Gorkha in Search of Identity

Contents: 1. Why search for an identity. 2. Crisis of identity. 3. Beginning of the Indian Odyssey. 4. Finding hearth and home. 5. Staking claim in a free nation. 6. Govt. fails to clear debt. 7. Changing Gurkha traditions: Nepali perspective. 8. Demand for Gorkhaland. 9. Time to acquire political identity. Appendices.

Unfortunately in India, as also in other democracies of the world, the numerical strength of a community, which can easily be converted into a vote bank, is the most important factor in the government arriving at a decision about them. However the beauty of Indian democracy is that there is also scope for forceful debate and argument. There is scope for the power of word against the power of the numbers. Gorkha: In Search of Identity will go a long way in providing that power of word to the community, which so far has been treated by the government no better than the trophies in the dinning halls of various military units.

A Gorkha soldier has always given the nation a cause for confidence. They have won five wars for us and participated in several internal operations to secure the Indian Nation. Unfortunately, the government has all these years followed the policy of not looking beyond the Khukhri and Topi into the hearth of a Gorkha home. These are the issues which have been very forcefully put forth by the author in this book. (jacket)