Published Paper Details:

Darjeeling, the northernmost district of the state West Bengal, India is believed to be a colonial product. No wonder, Lt. General Goerge Alymer Lloyd, the British officer is considered as the discoverer of Darjeeling. The pre-colonial history of Darjeeling is shredded in referential notes as a contested land. It was only after the formation of nation states that the borders were aptly considered. Before that the feudal monarchy was least bothered with frontiers rather subject and revenues were the only concern. Therefore, right from the conquest, formation and to the early developments, Darjeeling owes a major chunk of tribute to British regime, irrespective of colonial objectives. Likewise, colonial designs would not have turned into reality without adequate human hands, which were those of migrants. The study aims to understand the pattern of migration in Darjeeling hills over a period of almost two centuries, early nineteenth to early twenty first century. The very fact that Darjeeling was not just a colonial product but also a sum total of those laborious hands who worked for their masters, remains main consent of the study. Studies say economic factor remains the major force for driving migrants (Ullah, 2022). Seemingly, Darjeeling attracted thousands with a promise of better tomorrow. While few returned to their land of origin majority stayed back to give a drastic boon to the demography. In their language Darjeeling was referred to as 'Mughlan' a place where money sprouted out of tea leaves. Today, almost after 200 years of discovery, 2 million inhabitants of Darjeeling are in search of a new 'Mughlan'. 'Two leaves and a bud' no longer sprout cash rather has become an undeniable agency of exploitation. Tea 'coolies' are crying every day for their rightful demands. Two hundred years back, the hill had dreams to offer but unfortunately today people chase their dreams in distant land. Hence, the study ahead aims to dwell into the story of this transition.