The separate state demand for Gorkhaland from West Bengal has found unlikely support from the southern state of Telangana. Nearly 25 students’ organisations of Osmania University came forward to echo the demand of a separate Gorkhaland from West Bengal when given a call for a global march by the Gorkha students.
Many students’ organisations feel that the creation of separate Gorkhaland state is a legitimate demand and feel that the Bengal hegemony imposed on the Gorkhas can be resolved only by carving out Gorkhaland from West Bengal.
Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika (TVV), member, Nazeer said that they partook in the march and invited all the democratic and progressive organisations of the university to join in.
"As part of TVV, we would be initiating few programmes with support from other groups in the campus, in solidarity with the Gorkhas. This demand for a state is not just for rights, but for self-respect. Historically, Gorkhaland was not part of India. It was the British which annexed it to India. And, these people were subjugated historically by Bengal," Nazeer said.
The solidarity from the students isn’t surprising, given the University’s long history of fighting for a separate Telangana cause. Osmania University had played a vital role in the formation of Telangana as a separate state from the pre-existing state of Andhra Pradesh. Students were central to the Telangana movement with students’ participation in the movement going way back to 1969.
David from the Osmania University Research Scholars Forum (OURSF) said, “One can draw so many parallels with Telangana and Gorkhaland. Similar to Telangana which suffered the dominance of Andhra, Gorkhaland is also suffering.”
“Though the state of West Bengal has provided some special privileges to the Gorkhas it doesn’t seem to be addressing the issue. Not much of developmental activities have taken place in Gorkhaland, in so many years. There is a dominance of culture and language upon these people, which could be resolved only by creating a separate state,” David said.
The Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) had played an active role in the Telangana movement. The students had organised many protests in the campus and violent agitations had taken place in the campus for the creation of Telangana, and OU became synonymous with the Telangana struggle after its separation.
“Telangana also faced similar injustice during the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh related to employment, land, imposed Andhra hegemony. Gorkhas have some special privileges, everyone unanimously has been outraging for the creation of a separate state, which means that these privileges have failed in addressing their concerns,” David said.
Naresh, coordinator of the Dalit Minority Students Association (DMSA) said that many in the university feel that the demand of the Gorkhas is a legitimate one. "Our organisation’s idol Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar believed that creation of small states ensures better governance and efficient administration. So, we too believe in the same ideals," Naresh said.
“The Gorkhas have suffered long enough under the dominance of Bengal,” he added