Tshering Drukpa. Picture by Biplab Basak

Jalpaiguri, Feb. 9: The civic body and post office officials have decided to pool funds to install a statue of a runner in front of the head post office.

The initiative is to pay tribute to the runners, immortalised by Bengali poet Sukanta Bhattacharya, who once formed the backbone of the postal system in the country.

The proposal of the chairman of the civic body will come as a pleasant surprise to Tshering Drukpa , the only runner of Jalpaiguri district post office. Drukpa ferries the post bags from Santalabari to Buxadooar post office and also delivers letters, packets and money orders in that area.

Ram Deo Ram, the senior superintendent of Jalpaiguri post office, said: “Runners were once an integral part of the postal system and are part of the postal heritage. The chairman of Jalpaiguri Municipality told us of his decision to install the statue and we thought it would be a touching gesture. So we are contributing from our salary.”

Though this is not an official contribution, everybody, Ram said, was coming forward to support the cause.

The senior superintendent said they had plans of unveiling the statue on Poila Baishakh (the first day of the Bengali new year). A programme has also been scheduled where retired staff of the department who had served as runners in their early years of service would be invited.

“We can share their experiences too,” Ram said.

Two artisans from Jalpaiguri and Patna are working to complete the six-foot cement statue on time.

“As the Post Office More was widened, the municipality felt it necessary to beautify the crossing. We proposed to the post office to set up the statue of a runner. It is essential for us to portray the role of runners in our society and their importance to the young generation. Along with the employees of the postal department, staff of Jalpaiguri Municipality will also contribute,” said Mohan Bose, the chairman of Jalpaiguri Municipality.