A Question Asked: "We tried! What did you Do?" - The youths and the students of Darjeeling.

Writes: Diwas Chettri.

Piercing eyes trying to convey thousand a emotions, young but thoughtful, confused yet having a missionary zeal towards achieving their goal of Gorkhaland. This is what I felt, while having a conversation with some young guns over a cup of tea. They told me they are going on a relay fasting programme as part of their grassroot level socio-political activism.

I asked them gently - Bhai " Will it make any difference". One of them smiled and said "Da! At least we can say we tried and contributed! made a difference or not we cant say, but we tried", Da! What did you do? What have you contributed?"

Well!! that summed up the entire conversation, in our heart we all are students, learning lessons everyday from someone or the other.

These guys were like a breath of fresh air, having no greed of the "Chair Politics" nor of the "Petty Contracts", just wanting their voices to be heard not only by the Centre, State, but also by our very own political leaders and intellectuals, across party lines.

These guys had political affiliation, yet were so apolitical in their thoughts, wanting everyone to join them, guide them, not only by our "Aguas" but also by our "Bato Haguas" and intellectuals.

People might not throng to the place where they are fasting. We only flock to meetings where our entire budget is provided, right from our travel, food to alikati halka "Kada Khane" pocket money. Cutting across our party lines, thoughts, affiliations, intellectual capacity, why not pay a visit to the fasting site or just join them, our visit might boost their morale?

If they can honestly start a non-violent movement, peacefully without any bandhs or strikes, why not support them?

Yes! there will be criticism too and they will have to face it. They might or might not achieve their goals but can hold their heads high saying, "at least we made an effort."

Not everyone will appreciate what they are doing or agree with what I am writing, but with pride we can all say "At least we Tried! What did you do?

[Pic of GJVM students currently on Hunger Strike for #Gorkhaland]