Gorubathan Plans to Erect Statue of Judhabir (Yuddhabir) Gurung

Judhabir (Yuddhabir) Gurung

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 3 July 2024 : To commemorate Judhabir (Yuddhabir) Gurung, in whose memory the first two educational institutions of Gorubathan were established, a statue is being erected at Mal Busty in Gorubathan. The first school established was Judhabir Memorial School, which later became Judhabir Primary School and was subsequently upgraded to Judhabir Junior Basic School. 

Similarly, it progressed to Judhabir Senior Basic School, then to a high school, and finally to Judhabir Higher Secondary School. This school also serves as the foundation of present-day Gorubathan Government College. Not only that, but Gurung's relatives also donated their land to the school, which was later relocated from Dharamshala where both the original primary and secondary schools were started, to its current location in Mal Busty, 

In this connection a public meeting is scheduled at Judhabir Higher Secondary School in Gorubathan at 2 PM on Monday, July 8, organized by the Judhabir Gurung Statue Construction Committee to discuss the preparation of memorials related to Judhabir Gurung, the renaming of the road from Dharamshala to Sericulture, and the documentation of the original name of Judhabir Gurung. The organizers earnestly request everyone's presence at this important meeting," appealed Chairman Puran Rai on behalf of the organizing committee.

"When the official documents of Gorubathan's educational history were unveiled, Judhabir Gurung's name was prominently featured. During the era of the British East India Company, educational opportunities were limited to the descendants of their employees. Recognizing this, the idea of establishing a school in Gorubathan was conceived on the advice of local scholars. The late Dambarsingh Gurung took forward this initiative, resulting in the establishment of Judhabir Memorial School near Dharamshala in honor of his father. This marked the first official effort to spread education in Gorubathan. This marked the first official effort to spread education in Gorubathan and still provides educational facilities to the people of Duars, encompassing more than 10 to 15 Tea Gardens and 20 to 30 villages in and around Gorubathan. 

"Founded in 1938, Judhabir Junior Basic School received government recognition in 1958, with Krishna Bahadur Gurung, a descendant of Judhabir Gurung, serving as school inspector at that time. Building upon the foundation of Judhabir's primary school, Judhabir Higher Secondary School was established in 1948, coinciding with the founding of Darjeeling Government College in the same year