assembly of India that out of one crore Nepalese 30 lakh are living in India. 

It happened at the time when the backward class commission of India was trying to include the Gorkha community in the backward class. Damber Singh Gurung was also trying his darndest. But then President (now speaker) of the Constituent Assembly of India Mr Acharya J.P Kripalani used such humiliating words, he said “Gorkha should fight with the sword” meaning Khukuri, which was actually not a wise comment. 

In 1948, a communal riot broke out in Calcutta between Hindus and Muslims, which also affected 10 thousand Gorkhas / Nepalis from Darjeeling. In order to compensate for their losses, ABGL leaders like Shiva Kumar Rai led a delegation to Nepal. This was to raise money to settle the grievances of the Riot victims. 

It's because of these reasons that Indians have been confused with Nepalese citizens of Mechichi River (Nepal), which has caused us to claim to be Gorkhas to make ourselves feel Indian in India. At a time when there was a deep-seated suspicion among many Indians towards the Gorkhas, Mr Ari Bahadur Gurung once had to defend himself in the Constituent Assembly by saying "we, the Gorkhas, had participated in the freedom movement of India as will not hesitate to shed their last drop of blood to preserve the country from the enemy at its borders. We will not hesitate to shed our last drop of blood to preserve the independence that we have gained." Therefore, the people of India should not be suspicious of our identity.


This article is not an original piece..it has been obtain from other source.
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