A delegation of the Nagaland Gorkha Association (NGA), the apex body of the Gorkhas in Nagaland, led by President Nobin Pradhan met with met the Chief Secretary J. Alam at his chamber in the State Civil Secretariat on 14th October 2024.

During the meeting, the delegation submitted a representation to the Government of Nagaland through the Chief Secretary requesting to urgently look into the matter of enumeration of Gorkhas settled in Nagaland under Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).

The representation highlighted the history of the community’s settlement in Nagaland that dates back to 1870, its contributions to the building to the State and its loyalty to the “Naga Cause”. While appreciating the Government of Nagaland for its recognition of the Gorkhas, the community has tabled its dismay over the recent Order from the Home Department Political Branch notifying on the enumeration of Nepali/Gorkhas who are permanently settled in Nagaland prior to 31st December 1940 and their direct descendants to be conducted simultaneously along with Kuki, Kachari, Garo, Mikir for whom the qualifying date is 1st December 1963.

Given that there is not a single Gorkha name that has appeared in the 1974 Gazette Notification list as no enumeration was done especially in Dimapur sub-division that includes Chumuokedima and Niuland, the Nagaland Gorkha Association has requested that the qualifying date be extended to 1st December 1963, at par with the other four Non-Naga Indigenous tribes Kachari, Kuki, Garo and Mikir (Karbi).

The representation stated:

Dear Sir,

We bring you greetings and salutations on behalf of the Gorkhas of Nagaland. We would like to thank you for giving us your valuable time and receiving our delegation of the Nagaland Gorkha Association.

Sir, as you are well aware the Gorkhas have been living together with our Naga brothers and sisters since the 1870s. The earliest Gorkha settlers were brought by the Britishers and settled in Kohima, Dimapur & Chumoukedima (Subdivision under Kohima district) Mokokchung, Wokha, and Naginimora under Mon district and Gorkhas have settled in almost all the districts of Nagaland and we are happy to inform that Nagas have always treated us equally and have shown immense love and concern for us. At no point of time we have been ill-treated, discriminated or subjected to harassment. Gorkhas have immensely contributed to the progress, development, and building of Nagaland.

1. The history has it that at the height of the Second World War and the famous battle of Kohima 1939-1945, all the non-Naga communities fled Kohima but Gorkhas chose to stay back and fought ferociously. After the War, the Gorkhas stood shoulder to shoulder with the Nagas in rebuilding the war-ravaged Kohima town. The government of Nagaland while commemorating 125 years of the Quasquicentennial celebration of Kohima city acknowledged our forefathers’ contribution to the development of Kohima and selected Gorkhas along with other Naga tribes to showcase the history of Kohima town in October 2004 under the aegis of “RAMAILO DASSAI”
2. We are also very thankful to the Government of Nagaland for conferring IAS to two of our community members Late SB Chhetri and Late SS Rai and we are also happy to inform you that many Gorkhas have retired as Directors, Chief Engineers, Commissioners and Secretaries, Additional Director General of Police and numerous Gazetted Officers. We served with honesty.
3. Renowned poet, writer, author, and teacher Late Hari Prasad Gorkha Rai is also a Kohima-born Gorkha and is widely respected in Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Nepal. He was very close personal friend of Late AZ Phizo and he led a Gorkha delegation to the meeting held at Lakhuti village at Wokha in 1940 which led to the formation of the historic Naga National Council.

In recognition of the long history of Gorkhas settlement in Nagaland and also for the good relation that the Gorkhas have had with the local people, our contribution to the state, the society, and also for our loyalty in the struggle of the “Naga Cause,” the State Government has declared the Gorkha community as “Non-Naga Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland” vide Gazette Notification No.GAB 08/2/9/73 Dated 22-10-1974. This is one single defining document for us Gorkhas in Nagaland which has made us a unique community – very different from other Non-Naga communities. This Gazette notification has granted us Gorkhas

