Subrata Debnath

Colonial and Post-colonial Migration: Nepalis into Darjeeling District Subrata Debnath

Nepali migration into Darjeeling district is an age old phenomena. In the Pre Colonial period it was just movement of people across boundary. During the period of unification of Nepal by the Gorkhas in the late 18th century, several members of the Nepal royalty, nobles and elites continued their political exile to India. Even in the late 18th and early 19th centuries- i.e. at the time of expansion of the Gorkhas many Nepalis moved to India. In the modern period Nepali migration to India has become a regular feature from the 19th century onwards. Nepali migration to India was actively encouraged by the British out of their colonial interests and was intertwined with their overall policies towards both Nepal and this part of India including Sikkim. Nepal?s own economic tribulations provided the push factors and colonial Darjeeling?s socio-economic condition with abundant land, economic opportunity and colonial policy created the pull factors, thereby attracting large-scale Nepali immigration. Post colonial phase also witnessed a volume of migration in the district though at present migration from Nepal is becoming insignificant.