Indian Gorkha

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Indian Gorkhas
Indian Army soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles and U.S. Army paratroopers with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division move toward their objective after being dropped off 130511-A-DK678-018.jpg
Gorkha regiment soldiers Men of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) of the Indian Army operating alongside soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army in 2013
Total population
2,926,168 (2011 Indian Census)
Regions with significant populations
Sikkim · Darjeeling · Assam · Dehradun
Languages
Nepali · Nepal Bhasa · Rai · Limbu · Gurung · Magar · Tamang
Religion
Om.svg Hinduism · Dharma wheel.svg Buddhism · Kirant Mundhum · Christian cross.svg Christian
Related ethnic groups
Nepali people · Sikkimese people
Kukri is a traditional Gorkha knife.

Indian Gorkhas (Bharatiya Gorkha), also known as Nepali Indians, are Nepali language-speaking Indian citizens. The term "Indian Gorkha" is used to differentiate the ethnic Gorkha citizens of India from the citizens of Nepal.[1]

Indian Gorkhas are citizens of India as per the gazette notification of the Government of India on the issue of citizenship of the Gorkhas from India.[2] The Nepali language is included in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution.[3] However, the Indian Gorkhas are faced with a unique identity crisis with regard to their Indian citizenship because of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1950) that permits "on a reciprocal basis, the nationals of one country in the territories of the other the same privileges in the matter of residence, ownership of property, participation in trade and commerce, movement and other privileges of a similar nature".

Ethnicities and castes[edit]

One of the Gorkha ethic group Khas or Kus or Chhetri

The Indian Gorkhas are a mixture of castes and ethnio-tribe clans. The Gorkhali purbutiyah ethnic groups include the Khas-Parbatiyas are Bahun (hill Brahmins), Chhetri (Khas), Thakuri, Badi, Kami, Damai, Sarki, Gandarbha, Kumal etc. Other tibeto-ethnic groups include Gurung, Magar, Newar, Bhujel (Khawas), and Thami.[4] Although each of them has its own language (belonging to the Tibeto-Burman languages or Indo-Aryan languages), the lingua franca among the Gorkhas is the Nepali language with its script in Devnagari. It is one of the official languages of India.

Population[edit]

As per the 2011 Census, a total of 2,926,168 people in India spoke Nepali as their mother tongue.[5] The largest populations can be found in West Bengal - 1,155,375 (+12.97% from 2001 Census), Assam - 596,210 (+5.56%), Uttarakhand - 106,399 (+16.86%), Sikkim - 382,200 (+12.87%), Arunachal Pradesh - 95,317 (+00.42%), Himachal Pradesh - 89,508 (+27.37%), Maharashtra - 75,683 (+19.22%), Meghalaya - 54,716 (+4.91%), Manipur - 63,756 (+38.61%), Nagaland - 43,481 (+27.06%), and Mizoram - 8,994 (+0.51%).[6]</ref> Apart from this, there are additional speakers of languages such as Limbu (40,835), Rai (15,644), Sherpa(16,012) and Tamang (20,154). So the combined strength of Nepali and the other four Gorkha languages comes to 3,018,813.[7]

As per the 2001 Census, a total of 2,871,749 people in India spoke Nepali as mother tongue. As per the 1991 Census, this figure was 2,076,645. The largest populations can be found in West Bengal - 1,022,725 (+18.87% from 1991 Census), Assam - 564,790 (+30.58%), Uttarakhand - 355,029 (+255.53%), Sikkim - 338,606 (+32.05%), Arunachal Pradesh - 94,919 (+16.93%), HP - 70,272 (+50.64%), Maharashtra - 63,480 (+59.69%), Meghalaya - 52,155 (+6.04%), Manipur - 45,998 (-1.08%), Nagaland - 34,222 (+6.04%), and Mizoram - 8,948 (+8.50%).

Arunachal Pradesh[edit]

As per the 2001 Census, districts with the largest Nepali populations are West Kameng - 13,580 (18.2% of the total population) Lohit - 22,200 (15.77%), and Dibang Valley - 15,452 (26.77%). Tehsils with the largest proportion of Nepalis are Koronu (55.35%), Kibithoo (50.68%), Sunpura (42.28%), Vijoynagar (42.13%), and Roing (32.39%).

As per the 2011 Census, districts with the largest Nepali populations are West Kameng - 14,333 (17.1% of the total population) Lohit - 22,988 (13.77%), and Dibang Valley - 14,271 (22.99%). Tehsils with the largest proportion of Nepalis are Koronu (48.49%), Kibithoo (6.5%), Sunpura (34.47%), Vijoynagar (41.8%), and Roing (26.0%).

