Asomiya Gurkhalis

Introduction

Courage, loyalty and devotion to duty are all embodied in the Gurkhas. The courage and bravely of Gurkhas impressed the British to such an extent that they enlisted the Gurkhas in their army on 24th April 1815. There is a famous saying about Gurkhas “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkhali." The contribution of this fearless and hardworking clan inhabited throughout India is tremendous. From INA (Indian National Army) martyr Durga Mall and Music Composer Ram Singh Thakur to gallantry award winners; the Nepalis have stood as great patriots making valiant contribution to the nation. Men of their words the Nepalis are guided by ‘कायर हुनुभन्दा मर्नु राम्रो ’['Kayar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Ramro’ (It is better to die than to be coward)]. This is inscribed on the mementoes earned and kept at their homes. Nepalis in Assam is the 5th largest people group in the state which has enabled them to impact on population dynamics, socio-cultural and economy of Assam. They identify themselves with the language, culture and attire of Assam.

An Unique Identity

Assam is known for its ethnic diversity. Hundreds of ethnic groups are residing for centuries and can been seen the Assamese touch in their culture and language. 'Asomiya Gurkhalis' are one of them, who migrated from neighboring country Nepal many centuries ago, now they have become the inseparable body of Assamese society. It is said that before the 16th Century people from Nepal migrated as Gopalak (Cattle Herders), Soldiers and semi-skilled professionals; and resided in different parts of Assam. The term ‘Asomiya Gurkhalis’ is used to Nepalis, who have born and brought up in Assam; and to differentiate from other Nepalis, who live in other parts of India and Nepal. There are a large number of citizens of Nepal living in Assam in order to earn their livelihood. Therefore the Nepali-speaking Asomiya Gurkhalis are mistakenly identified as the citizen of Nepal. Presently (2018) due to the process of NRC (National Register of Citizen) and the controversy of the definition on 'who is an Assamese' these people look for a local identity as Asomiya Gurkhalis in order to avoid any kind of legal inconvenience or geographical identity crisis. Deven Dutta, a public activist argued saying - "Has anyone asked who is a Gujarati? Who is a Punjabi? Who is a Bihari? Then why is such a question being put to the Assamese? Why didn’t the Central government ask this question to the Assam Agitation leaders when the Assam Accord was signed? In any case, according to me, the term ‘Assamese’ should encompass the following people – (i) the indigenous tribals (Tiwas, Rabhas, Misings, Bodos, Karbis, Dimasas, Deuris, Kacharis, Thengal Kacharis, Sonowal Kacharis etc), (ii) the Ahoms, who have acted as catalytic agents, alon with Kalitas, Kayasthas, Brahmins, Koches, Keots, Kaivartas (iii) the tea tribes who came here 200 years back and have accepted the Assamese culture and language (iv) the Gurkhas (not Nepalis) and (v) the indigenous Muslims – descendents of the Turks, Pathans and Mughals – they are an inalienable part of the people of the State. Besides, there are some families from other states of the country like Rajasthan, who have adopted Assamese culture and tradition and are by heart Assamese." He also called them Gurkhas as Assamese inhabitants.

Sanjib Kumar Chetry writes, “... in Assam Nepalese also liked to give their identification as ‘Asomiya Nepali’ continuing their own traditional socio-cultural life like others of Assam and is seen in the process of acculturation with it. Nepalis in Assam make the Assamese society and culture more extensive.”

Jayeeta Sharma writes, “Nepalis who settled in Assam viewed themselves as different from larger Nepali communities of the eastern Himalayas, and of Nepal. They saw themselves as distinctively Assamese, but also Nepali. Educated Nepalis studied and favoured the Asomiya language for local literary activity while using the Nepali language at home and favouring its instruction in Assam schools for their children.”

Amiya K. Samanta uses the term “Assamese Gurkhas” in order to describe the racial affinity between Gurkhas living in Darjeeling and Assam. Youths are proud to be Nepalis, but calling them Nepali has created an identity crisis for being an Indian. Therefore educated Nepali youth in Assam love to be called them as ‘Assamese Gorkha’. Amit Sharma from the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) has declared saying, “We are Assamese Gorkhas and proud to be from Assam”. The term ‘Gorkha’ is used originally in the 1950s by Ramkrishna Sharma, ex-judge of the Calcutta High court and a leader of All India Gorkha League (AIGL) and later 1980s by Subhas Ghisingh to distinguish the Indian Nepalis from the citizens of Nepal. Gazette Notification on the Issue of Citizenship of Gorkhas published on 23rd August, 1988 has declared that Gorkhas who are settled in India, are constitutionally citizens of India. Even Gazette Notification has addressed them as Gorkhas, not as Nepalis.

Therefore it is appropriate to call them ‘Assamese Gorkha’ or ‘Asomiya Gurkhalis’ rather than simply ‘Nepali’ which mistakenly identifies them citizens of Nepal, not the Gurkhas, who have been living in Assam for more than two centuries. The term 'Assamese' is synonymous to 'Asomiya' and 'Gorkha' to 'Gurkhalis'.

References

This article "Asomiya Gurkhalis" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Asomiya Gurkhalis. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

---