Then it was Kashmir and now it is Darjeeling. Both the places are well-known for breathtaking natural beauty. Jammu and Kashmir is well-known as heaven on Earth and Darjeeling (and most of north-east tourist destinations) too is bestowed heavenly beauty with view of Kanchenjunga and tea-gardens on the slopes. Both are dotted with snow peaks and are on the borders of our country. They are now our paradises in trouble. Kashmir seems to be totally trapped in never-ending conflict. And with Gorkhaland agitations peaking this week, Darjeeling too seems will never be a safe tourist destination again.

Interestingly, foreigners and local tourists flock such heavenly hill destinations in search of beauty and peace, but the very peace eludes the local people. Is it a failure on the part of government of India? Or is it an unknown international conspiracy which engages conflicts? Much has been researched and documented and debated about militancy in Jammu and Kashmir but yet there is no solution. Local people’s life and their psyche are mutilated and changed forever. Hope Darjeeling doesn’t go Kashmir’s way. The issue of Gorkhaland needs to be sorted out once and for all and that too soon. It is a complex issue though. But immediate measures and solutions can only stop from it going beyond government’s control. Given the global trends of internal conflicts, they gain a life of their own and continuing conflicts benefits all political parties, except the poor local population who stand evicted from normal life.

Hill life in Darjeeling and surrounding north-east is tough. There are very few employment opportunities. Locals depend a lot on tourism and tea industry. Tea industry is already suffering. Many a tea gardens are sick or are completely closed down. More than 1,00,000 tea workers are affected. There is rampant malnutrition, infant deaths, suicides and human trafficking. Tourism brings only seasonal income. Such political strife which brings tourism to standstill will make situation more desperate.

Government of India should reassess why trouble brews in hill areas? Why have the economic and social reforms not reached there? Have they missed the globalization bus? What are the demands of local community? Is Government of India a part of the problem itself? We have no option but to keep our fingers crossed and watch helplessly as angry political mobs take to the streets and ruin our paradises.