Assam[edit]

During the 1991 Census, the districts with the largest concentrations were Sonitpur - 91,631 (6.43%), Tinsukia - 76,083 (7.91%), and Karbi Anglong - 37,710 (5.69%).[8]

As per the 2001 Census, districts with the largest ethnic Nepali populations are Sonitpur - 131,261 (7.81% of the total population) Tinsukia - 87,850 (7.64%), and Karbi Anglong - 46,871 (5.76%). Tehsils with the largest proportion of Nepalis are Sadiya (27.51%), Na Duar (16.39%), Helem (15.43%), Margherita (13.10%), and Umrangso (12.37%).

As per the 2011 Census, districts with the largest ethnic Nepali populations are Sonitpur - 135,525 (7.04% of the total population) Tinsukia - 99,812 (7.52%), and Karbi Anglong - 51,496 (5.38%). Tehsils with the largest proportion of Nepalis are Sadiya (26.2%), Na Duar (14.88%), Helem (14.35%), Margherita (13.47%), and Umrangso (12.46%).

Manipur[edit]

As per the 2011 census, Tehsils with the largest proportion of Nepali people are Sadar Hills West (33.0%), Saitu-Gamphazol (9.54%), and Lamshang (10.85%). Districts with the largest Nepali population are Senapati - 39,039 (8.15%), Imphal West - 10,391 (2.01%) and Imphal East - 6,903 (1.51%).

This is how the previous censuses counted the number of Nepali speakers in Manipur:

  • 1961 Census: 13,571
  • 1971 Census: 26,381
  • 1981 Census: 37,046
  • 1991 Census: 46,500
  • 2001 Census: 45,998 (*)
  • 2011 Census: 63,756

Meghalaya[edit]

Gorkha population is mostly concentrated in the districts of East Khasi Hills (37,000 or 4.48%) and Ribhoi (10,524 or 4.07%). Tehsils with the largest concentration include Myliem (8.18%) and Umling (6.72%).

Among the cities, the highest concentration of Nepali speakers can be found in Shillong Cantonment (29.98%), Shillong (9.83%), Pynthorumkhrah (7.02%), Nongmynsong (26.67%), Madanrting (17.83%), and Nongkseh (14.20%).

This is how the previous censuses counted the number of Nepali speakers in Meghalaya:[9]

  • 1961: 32,288
  • 1971: 44,445
  • 1981: 61,259
  • 1991: 49,186
  • 2001: 52,155
  • 2011: 54,716

Mizoram[edit]

As per the 2011 Census, there are a total of 9,035 Gorkhas in Mizoram. Of this, 5,944 are concentrated in Tlangnuam Tehsil of Aizawl district, where they form 1.9% of the population. The Central Gorkha Mandir Committee operates a total of 13 Hindu temples in Mizoram and these are the only Hindu places of worship in the state.[10]

Nagaland[edit]

Most of the Nepali speaking population are found in the districts of Dimapur (21,596 or 5.70%) and Kohima (9,812 or 3.66%). Tehsils with the largest concentration are Naginimora (7.48%), Merangmen (6.78%), Niuland (6.48%), Kuhoboto (7.04%), Chümoukedima (7.07%), Dhansiripar (6.09%), Medziphema (9.11%), Namsang (8.81%), Kohima Sadar (6.27%), Sechü-Zubza (5.03%), and Pedi (7.61%).

Sikkim[edit]

The state of Sikkim is the only state in India with a majority ethnic Nepali population.[11] The Sikkim census of 2011 found that Sikkim was the least populated state of India. Sikkim's population according to the 2011 Census was 610,577, and has grown by approximately 100,000 since the last census.[12] The Nepali/Gorkhali language is the lingua franca of Sikkim, while Tibetan (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas.[13][14] As per the 2011 Census, there were a total of 453,819 speakers of various Tibetan languages (Nepali - 382,200, Limbu - 38,733, Sherpa - 13,681, Tamang - 11,734 and Rai - 7,471). Out of this, 20.14% (91,399) were Tibetan Limbu/Tamang, 6.23% (28,275) were Dalit and 73.63% were General category.

According to the census, there are a total of 53,703 Limbu and 37,696 Tamang in Sikkim, of whom a majority speak the Nepali language as their mother tongue. Also, small numbers of Bhotia and Lepcha also speak the Nepali language as their mother tongue. As per the 2011 Census, there were a total of 69,598 Bhotia in Sikkim (including Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung and Tibetan. etc), but only 58,355 were speaking languages such as Sikkimese and Sherpa. Out of the 42,909 Lepcha there were only 38,313 speakers for the Lepcha language.

