Gorakhaland Agitation 2017: The Politics and Social Media Impact

The latest bout of protest for Gorkhaland in 2017 crippled the Darjeeling Hills of North Bengal in  India for over 105 days, resulting in the death of 12 protesters in police firing, burning down of several Heritage structures and a lasting impact on the economy of the region. For over 100 days, everything in the Hills came to a standstill including markets, schools, businesses, and public places. While the political blame-game between the Central government and West Bengal state government is still ongoing, the agitation of 2017 also exposes the trust deficit between local political leaders and their inability to charter a common path. The public as always, has been weighed by their desire for self-rule and also by emotional outburst on the streets. To justify or nullify the demand for Gorkhaland as something black or white is a difficult proposition for any political party given the huge sentiment attached to the Hills on both sides - the Bengal Government as well as the Local population. This article makes an attempt to present the reasons, history, political aspirations, and the events that led to a renewed Gorkhaland movement in 2017.