Women and the Ethnic Conflict of Gorkhaland: Contesting History

This paper revisits the political conflict of 1986 (popularly known as Chyasi ko Andolan) in the Darjeeling Hills through the oral narratives of women who witnessed the conflict in various capacities. The conflict emerged out of direct contestations between the state and the political front––Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), spearheading the movement for the creation of Gorkhaland from the state of West Bengal. Chyasi is deeply embedded in the mental and emotional psyche of the people of Darjeeling Hills with memories of sacrifices, loss, pain, fear and trauma. A political analysis of conflicts remains incomplete without bringing in the memories of conflict that play an important role in the lives and histories of the people of these regions. Women’s stories often remain unheard, marginalized and silenced despite women being integral to these political processes. This paper uses oral narratives in the form of women’s experiences and stories to explore the political conflict of 1986 and its gendered dynamics in the Darjeeling Hills.