Uttarakhand[edit]

As per the 2011 census, the total number of Nepali language speakers is 106,399, constituting 1.1% of the total population of the state.[15]

West Bengal[edit]

As per the 2001 Census, there are a total of 1,034,038 ethnic Nepalis in West Bengal, of which 1,022,725 are speakers of the Nepali language and 11,313 are speakers of languages such as Tamang and Sherpa. The population in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts are 748,023 (46.48% of the total population) and Jalpaiguri - 234,500 (6.99%). Most of the ethnic Nepali population in West Bengal live in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration region.[16] About 7.56% of the Nepalis were Dalit, belonging to castes such as Kami and Sarki (population of 78,202 in 2001). The two tribes classified as Scheduled Tribe (Limbu and Tamang) constituted 16% of the Nepali population according to the census. The remaining 76% belonged to general category.[citation needed]

As per the 2011 Census, there were a total of 1,161,807 speakers of various Nepalese languages. Out of this 7.24% was Dalit (84,110) and 16.62% (193,050) were tribal Tamang/Limbu. Remaining 76.14% were General category.[citation needed]

Forced displacement[edit]

Nepalis in states of Northeast India have faced violence and ethnic cleansing. In 1967, more than 8,000 Nepalis were driven out of Mizoram, while more than 2,000 in Manipur met with the same fate in 1980. Tens of thousands of Nepalis were banished from Assam (in 1979) and Meghalaya (in 1987) by the terrorist and militant groups.[17] The biggest displacement occurred in Meghalaya, when the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) targeted Nepalis living in the eastern part of the state. More than 15,000 Nepalis were driven out (mostly to Nepal), while about 10,000 were reduced to living in subhuman life in the refugee camps of Shillong.[18] In 2010, there were riots between Khasis and the Gorkhas, which left several Gorkhas dead. One elderly Gorkha man was burnt alive.[19][better source needed]

Notable persons[edit]

Navneet Aditya Waiba, folk singer

Actors[edit]

Cinematographers[edit]

Military[edit]

Musicians[edit]

Sports[edit]

Athletics[edit]

Archery[edit]

Boxing[edit]

Cricket[edit]

Football[edit]

Hockey[edit]

Shooting[edit]

Writers[edit]

Politicians[edit]

Others[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "India and Nepal. Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Signed at Kathmandu" (PDF). untreaty.un.org. 31 July 1950. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Gorkhaland: Gazette Notification on the Issue of Citizenship of Gorkhas". Gorkhaland. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  3. ↑ rajbhasha.gov.in/en/languages-included-eighth-schedule-indian-constitution
  4. ↑ Barun Roy (2012). Gorkhas and Gorkhaland. Darjeeling, India: Parbati Roy Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "ABSTRACT OF SPEAKERS' STRENGTH OF LANGUAGES AND MOTHER TONGUES - 2011" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Distribution of the 22 Scheduled Languages - India/ States/ Union Territories-2011 Census" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Distribution of the 99 Non-Scheduled Languages- India/ States/ Union Territories-2011 Census" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Thesis" (PDF). Shodganga.
  9. ↑ "Economy, Ethnicity and Migration in Mehahalaya" (PDF). amanpanchayat.org. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  10. ↑ Karmakar, Rahul (18 November 2018). "Temples inspired by churches in Mizoram". The Hindu.
  11. ↑ "ADBU Location". dbuniversity.ac.in. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Demography". sikenvis.nic.in.
  13. ↑ "Know all about the beautiful Mini Sikkim: Another beautiful gem in the seven sisters region". India Today. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "Watch | Sikkim: Simultaneous Elections and the Battle Over the 17th Karmapa". The Wire. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  15. ↑ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  16. ↑ Mitra, Arnab (13 April 2021). "Tracing the history of Gorkhaland movement: Another crisis triggered by language". The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  17. ↑ Samāddāra, Raṇabīra (2007). The Materiality of Politics: The technologies of rule. ISBN 9781843312512.
  18. ↑ "Nepalis in Meghalaya face tribal wrath amid official apathy".
  19. ↑ "Khasi Nepali Ethnic Conflict in Meghalaya, India". 8 June 2010.
  20. ↑ Lulla, Anil Budur (17 June 2007). "Gurkha Ganesh blazes new trail". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  21. ↑ "Pawan Kumar Chamling crosses Jyoti Basu's record as longest-serving Chief Minister". The Hindu. 29 April 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2020.

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