Identity Politics in Sikkim: A Study on the Demand of Thamis for Scheduled Tribe Status A Dissertation Submitted To Sikkim University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Philosophy By Manisha Thami DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES February, 2018 Dedicated to my Aappa, Aama and Bhai for their unconditional love and tremendous support. CONTENTS Declaration Certificate Plagiarism Check Certificate Abstract i Acknowledgement ii List of Tables iii Abbreviations iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1-16 Introduction 1-4 Statement of the research problem 4-6 Review of literature 6-13 Scope of the Study 13 Objectives of the study 13-14 Research questions 14 Methodology 14 Methods of Data collection 14-15 Sample Selection 15 Study Area 15 Organisation of the Chapters 15-16 CHAPTER II DYNAMICS OF IDENTITY POLITICS: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 17-43 Introduction 17 Identity as a Concept 17-19 Identity Politics: Meaning and Perspectives 19-21 Approaches to Define Identity Politics 21-23 Identity Politics based on Race 23-24 Identity Politics based on Ethnicity 24-26 Identity Politics as the Base of Worldwide Conflicts 26-27 Identity Politics in India 27-31 Identity Politics in Sikkim 31-35 Identity Politics of the Thami Ethnic Group 36-39 Demand of the Thami Ethnic Group for Scheduled Tribe Status 39-43 Conclusion 43 CHAPTER III SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL STATUS OF THE THAMI ETHNIC GROUP IN SIKKIM 45-63 Introduction 44-45 Historical Background of the Thami Ethnic Group 45-46 Mythological Stories of the Thami Ethnic Group 46-48 Belief System of the Thami Ethnic Group 48-49 Clan and Sub-clans of the Thami Ethnic Group 49-50 Thangmi-Wakhekham 51-52 Murra 52 Socio-Economic Status of the Thami Ethnic Group in Sikkim 52-61 Political participation of the Thami Ethnic Group in Sikkim 61-62 Conclusion 62-63 CHAPTER IV IDENTITY POLITICS OF THE THAMI ETHNIC GROUP AND THEIR DEMAND FOR SCHEDULED TRIBE STATUS 64-80 Introduction 64 Analysis and Interpretation 65-70 Ethnicity and language of Thami Ethnic Group 71-72 Identity and identity politics of Thami Ethnic Group 72-74 Demand of the Thami Ethnic Group for Scheduled Tribe Status 74 Office Bearers of Akhil Sikkim Thami Sangh 75-76 Observations on identity politics of Thami ethnic group and their demand for Scheduled Tribe status 77-79 Conclusion 79-80 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION 81-86 Introduction 81 Summary of the Study 81-82 Major Findings 82-84 Suggestions 84-85 Conclusion 85-86 ENDNOTES 87-90 Chapter I: Introduction 87 Chapter II: Dynamics of Identity Politics: A Conceptual Framework 87 Chapter III: Socio-Economic and Political Status of the Thami Ethnic Group in Sikkim 87-90 BIBLIOGRAPHY 91-99 APPENDIX 100-104 ABSTRACT The dimension of identity and identity politics is vast, which engages ambiguity and complexity. The contents of this dissertation are framed specifically to represent, the simple meaning and explanation of the term identity and identity politics. It has been explained in the light of various theories and approaches advocated by Parker (2005), Taylor (1994), Brubaker and Cooper (2000), Jenkins (2008) andBernstein (2005). Furthermore, with the support of the conceptual framework of identity and identity politics, ethnic identity politics in Sikkim has been discussed. The present study essentially focuses on the Thami ethnic group, who are demanding Scheduled Tribe status since thelate 1990s.It discusses how the Thami ethnic group, have been facing identity crisis due to misrecognition and absence of recognition. The absence of historical and scholarly discourses on their origin, as well as disorientation of the term Thami was found to be the main reason for the identity crisis. Moreover, the oratory history is not strong enough to locate their origin and on this basis, many scholars have expressed that Thami ethnic group has an obscure history of origin. The existence of their language and ethnicity was also frequentlyquestioned. Consequently, it further distorted their original identity. The study was based on both qualitative and quantitative methodology. The ethnographic field survey was conducted in the East Sikkim, to collect data from the primary sources. From the survey, It was found that the Thami ethnic group in Sikkim are very much aware of their ethnic identity, who wants to be recognized as Scheduled Tribes. It was also found, that the process of acculturation has infiltrated the Thami ethnic group in such a way, that they have adopted two popular religions viz, Buddhism and Hinduism of their locality. They are demanding Scheduled Tribe status precisely with the perception of the socio-economic and political development and also for the preservation of their ethnic identity. Hence, the present study provides an insight into the identity politics in Sikkim and the demand of Thami ethnic group for Scheduled Tribe status. