By Riju Devi
Axomor Gorkha is a research based book on the Gorkha community of Assam.
Besides giving a clear picture of the socio-political status of Gorkhas in Assam, this book by Om Prakash Basnet has also highlighted the cultural vibrancy and ethnographical structure of the Gorkha people in Assam. The main objective of the author in writing the book in Assamese language is his intention to reach out to a larger readership and awareness on the Gorkhas being indigenous people of Assam and not just immigrants as some sections of the people would want to reduce their status to.
Axomor Gorkha is perhaps the first written document where, discarding the conventional beliefs that Gorkhas are immigrants and foreigners in this land, the author has denounced this ideology, with logic and proper historical references, and ushered in a new thought that Gorkhas are indeed sons of the soil and that their rights must be protected in this land.
The writer has brought forth ample references from history. This book contains a historical and ethnographical survey of Gorkha community of Assam from the pre-Vedic period down to the present NRC upgradation process where Gorkhas have been blatantly discriminated against.
The author has clearly mentioned in the book that Gorkhas are the descendants of two major ethnic groups namely ‘Khas’ and ‘Kiratas’ (Mongoloids) of the Caucasian family who took part in the battle of Kurukshetra.
The writer makes a fine balance between the earliest historical records and recent anecdotes. One such instance is seen in his vivid description of the 560-km ‘Marathon March’ led by ‘Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee’ president Harka Bahadur Chetry demanding the same rights to Gorkhas as to other indigenous communities of Assam.
Basnet makes a strong case for the rights and privileges of the Gorkhas.
Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, a well-known Assamese writer, opines, “This book has proved that Gorkhas are also original inhabitants of Assam. This book is filled with historical facts and figures and any student who wants to carry on any kind of research on Gorkha, can have to make use of this valuable masterpiece. This book would be a great help to those readers who want to have an idea about Indian Gorkha.”
The book receives a grand introduction in the form of two prefaces, the first one is a note by the legendary Assamese personality Homen Borgohai, who applauds the writer for his honest attempt to establish Gorkha identity in India almost in the same line as GNLF chief Subhash Ghising did in and from a completely different forum. The second preface has been written by a veteran journalist and editor in chief of Prag News TV channel, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, who has described the book as a historical monument.
There are altogether 32 articles which are relevant to the theme of the book. The writer has emphasised on the fact that identity crisis is the phenomenal problem of the Gorkhas in India, including Assam.
In the first article ‘Axomor Khilonjiya Gorkha (indigenous Gorkhas of Assam) the writer has yoked together many references logically in support of his claim that they are also the original inhabitants of the state. Basnet believes that after going through the book no one would deny the fact that Gorkhas are also indigenous people of Assam. To resolve this identity crisis, the writer has elaborately discussed about the contribution and participation of the Gorkha people in India’s freedom movement, INA, Yandabo Treaty of 1826 etc. To establish the fact that Gorkhas are an aboriginal tribe, the author has made an analytical report on the Khas and Kirata tribes of Assam, who are important constituents of Gorkha mahajati.
Gorkhas were invited by the British East India company to make their army stronger. For that reason the writer has referred to the Treaty of Sugolee 1816, in detail that Gorkhas had come to this country along with their land.
This book also talks about the need for a separate state for the Gorkhas of India. A critical analysis of the ‘Indo-Nepal friendship treaty 1950’ along with a critical view on latest Eminent Persons Group report and suggestion that the clauses 6 and 7 should be scrapped from the treaty and a Joint National Register of Citizens of India and Nepal should be maintained to stop illegal influx from neighbouring Nepal have also found place in the book.
In his article ‘Gorkha or Nepali an analysis’, Basnet, a social activist, has denounced the terminology ‘Nepali’ in the Indian context as the term refers to the Nationals of Nepal. The writer has elaborately described with authentic evidences ‘why they are Gorkha in India and not Nepali’.
The book also contains discussions on the Assam Accord and Gorkhas’ contribution to Assam agitation. The political journey of the Gorkhas in Assam, the process of assimilation between the Gorkhas and other indigenous communities of Assam, nomenclature of the Nepali language from Gorkha and its development, Asom Gorkha Sammelan, history of Gorkha student organisations are also some of the components of the book where the author expresses facts in pure logical perspective.
The book has given equal importance to the cultural side of the Gorkha fraternity. It is represented in the book quite convincingly that the Gorkhas have one of the richest cultures in the world and unless it is protected it runs the risk of getting extinct. The author has tried to highlight the merits of cultural assimilation among various ethnic groups within the Gorkha community as well as other ethnic groups in the state. The Gorkhas are a minority community in India, so it’s the duty of the government to protect, promote and preserve the distinctive culture of such a culturally rich loyal and brave minority community.
The author has made an appeal to the government to work for the cultural development of the Gorkhas through this book too. No author has ever written so distinctly about the cultural manifestation of the Gorkhas where there are vivid descriptions of the Gorkha festivals like Teez, Tihar (Diwali), Dasain (Durgapuja), Gorkha Bibah, Goth-Dhup, Godoi-puja, Sansari-Puja, Dhami Zakri and Dainy, Jogee and their culture, and the folk culture of Gorkha community.
The book also reflects on the pathetic living conditions of the Gorkhas in almost all the belts and block areas of Assam and on the impending danger of being homelessness. How their lands have been cruelly snatched away and how they have been reduced to a poor community have found vivid expression in the book.
(Riju Devi is a freelance
writer)
Book: Axomor Gorkha; Author: Om Prakash Basnet; Publisher: AANK Basketball; Pages: 342; Price: Rs 450