Statue of Major Durga Malla to come up in Darjeeling Sikkim, north Bengal observe Major Durga Malla's death anniversary in solemn way

Photo Courtesy: Sculptor Amir Sundas

EOI, DARJEELING, AUGUST 25, 2022: On the 78th death anniversary of freedom fighter Major Durga Malla ,the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP),Darjeeling chapter, on Thursday announced it would install a statue of the martyr near the Darjeeling Statue of Major Durga Malla to come up in Darjeeling Sikkim, north Bengal observe Major Durga Malla's death anniversary in solemn way Municipality. 

 In the morning BGP members congregated near the Capitol Hall building and laid the foundation stone for the statue with prayers and "bhumi puja".Senior member of BGP Passang Sherpa, said the statue would be constructed by artisans of the Dooars region. 

"We will construct a17 feet statue of the freedom fighter and install it in a plot of land which belongs to the Darjeeling civic body . 

Infact the civic body has already given us the go ahead and leased us the land. We will engage artists from Dooars to construct the statue," he said. The bulk of the fund required will be raised from citizens, social organization and associations to ensure participation of the people. "We estimate funds will amount to more than six lakhs. We will organize donation campaigns," said Sherpa. 

Malla was a major in the Indian National Army(INA) which was raised by Subhash Chandra Bose. Malla was hanged on August 25, 1944 by the British and is considered to be the first Gorkha to be martyred for the freedom of the country. The BGP has also said it wake up would request its parent body to take up the issue of creation of a separate Gorkhaland state.

"In different times, different political parties of the hills started agitations for Gorkhaland but all of them have failed. Now, we feel the BGP should take forward the demand and aspiration of the hill commmunity. We will draft a proposal and submit it to our parent body after the national seminar in Kokrajhar, Assam next month," said Sherpa.

'Balidan Diwas' was observed at Bagdogra on Thursday to pay tribute to first Gorkha freedom fighter Durga Malla on his 78th death anniversary. In an event organized by Saheed Major Durga Malla Smriti Gram, Pradhan Nagar, ex-servicemen, including Veer Chakra Captain Gyanendra Rai (Retired), were present. --- PRASHANT ACHARYA 

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh observed Balidan Diwas in Kalimpong on Thrusday. under the auspices of its Kalimpong Regional Committee. A statue of Major Durga Malla was unveiled at the Triangle Park in the town. --- YOWAN MOTHAY 

The 78th Balidan Diwas of Shahid Major Durga Malla was observed in Namchi on Thursday to mark the death anniversary of Major Durga Malla, the day he was hanged by the British. President of Sikkim Vir Gorkha Ex- Servicemen Welfare Association Pavitra Dahal said the division among the Gorkha community was the main factor that had resulted in the steady weakening of the community day by day. "It is our duty to make the upcoming generations and youths aware about the contributions and sacrifices made by Gorkha community for our motherland India," he said. --- NAMO DIXIT