Letter To The Editor
How can Bimal Gurung insist on dress code for others?
Sir, ~ This is with response to the report, “Gorkhaland to have dress code?” (North Bengal and Sikkim Plus, 11 September).
How can Bimal Gurung insist that Lepchas, Sherpas and Tamangs wear the daura suruwal when they have their own traditional attires? This is “cultural domination”, especially for the Lepchas who are the original inhabitants of the region.
For many years, Lepchas have supported the Gorkhas, accommodated them to their convenience. But it is sad that they have now decided to take advantage of the Lepchas, who have not said anything against the Gorkhaland movement, and are forcing them to wear daura suruwal as well.
Has Mr Gurung forgotten that the enforcement of Gho and Kira in neighbouring Bhutan made the Nepalese question their identity? Has he forgotten that the Bhutanese dress code enforcement was vehemently opposed and challenged by the Nepalese both in and outside Bhutan? This is an ethnocentric move by Mr Gurung and his team to clearly dominate over the minorities. It appears the movement sees a threat from the Lepchas because they are the true owners of the hills; once the movement can dilute the Lepcha culture with Gorkha culture, it will be easy for them to say that the hills belong to the Gorkhas.
This is “cultural annexation” which should be opposed.
~ Yours, etc.,
Published in The Statesman September 16, 2008.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-09-16&usrsess=1&clid=3&id=249525
Sir, ~ This is with response to the report, “Gorkhaland to have dress code?” (North Bengal and Sikkim Plus, 11 September).
How can Bimal Gurung insist that Lepchas, Sherpas and Tamangs wear the daura suruwal when they have their own traditional attires? This is “cultural domination”, especially for the Lepchas who are the original inhabitants of the region.
For many years, Lepchas have supported the Gorkhas, accommodated them to their convenience. But it is sad that they have now decided to take advantage of the Lepchas, who have not said anything against the Gorkhaland movement, and are forcing them to wear daura suruwal as well.
Has Mr Gurung forgotten that the enforcement of Gho and Kira in neighbouring Bhutan made the Nepalese question their identity? Has he forgotten that the Bhutanese dress code enforcement was vehemently opposed and challenged by the Nepalese both in and outside Bhutan? This is an ethnocentric move by Mr Gurung and his team to clearly dominate over the minorities. It appears the movement sees a threat from the Lepchas because they are the true owners of the hills; once the movement can dilute the Lepcha culture with Gorkha culture, it will be easy for them to say that the hills belong to the Gorkhas.
This is “cultural annexation” which should be opposed.
~ Yours, etc.,
Published in The Statesman September 16, 2008.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-09-16&usrsess=1&clid=3&id=249525
posted by rongmit @ Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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