Anit Thapa proposes Subash Ghisingh’s statue and memorial park in Mirik

EOI | DARJEELING, DEC 11, 2022 : The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha led Gorkhaland Territorial Administration has decided to install a statue and memorial of Subash Ghisingh, the founder of the Gorkha National Liberation Front and the spearhead of the statehood movement. GTA chief executive officer Anit Thapa who is also the president of the BGPM has sought permission of Mann Ghisingh, son of the former GNLF leader and the current GNLF president, to install the statue and a memorial. In his letter to the GNLF president, 

Thapa has said: "Subash Ghisingh is a legend and an asset of the Gorkha community. 

He has done a lot for the cause of our community. We should not confine him to the pages of history books. To honor him we must build his memorials in public places to remind people about his importance". 

The senior Ghisingh founded the GNLF in the 1980s and plunged in to the statehood movement in 1986. 

However, the movement was brought to an end in 1988 with the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council following a tripartite agreement signed by the West Bengal Government, the Centre and the GNLF. Ghisingh's statue and memorial are expected to be installed at Manju tea garden in Mirik. 

"We have sought permission from his son and the response is awaited. The statue and the memorial will be installed at Manju which is Ghisingh's birth place," said Thapa. 

The Rohini Road located in the foothills in Kurseong sub-division has been named after Ghisingh. Darjeeling MLA and GNLF secretary general Neeraj Zimba has expressed gratitude to the BGPM president for the initiative. 

"Our former party president was the first to spearhead the homeland movement for the political justice and rights of the Gorkha community of the country. We appreciate the kind and noble gesture extended by the GTA and in particular Anit Thapa," he has said. 

Zimba has placed the proposal of the GTA to his party president and would respond very soon. 

Political observers in the hills say it is a welcome development under the present scenario where here is cut-throat competition and mudslinging by political parties at one another. 

"To build a memorial and statue of rival political party leaders is commendable. We read about how political parties spare no opportunity and use every means to degrade rivals. This is something new and unheard in the hills and it is a welcome change," says an observer.