Connect to Conspire: Scope of Social Media in Gorkhaland Statehood Movement

The recent ‘Gorkhaland movement’ offered a story in contrast to the previous movement of the mid-eighties which had lasted for over 22 months and had resulted in the death of over 1,200 people. This time it lasted for slightly over a month and highlighted by the death of a youth who immolated himself in a busy public square. Both were fired by the imagination of a people in their ideological “search for identity.” But how were the two different? Social media played a big role and Facebook, Twitter and other blogspots became war zones where battles were fought and enemies vanquished. An interesting form of communication in which people voiced dissent by locking themselves up inside homes in the Ghaar Bhitra Junta movement was seen. Leaders made use of the social media at a time when the administration had shut down the broadcast of the local channels. It makes a good study in mob-mobilisation and cyber-psychology. Twenty-seven years ago, during the previous movement when internet was unheard of, people had resorted to ingenious means of communication. This paper will try to bring forth the contrast and the changes that new Information and Communication Technologies have brought in social movements.