The Role of Youth Activism in the Struggle for Gorkha Identity
Neha Tamang
Assistant Professor Department of Political Science Sripat Singh College and Research Scholar of Department of Political Science in Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu
S. Prabhakaran
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu.
In a culturally varied nation such as India, identity-based movements have significantly influenced regional politics and social awareness. The Gorkha community's enduring quest for recognition and the desire for a distinct state of Gorkhaland is a notable socio-political movement. The movement historically grounded on marginalization, misrepresentation, and exclusion, has developed to mirror shifting political realities and community goals. Recently, youth activism has been a potent and impactful force in this movement, with young Gorkhas prominently engaging in public mobilization, orchestrating protests, revitalizing traditional narratives, and utilizing digital channels to affirm their identity. The research aims to investigate the significance of youth involvement in the Gorkha identity movement by analyzing the motivations, techniques, and effects of youth-led initiatives. The paper examines how youth engagement has transformed the dialogue over Gorkha identity and evaluates its impact on the community and broader policy-making frameworks. The findings indicate that youth activists have been instrumental in sustaining the movement, particularly through the innovative application of digital media, cultural revitalization efforts, and grassroots mobilization. Their endeavors have amplified the prominence of the Gorkha identity struggle, cultivated a sense of solidarity among Gorkha youth, and contested prevailing narratives that marginalize the community. Nonetheless, obstacles such as political fragmentation, insufficient institutional support, and generational disparities persist as impediments to enduring impact.
Keywords: Gorkha identity, Youth activism, Political mobilization, Statehood
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