ABSTRACT

This chapter begins with the backwardness of the region on the basis of official and academic studies with certain indicators in mind. It looks at backwardness in the North Bengal region of the state and how forces that are opposed to the Communist Party of India and the Left Front articulate this backwardness politically. In comparison to the industrialisation of the state the level of industrialisation of the North Bengal region is very low. In the absence of inadequate industrialisation and the inadequate growth of the service sector, agriculture remains the chief activity of the people in the region. The pull factors that attracted the Nepalis from Nepal to Darjeeling were: the growth of the tea plantations and the construction of a communication network in the hills and the recruitment of Gorkhas in the British Indian army.