Looking At Darjeeling 2017

Year 2017 was a disastrous year for visitors to Darjeeling. In peak season, The incumbent local party called for an indefinite strike. Darjeeling has experienced a series of disasters during the past 30 years, some natural , mostly political. The first call for an independent state Gorkhaland, appealed to the sentiments of the Gorkhas, and Subhas Ghissing sowed the seeds of dissension by downing shutters for all activities for three traumatic years between 1985 and 1988. Boarding schools, Hotels, Tea Estates, shopkeepers all suffered till the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council was inked in August 1988. It took considerable time and effort to lure tourists to vist Darjeeling.The Queen of the Hills was a suspect destination- why subject one to pain , with a sudden call of BUNDH when one was on a fun filled trip? Towards the end of 1997, almost a decade of relative peace later, did the flow of visitors commence again.

A further decade down the line 2007, hospitality, boarding schools, tea estates were reaping the benefits of a resurgence at all levels, when Bimal Gurung, the heir apparent to Mr Ghissing, impatiently formed his break away political faction the GJMM, plunging the district in chaos, whilst neighbouring Sikkim cashed in with red carpet wooing for travellers from near and afar. Darjeeling went into a steep decline, with hotels, schools and the major employer tea estates struggling desperately to make ends meet.

The advent of the Trinamool under Madam Mamata Banerjee, resulted in a saliva pasted deal with the GJMM – offering a glimmer of hope. There was a different upbeat vibrancy in the air. Tourists were returning in ever greater numbers thanks to the economic resurgence in the country.

The flocks descending on to Bagdogra were so huge that the existing infrastucture turned chaotic. The last 100 metres to the airport is a nightmare. The facilities hopelessly inadequate. Theres no space for parking (Parking fees are INR 100, check on facilities, security cheques have queues of a hundred or more at any hour, post security theres a scarcity of standing space (It almost needs japanese style metro pushers) to keep the departing passengers in sardine packed strata.

All this excitement was brutally shattered by the indefinite strike called by Bimal Gurung. Such was his reach, by fair means or foul (Mostly the latter), that each and every activity ceased to function for 108 days between May to September . Shops, hotels, schools, vehicular movement and tea estates, all came to grinding halt. It was a veritable death knell for all activities, essential or entrepreneuial.

A faction of the GJMM, led by Binay Tamang has driven Bimal Gurung to a political wilderness, allowing Madam Mamata Banerjee the Chief Minister to adroitly wrest a truce deal.

The deal envisages a slew of projects ostensibly to promote tourism, floriculture, herbal naturopathy …..

All of this is being touted under development. Is development the mindless exploitation of a territory benefitting a few in power (The common fallout of all glib sub- continental politicians) or will there be an intelligent , planned thoughtful deployment of skilled knowledge with an eco-centric overview for these magical lands?

This is The Million Dollar Conundrum The Inhabitants Of Despair And Strife Torn Inhabitants Faces.

Will true village / agrarian tourism be judiciously be implemented ?

Lets wait and watch