Darjeeling, Aug. 1: The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), an apolitical organisation which has been trying to unite Gorkhas residing across the country, has decided to observe August 25 as Balidan Diwas (Sacrifice Day) in Darjeeling.
The organisation was formed in 2001 by Dil Kumari Bhandari, a former MP from Sikkim.
Bhandari will pay homage to Durga Malla, a freedom fighter who was hanged by the Britishers on that day in 1944 for his role in the freedom movement, at the War Memorial in Batasia Loop.
“We will also pay homage to all the Gorkha martyrs who have laid down their lives for the nation in various part of the country,” said Jiwan Gurung, assistant secretary of the organisation in Darjeeling.
Durga Malla, who had joined the INA, was arrested by the British on March 24, 1944 while on an espionage mission. He was one of the first Gorkhas to be hanged by the British at the Central Jail in Delhi.
Krishna Bahadur Sunwar (Muhia), one of the few surviving members of the INA in Darjeeling, will also be felicitated at 9 am at the War Memorial.
Malla is fondly remembered as the Bhagat Singh of the Gorkhas, and a 12-feet statue of the freedom fighter will soon be erected on the Parliament premises.
The initiative to erect Malla’s statue in Parliament was also taken by the BGP. Senior leaders like Subash Ghisingh, Pawan Kumar Chamling and N.D. Tiwari had extended fina- ncial help for construction of the statue.
“We are already in touch with Gorkhas from Uttranchal, Chattisgarh and the rest of the country. Ours is an apolitical outfit and we want to create a larger body for the Gorkhas so that our problems can be properly voiced at the right forums,” said Gurung.
The BGP wants to work for the uplift of Gorkhas through social work and open centres across the country.
“We don’t have a strong presence expect in the hills. Gorkhas face a lot of problems when they go outside. The centres, which are in the pipeline, will help such people and create the right forum for Gorkhas to come together and share their problems.” said Gurung.
Cultural programmes will be organised later in the day to highlight various aspects of Gorkha life and culture.
