The Inheritance of Loss

In town Gyan witnesses protesters on the street and spots four of his friends shouting for the cause of the Gorkha Liberation Army. Gyan is swept along in the crowd through town, and he finds himself shouting along with the men. At first he doubts the protesters’ authenticity. Gyan wrestles with his thoughts, wondering if their zeal does come from true injustice. The crowd stops in front of the police station, where the officers have shut themselves inside.

A protester stands up and speaks about the neglect shown to Indian Nepalis. They have remained low-class workers and soldiers for too long, and their service in a series of wars around the world has gone unrewarded. Gyan recalls a job interview he traveled many hours for that proved unsuccessful. The speaker points to the lack of Nepali-owned tea plantations and limited job opportunities. He calls the Nepalis slaves and urges them to build businesses and communities for the betterment of their people. He finishes with a final “Jai Gorkha” (176), and the rest of the crowd repeats the phrase. Many prick their thumbs and write their demand for statehood on a poster in blood.

Gyan, his old friends, and many other members of the Gorkha Liberation Army gather at a canteen in town.