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VOL. 12, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Migration, population and literacy growth in Darjeeling town in the colonial period: A historical study
Authors
Dipesh Roy
Abstract
This study examines migration, population
growth, and literacy development in Darjeeling town during the colonial period.
It argues that migration was the primary factor behind the demographic
expansion of Darjeeling from the mid-nineteenth century to 1947. The
establishment of tea plantations, administrative institutions, and military
recruitment centers attracted large numbers of migrants, particularly from
Nepal, along with smaller groups of Bengalis, Marwaris, Biharis, and Europeans.
These movements transformed Darjeeling from a small hill settlement into a
service-oriented colonial urban center. The study highlights the role of push
and pull factors, including socio-economic hardship in Nepal and employment
opportunities in plantations, administration, and trade. It also demonstrates
how migration reshaped the occupational structure, residential patterns, and
spatial organization of the town. Educational institutions established by
missionaries and the colonial state promoted literacy growth and enabled
selective upward mobility, particularly among clerical and middle-class
communities. However, plantation laborers and marginalized groups remained
largely excluded from these benefits. Overall, migration not only increased
population but also restructured social classes, urban space, and cultural
identity in colonial Darjeeling.
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Pages:273-280
How to cite this article:
Dipesh Roy "Migration, population and literacy growth in Darjeeling town in the colonial period: A historical study". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 12, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 273-280
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