Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies ISSN: 2321-8819 (Online) 2348-7186 (Print) Impact Factor: 1.498 Vol. 5, Issue 1, January 2017 Available online at www.ajms.co.in 69 The Developing Political Role of Women in the Darjeeling Sub-Division Kalyani Pakhrin Research Scholar, University of North Bengal, Siliguri-734003, Dist-Darjeeling (West Bengal) India. ABSTRACT: The study tried to examine new forms of interdisciplinary initiatives towards unraveling and unknotting the complex knot of multihued tapestry of politics, culture, identity and protests. It also focused on the identity of Gorkhas and the protest movement of recent years by ethnic minorities, women etc. The study attempts to revisit the role of women in political activities from the era of Subash Ghising to till date. It examines the transformation within the women and changes brought in by political consciousness of women and their more understanding of so called identity and development. As men and women share the nation, the pain of loss in a movement but a woman in her oppressive world remains ensconced as the freedom of the nation is more important. If then there is a scope, the nation might take notice of her cries for the freedom. However, the movement whether it is a national or regional one it involves a group of people where both men and women participate with the same ethnic feelings of loyalty. Keywords: Political Role of Women, Darjeeling Introduction A nation or a state when found to be abstract and even hostile, ethnicity is the only straw that people can hold on to with confidence. However, the case is being such that ethnicity is there wherever human beings are there. In India and elsewhere the most ethnic movement have given birth to controversies over the history of the regions where such movements have occurred and of the ethnic groups which participated in them. These groups have their own version of the history of the region and the peoples. Hence, their demands are justified on the same ground. The ethnic groups condemned the same demands of holding authority over the State or groups and having some kind of alliance with such groups. Thus, the ethnicity in India is based on the perceived need to overcome poverty rather than the prospects for advancement. Development of Ethnic Awareness in Darjeeling Hills In India the most peripheral and backward areas where there is regionally and sectorally imbalanced planning have resulted in significant redistribution of population. With the spread of education and industrialization the intra and international migrations go hand in hand. This is due to the fact that there is a limited distribution of skills in the less developed areas. This resulted in few decades an emergence of new ethnic stratification where the ‘local’ people are often found at the bottom of the occupational hierarchy. In some scarcely populated places where there is a required of more labor force than what could be availed locally the outsiders occupy the job. Thus, this threatens the demographic balance of the region in favor of these people and also impinges upon the traditional, cultural and ecological systems of a region. Evolution of Gorkha Identity In India the Gorkhas’ evolution of identity is an interesting one as few people have ever heard. The non- Gorkha family members have not heard or read in full about these Gorkha people. In India the Gorkha identity was born in the battle fields- in the military history of Gorkhas. It was the British who had the first opportunity of appreciating the martial qualities of the Gorkhas in the war that broke out in 1814 between East India Company and Nepal. The Indian attitude towards the Gorkhas had been negative which developed over a long period of time. Both ideologically, religiously and even survivalistically on the part of the Indian interest made the position of the Gorkhas more insecure. It is mentioned that the national uprising of 1857 had received a serious setback due to Gorkhas in particular. But one should note that if this uprising had been successful than the map of India would be different. In the sense it would be much smaller than what it is now. The Indian nationalist have forgotten that there were many pro-up rise Gorkhas in 1857 and many of them sacrificed their lives fighting against the British. For instance, “Azad Gorkha”was a strong section of “Azad Hind Fauz” led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The Azad Gorkha soldiers who were later rewarded with various medals, among others, were the following: 1.Satrunash Medal : Krishna Bahadur Sunuwar and Purna Bahadur Rai 2.Bir-e-Hind Medal : Capt. Surja Bahadur and Capt. Dilman Rai. 3.Sardar-e-Hind Medal : Capt. Man Bahadur, Capt. Dilman Rai,