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This dissertation would have remained as a dream, if it would not have received the genuine encouragement and guidance from my Supervisor. So, with great pleasure, I express my humble gratitude, to Dr. Durga Prasad Chhetri, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Sikkim University for his insightful guidance. I am grateful to work under his supervision, which provided the space for me to grow in the research work. I am also thankful to the faculty of the Department of Political Science, Sikkim University for their knowledgeable suggestions. For this dissertation, some of the members of Akhil Sikkim Thami Sangh have provided encouraging perennial help. So, I am extremely indebted to Mrs. Shila Thami Dahal, the general secretary and Mr. Purna Thami, the advisor of Akhil Sikkim Thami Sangh. It was with the help of them, I was able to collect the secondary data on the Thami ethnic group in Sikkim. Without their support and help, it would have been very difficult for me to complete ethnographic fieldwork. I am also thankful towards my respondents, for their love and warmth, which allowed me to conduct participatory observations. I also have a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Sova Thami, the former Vice President of Darjeeling Thami Welfare Association, for providing me insights on Thami ethnicity and language. I also record my sincere heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Teesta Indus Central Library, Sikkim University; District Library, Gangtok; District Library, Darjeeling; DESMI, Gangtok, State’s Election Commission Office, Gangtok etc. They have played a crucial role in this dissertation, by helping me to collect secondary data. But without the support and blessings of my family members, I would have not been able to carry out my research work. Therefore, I express my profound sense of gratitude to my father Mr. Buddha Thami, my mother Mrs. Sabitri Thami and my brother Kunal Thami, for their prayers and healing words during the times of hurdles and difficulties. Lastly, I also want to thank all my friends for their moral support and encouraging words. 29thJanuary 2018 Manisha Thami ii LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Classification of 59 Janjatis Listed in the NFDIN Act Based on Socio- Economic Status Table 3.1 The Clan name of Seven Daughters and Seven Sons Table 3.2 Distribution of Thami Population, Household Size and Sex Ratio Table 3.3 Population Distribution of Thami in the Four Districts of Sikkim Table 3.4 Community wise Distribution of Population by Identification Status Table 3.5 Community wise Literacy rate Table3.6 Percentage Distribution of Thami in Sikkim by Nature of Activity-State Table3.7 Percentage distributions of HHs by Monthly Income and Monthly Percentage Consumer Expenditure of Thami Ethnic Group Table 3.8 Community Wise Distribution of APL and BPL Households Table 4.1 Total household and Sex of Thami Respondents in East Sikkim Table 4.2 Variation of Age among the Respondents Table 4.3 Level of Education of the Respondents Table 4.4 Occupation of the Respondents Table 4.5 Annual Income of the Respondents Table 4.6 Religion of the Respondents Table 4.7 Marital Status of the Respondents Table 4.8 Thami Sub-Clans found during the Survey iii ABBREVIATIONS 1. APL Above Poverty Line 2. BPL Below Poverty Line 3. BTWA Bharatiya Thami Welfare Association 4. EIECOS Eleven Ethnic Indigenous Community of Sikkim 5. MBC Most Backward Class 6. MNO Mongol National Organisation 7. MPI Multidimensional Poverty Index 8. MR Muster Roller 9. NEFIN Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities 10. NFDIN National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities 11. NSM New Social Movement 12. NSSO National Sample Survey Organisation 13. NTS Nepal Thami Samaj 14. OBC Other Backward Class 15. PSU Public Sector Undertaking 16. SES Socio-Economic Status 17. SC Scheduled Caste 18. ST Scheduled Tribe iv Identity Politics in Sikkim: A Study on the Demand of Thamis for Scheduled Tribe Status Chapter I INTRODUCTION Introduction The concept of identity and identity politics has been defined and discussed by many scholars. But it still continued to remain ambiguous and complex. It is ambiguous because sometimes it becomes easy to identify who we are? But most often, it becomes difficult to identify who we really are? Therefore, identity is termed as one of the complex, ambiguous and multifaceted (Verkuyten, 2014). Identity is also multifaceted term, because it is dynamic in nature and it changes according to the various circumstances. For instance, a person is usually born with one identity, i.e. a person is a homo sapiens. But with the due course of time a person is identified with the various factors, such as sex, caste, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, citizenship, various professions and so on. Sen (2006) in his book ‘Identity and Violence’ addresses the concept of multiple identities. He said he is, “an Asian, an Indian Citizen, a Bengali with Bangladeshi ancestry, an American or British resident, an economist, a dabbler in philosophy, an author, a strong believer in secularism and democracy, a feminist, a heterosexual and a believer in the rights of gay and lesbian”.