students gjm1907: The demand for a separate administrative unit in Darjeeling is raised for the first time. The Hillmen’s Association of Darjeeling submit a memorandum to Minto-Morley Reforms demanding a separate administrative setup. 1917: The Hillmen’s Association submit a memorandum to the Bengal government and the Viceroy for the creation of a separate administrative unit comprising Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts. 1929: Hillmen’s Association again raise the demand before Simon Commission. 1930: Joint petition submitted by Hillmen’s Association, Gorkha Officers Association and the Kurseong Gorkha Library to Government of India demanding separation from the province of Bengal. 1941: The Hillmen’s Association under the presidency of Rup Narayan Sinha urge Government of India to exclude Darjeeling from Bengal and make it a Chief Commissioner’s province. 1947: The undivided Communist Party of India submit memorandum to the Constituent Assembly demanding the formation of Gorkhasthan comprising Darjeeling district and Sikkim. 1952: Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL) president N B Gurung meets Prime Minister Nehru and demandas separation from Bengal. 1980: Pranta Parishad of Darjeeling president Indra Bahadur Rai writes to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi demanding formation of a new state in Darjeeling. The same year, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) is floated by Subash Ghisingh. 1986: GNLF launches violent agitation for Gorkhaland. The violence claims 1,200 lives. 1988: Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council accord is signed between GNLF, the Left Front government headed by Jyoti Basu and the Centre. 1992: Nepali language included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. 2005: MoU signed by the Centre, Left Front government and Ghisingh for special status to the Hills under 6th Schedule status to the Constitution. 2007: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha floated by Bimal Gurung. 2008: Subash Ghisingh ousted from the Hills. Starts living in Jalpaiguri town. 2010: All India Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang murdered in Darjeeling. He supported creation of Gorkhaland but was opposed to Bimal Gurung. 2011: Three GJM supporters die in police firing at Sipchu (Dooars). Violent agitation starts. The Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) is formed in the same year. 2012: The first GTA elections take place and GJM sweeps. 2015: Bimal Gurung, chief executive of GTA, charged with murder, conspiracy to murder and rioting with deadly weapons in the Madan Tamang murder case. 2017: Fresh agitation starts in the Hills during Mamata Banerjee’s visit. This time the GJM says making Bengali mandatory in schools is unacceptable.

(Compilation: Tanmay Chatterjee)