Paper short abstract:

This paper actually deals with the query: Could Urban Development in North Bengal influence an Identity Movement? North Bengal is a part of India and hence, case study is taken from India.

Paper long abstract:

This paper actually deals with the query: Could Urban Development in North Bengal influence an Identity Movement? North Bengal is a part of India and borderland among Bangladesh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Brahmaputra valley, Gangetic Plain and Delta, and Sino-Tibet.

Indians are basically rural agrarians and they have innovated unique division of labour that caste or Jati system that the Indo-Aryans have conceptualised through Varna 4-fould system or Estate. On the other hand, there are evidences that how community life, trade, state formation, urbanization and supporting religions have also developed in India.

In British India, low hills and foothills along with watersheds from Sikkim and Bhutan Himalayan states have been incorporated. Eventually, there were developed districts like Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.

British laid down Tea Estates and some townships like Siliguri in Darjeeling foothill (Siliguri Terai) and Darjeeling district town on the hills parallel to Kalimpong and Kurseong-Mirik region. These hill stations are now basically tourist destinations and heaven for hill takers.

British and post-independent India allowed Nepali speaking ethnic groups who immigrated from neighbouring country of Nepal on Central Himalayas. They have become majority in Darjeeling hills, behaved like Human Shield, and also joined Gorkha Regiment of both Indian and British Army. For these Nepali with Gorkha identity and sustained demand of Gorkhaland over these incorporated lands (New Foundland or El Dorado for them), consider these townships (especially Darjeeling) as the Safe Heaven or Utopia. Comparatively higher progress in foothill Siliguri has been contributed equally by these hilly communities.

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