r/Nepal • u/Suspicious-Fall-1729 • 35m ago
Politics/राजनीति How do people in Nepal actually view people from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim?
Hey everyone, I wanted to ask something that's been on my mind for a while.
I'm from the Indian hills, and I've always been curious about how people in Nepal view those of us living in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim.
We share the Nepali language, culture, festivals and a lot of history, but we're Indian citizens, and many of us identify as Gorkhas or Indian Nepalis.
Whenever I come across Instagram reels about Gorkhaland, I often see arguments between people from Nepal and people from the Indian hills. Sometimes people start calling us by names like “dh*ti” and other insults, and the discussion turns into a fight instead of an actual conversation. Obviously, Instagram comments don't represent everyone, but seeing this repeatedly has made me wonder what people genuinely think about us.
I also know that the word “Gorkha” is a sensitive topic for some people, and that opinions on the Gorkhaland movement differ. I'm not expecting everyone to agree with the demand, but I'd like to understand why it creates such strong reactions.
So, to people from Nepal:
How do you actually view people from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim?
Do you see us as part of the same broader cultural community, even though we're Indian citizens?
What do you think about us identifying as Gorkhas? Why does the term bother some people?
How do you see the Gorkhaland movement? Do you understand the reasons people support it, even if you disagree with it?
And honestly, why do you think discussions about this sometimes turn so hostile online?
I'm not posting this to start a fight or claim that everyone from Nepal thinks the same way. I genuinely want to hear different perspectives because I'd rather understand what people think than keep making assumptions based on Instagram comments.
You can disagree with us. I'm just interested in having an honest conversation without insulting each other over our identities.