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Tibetan Community in India

Gorkha National Liberation Front

image by Roman Kogovsek, 9 July 2005

Gorkhas are ethnic Nepalis who invaded what is now the Darjeeling district in 1780. Until then, the area had been ruled by the kings of Sikkim. After Indian independence, the Gorkhas became the main political force in Darjeeling and friction with the West Bengal government led to calls for a separate state of Gorkhaland. One of the main problems is that West Bengalis refuse to recognize the Nepali language as one of the state's official languages. After 1986 riots, there was established a Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (it has no official symbols).

There are several Gorkhas parties and organizations fighting for secession from West Bengal. Main party is Gorkha National Liberation Front.

GORKHA NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT
This flag represents the only major Gorkha political party, but not the whole nation. It is dark green with an image of a Kurkuri knife and three four-pointed stars in yellow. Lower third is banded in four equalyellow stripes.
Roman Kogovsek, 9 July 2005

Alternative Design

image by Ivan Sache

In Flags of Aspirant Peoples, marked as Ghurkaland (Gurkhas) - Nepal: Green field with four thin yellow stripes in the upper part. At hoist, three yellow stars placed in a triangle pointing downward, at fly a yellow "dagger".
Ivan Sache, 16 Sep 1999

All India Gorkha League

image by Roman Kogovsek, 9 July 2005

This is the oldest Gorkha political organization, but is not very influential. I have seen their flag in their office in Darjeeling. It consists of two equal horizontal stripes. The upper is light green and has an image of a white lotus; the lower is red with two crossed traditional Gorkha knives, called Kurkuri.
Roman Kogovsek, 9 July 2005