Durga Malla

Major Dūrgā Malla (1 July 1913 – 25 August 1944) was the first Gorkha soldier among the Indian Gorkhas in Indian National Army (INA) to sacrifice his life to the cause of Indian independence. Malla belongs to Thakuri ethnic group. Thakuri community is one of the valiant community in Gorkha or Nepali.[1]

Statue of Durga Malla infront of the Darjeeling Municipality

Dūrgā Malla
Malla on a 2023 stamp of India
Born(1913-07-01)1 July 1913
Dehradun, British India
Died(1944-08-25)25 August 1944 (aged 31)
Delhi, British India
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
NationalityIndian
OccupationIndian Freedom Fighter (Army)
Known forProminent Figure of Indian independence movement activism and reorganizing and Major in the Indian National Army
TitleMajor of Azad Hind
Indian National Army
SpouseSharda Devi
Parent
  • Parwati Devi (mother)

Early life

Malla was born in July 1913 at Doiwala near Dehradun, into a Thakuri family of Indian Gorkhas. He was the eldest son of Nb Sub Ganga Ram Malla. In 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi was leading the countrymen to march for independence through Dandi March, Malla was a student in class nine. He caught attention for his public statements against the British. In 1931, at age 18 years, he moved to Dharamshala and enrolled in 2/1 Gorkha Rifles. His patriotism brought him close to the Indian National Army of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Contribution

In 1942, Malla joined INA. His skills and devotion to duty elevated him to the rank of Major and he was asked to work in INA intelligence. While he was collecting information about the enemy, he was captured at Kohima on 27 March 1944. He was sentence to death by the Court of Trial at Red Fort, New Delhi. However, before the death sentence was executed, the authorities tried to coerce him into admitting to sedition. His wife was brought to the prison cell, but Malla did not succumb to the pressure.[2]

"The sacrifice I am offering shall not go in vain. India will be free. I am confident. This is only a matter of time, Sharda! Don’t worry, crores of Hindustanis are with you," Malla told his wife. Those were his last words to his wife.

Personal life

Malla married Sharda Malla of Shyam Nagar, Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh in 1941. Three days after the ceremony, Malla was recalled to his headquarters and directed to go abroad. He next met his wife just before his execution at Delhi District Jail. In 1944, Major Durga Malla was sent to the gallows.[3]

The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the unveiling of the statue of Shaheed Durga Malla in New Delhi on 17 December 2004

To honour Malla, a statue donated by Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, a national body of Indian Gorkhas, was unveiled at the Parliament House Complex by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2004. Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and other dignitaries were present.[4] 25 August, the day of his hanging, is observed as Balidan Diwas, or Martyrs' Day, by Gorkhas across India. Statue of Malla were erected at Garidhura village in Darjeeling district and infront of Darjeeling Municipality.[5]

References
  1. "Parliament honour for Netaji warrior". The Telegraph. 22 November 2002. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  2. Desk, TheDC News (1 July 2021). "REMEMBER THE BRAVEHEART: Major Durga Malla of INA on his Birth Anniversary". The Darjeeling Chronicle. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. Chamling, Pawan (2003). Sikkim, Perspectives and Vision. Indus Publishing. p. 353. ISBN 978-81-7387-140-5. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  4. "Gorkhas Demand Separate State, Recognition in India". Christian Today. 25 December 2006. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  5. MP, Team (25 August 2023). "Balidan Diwas: Major Durga Malla's statue unveiled in Darj". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
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