On Tagore’s birth anniversary, GTA chief pledges to work with Bengal government

EOI, DARJEELING, 9 MAY 2023 :  Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha president and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chairman Anit Thapa said it was important to work together with the West Bengal government to usher in development in the hills.

On Tuesday, speaking at Mungpoo, on the occasion of the163rd birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Thapa said the Bard of Bengal had brought the Gorkha and Bengali community of the region together in harmony. 

“He (Tagore) was a bridge between the two communities. He created a harmonic atmosphere. I want to carry this tradition forward and work with the State Government for the welfare of the hill people,” said the BGPM president. Since the 2017 statehood agitation, relations between the West Bengal Government, especially Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the many of the hill leaders had soured. However, Thapa, along with Binoy Tamang, had rebelled against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung and stuck up an alliance with Mamata Banerjee and the State Government. GJM was then the ruling dispensation in the hills.

Most political parties of the hills have also been against the Trinamool Congress led West Bengal Government and have either sided with the BJP or have decided to go alone. The GTA Chairman, though, has voiced his intention of doing practical politics, without attaching sentiments and has pledged to cooperate with West Bengal. 

“There are lots of things todo in the hills. We have to set up proper infrastructures, build roads and upgrade the water system. We are presently working to bring change in the administrative system of the GTA which is in a shamble. For this we have to work together with the State Government,” said Thapa.

Thapa said Tagore had inspired a generation of writers and poets in the hills and gave the Nobel laureate credit for converting Mungpoo into a popular tourist destination.

“Mungpoo has turned into a popular tourist hub. The museum, Rabindra Bhawan, a new auditorium and the landscape have enticed travellers to this otherwise nondescript hamlet. Tagore is an asset of the people of Mungpoo,” he said.

Tagore visited Mungpoo four times between 1938 and 1940 and penned some of his important and loved poems. The museum is one of the first places in the country to be established as an homage to the Bard. The bungalow where Tagore had stayed during his visits presently houses his belongings like bed and furniture, artifacts and few original writings.

District Magistrate of Darjeeling S Ponnambalam said Tagore’s birth anniversary programme was organized jointly by the State Government and the GTA. 

“Every year, we organize a cultural programme at Mungpoo to preserve Tagore’s memory. Mungpoo was his favourite place to visit in the hills. The State Government has taken steps to renovate the bunglow where Tagore stayed and preserved his belongings and work. 

In fact in February, the Chief Minister inaugurated the renovated bungalow, an auditorium and new landscape, built at a cost of Rs 3 crore. Mungpoo now has converted in to popular tourist destination, ”he said. 

Artists of the information and cultural department and from Santiniketan, Siliguri and Darjeeling performed cultural dances and sang Rabindra Sangeet to remember the poet.