Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

Major Durga Malla , the first Gorkha soldier in the Indian National Army (INA), devoted his life to India's independence. Born in July 1913 in Doiwala near Dehradun , he was the eldest son of Nb Sub Ganga Malla. At the age of 15, he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi 's Dandi March , which sparked his vocal opposition to British rule. By 18, he had joined the 2/1 Gorkha Rifles in Dharamshala , aligning himself with the INA under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by 1942. His exceptional skills and dedication earned him the rank of Major and a vital role in intelligence operations. On March 27, 1944, while gathering enemy information, Malla was captured near Kohima . Tried and sentenced to death at the Red Fort in New Delhi , he faced coercion from authorities to confess his rebellion. Even under immense pressure, including the presence of his wife Sharda, whom he had married just three days before being recalled to duty, Malla remained resolute. His final words to her emphasized his fa...

Kalimpong (BGP Media Cell) : The Bharatiya Gorkah Parisangh , Meghalaya State,  organized the Balidan Diwas (Martyr's Day) on 25th August 2009. In the morning, the president of the Meghalaya unit of BGP unfurled the flag at a Gorkha Pathsala Ground.   A blood donation camp was organized at 10am in the Thakurbari Cultural Hall in collaboration with the Regional Pasteur Institute and Meghalaya Blood Bank. Fourteen people donated their blood, including Sri CM Adhikari, a 65-year-old advocate and Vice President of BGP, Meghalaya state. The Blood Donation camp was declared open by Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary of the Church of North India (CNI), New Delhi. At the camp, Dr. Nongrum spoke about the awareness and benefits of donating blood to help the poor and the needy. He further appraised the gathering that the blood donated does not harm a person's health as it is regenerated shortly within a couple of weeks. Therefore, people should not hesitate to ...

Shared By Hira Chettri New Delhi (Media Cell, BGP): On August 25, sixty-five years ago, a young Gorkha major in the Azad Hind Fauz was hanged by the British in Delhi. Today, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit paid homage to the Gorkha martyr, Durga Malla, at the spot where he was hanged. The occasion was Balidaan Diwas, observed by the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh all over India in remembrance of all Gorkha heroes who have given their lives for the sake of their country. After paying floral tributes to Major Durga Malla, who sacrificed his life at the young age of 31, at the memorial site in the Maulana Azad Medical College premises, the Delhi Chief Minister planted a sapling to mark the occasion. At the function, Mrs Dikshit interacted with the families of Gorkha war heroes who had died in the Kargil war in 1999. Then, the chief minister led many Gorkhas from all walks of life who had gathered there in the Sankalp ceremony. They pledged to uphold the great sacrifice made...

By Hira Chhetri New Delhi (BGP Media Cell):  On August 19, a team from the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh's Central Programme Cell met Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit to inform her about the objectives and activities of the only national organization of Indian Gorkhas. Delhi CM Shiela Dikshit with BGP members (from left) Pappu Pradhan, Munish Tamang, Joel Rai, Commodore KS Rai and LB Rai at her residence on August 19. Meeting Dikshit at her residence, the BGP team, comprising L B Rai, Commodore K S Rai, Professor Munish Tamang, Joel Rai, and Pappu Pradhan, updated the Delhi Chief Minister on the Parisangh's various activities and informed her of its coming programmes. The Chief Minister was sympathetic to the cause of the Gorkhas in India. She also received a set of books and documents on the Gorkhas of India. She consented to be the chief guest at the BGP-organised Balidaan Diwas on August 25 at the spot where Azad Hind Fauz Major Durga Malla was hanged by the B...