1. Right to Education
2. Right to Property
3. Right to Industrial licence & Loan

However, the above-mentioned Gazette notification granting the rights is confined to Kohima, Wokha, and Mokokchung only. Dimapur, Chumoukedima, Niuland, and other districts of Nagaland where Gorkhas are residing do not have a single Gorkha family in the Gazette Notification list. It is quite disappointing that Dimapur was then a subdivision of Kohima where sizeable Gorkhas are residing in and around Dimapur, particularly in Medziphema, Padampukhuri, Chumoukedima, Nepali Gaon, Singrijan village, Khopanala village, Lengrijan, Kashiram village, Purana Bazar. It is worth mentioning that Singrijan village & Khopanala village (established in 1939) and Nepali Gaon (established in 1930) are exclusive Gorkha villages but are excluded from the above-mentioned Gazette Notification. We feel this is a grave injustice to our people.

However, owing to strong demand by Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs) of Nagaland for the introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Dimapur, the Government of Nagaland formed a three-member Commission under the chairmanship of former Chief Secretary Banuo Z Jamir (IAS) (Retd) and on 24th September 2019, our NGA delegation was invited by Banuo Commission at Kohima where NGA submitted a memorandum/representation requesting that the status quo of the Gazette Notification No GAB/08/2-9-1973 dated 22-10-1974 be maintained and Gorkhas settled in Nagaland prior to 1st December 1963 should also be declared as Non-Naga Gorkha Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland. The report of the Commission was tabled on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 10th August 2020 where under the heading “PERMANENT RESIDENTS INCLUDING PRE. 1940 GORKHAS,” the recommendation was that the documents furnished by them (Gorkhas) as proof of identity and proof of pre-1940/1963 residency would have to be the basis of authenticating their identity. The state Cabinet meeting held on 11th September 2024 approved key decision on ILP and RIIN and under the heading “REGISTER OF INDIGENOUS INHABITANTS OF NAGALAND” it is stated that the cabinet also approved a draft notification detailing eligibility criteria of being an Indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland and issuance of Indigenous Inhabitant certificate (IIC) and the Home department has been instructed to begin enumerating Kachari, Kuki, Garo, Mikir (Karbi) settled in the state before 1st December 1963 to determine their eligibility for IIC/PRC including Nepali/Gorkhas.

However much to our dismay another order from the Home Department Political Branch appeared on social media on 20th Sept 2024 where it states that the enumeration of Nepali/Gorkhas who are permanently settled in Nagaland prior to 31st December 1940 and their direct descendants will also be conducted simultaneously along with Kuki Kachari Garo Mikir and for them the qualifying date is 1st December 1963.

Therefore, considering the above-mentioned facts the Nagaland Gorkha Association humbly requests the State Government that the issuance of Non-Naga Gorkha Indigenous inhabitants certificate should be extended till 1st December 1963 as mentioned above there is not a single Gorkha name that has appeared in the 1974 Gazette Notification list as no enumeration was done in the above-mentioned district especially Dimapur sub-division that includes Chumuokedima and Niuland and at par with four Non-Naga Indigenous tribes Kachari, Kuki, Garo and Mikir (Karbi) as their date of issuance of Non-Naga Indigenous inhabitants certificate is also 1st December 1963.

Lastly, under your strong able, and visionary leadership, we are very hopeful that you will surely understand our difficulties and take steps for redressal of our difficulties. We would indeed be forever indebted to you.

Thank you once again for giving us time to submit our humble petition and also for giving us a patient hearing.

1. Nobin Pradhan, President, Nagaland Gorkha Association
2. Suraj Rai, Vice President, Nagaland Gorkha Association
3. Kumar Subba, President, Dimapur Gorkha Unit
4. Gopral Lama, President, Gorkha Union Chumoukedima District
5. Thul Bahadur Mizar, President, Peren District Gorkha Union
6. Suk Bahadur Sonar, President, Gorkha Union, Mon
7. Kamal Sundas, President, Gorkha Union, Niuland
8. Tilak Sapkota, President, Gorkha Union, Kiphire
9. Sunil Limbu, Vice President, All Nagaland Gorkha Students Union