Major Durga Malla, 1st Gorkha soldier to sacrifice life for Independence remembered on 78th Martyrdom day

NEW DELHI: Gorkha community across the country on Wednesday commemorated the 78^th Martyrdom Day of Major Durga Malla of Indian National Army.

Raju Bista, BJP MP from Darjeeling and National Spokesperson, along with Ajay Bhat, Rajya Sabha MP, Anil Baluni, Chief Spokesperson of BJP and representatives of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh led by National President Munish Tamang and other Gorkhas from Delhi-NCR region commemorated the 78th Martyrdom Day of Major Durga Malla of the Indian National Army (INA).

“India is one of the oldest countries with continuous civilization. Despite numerous enemies, our nation and civilization has continued to thrive, because of brave sons like Sahid Major Durga Malla ji,” said Raju Bista in a statement.

The formation of the Indian National Army represented a milestone in the history of India’s freedom struggle. Durga Malla was one of those who played an important role in the formation of the Indian National Army. In 1942, he not only joined this Army with a patriotic zeal but also inspired his fellow men to join it.

Born on 1st July 1913 at Doiwala village in Dehradun district of Uttaranchal, Malla inspired many to join the INA. He was responsible for all Intelligence gathering for the Azad Hind Fauz. He was promoted to the rank of Major by Netaji himself.

During one of his spying missions on enemy camps, he was captured on the 27th of March 1944, by the British soldiers at Ukhrul in Manipur.

After his arrest, Major Malla was kept in the prison at Red Fort, New Delhi as a prisoner of war. The British tried to get him to speak against the Freedom Movement, they even offered to rescind his death sentence if he did so. But he declined. Instead he is recorded to have told his wife, "Sharda, I am sacrificing my life for the freedom of my motherland. You need not be worried and distressed. Crores of Hindustanis will be with you after my death. The sacrifice I am offering, shall not go in vain. India shall be free. I am confident; this is only a matter of time.”

“On the 25th August 1944, he was hanged to death, where today sits the Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi.  He was only 31 years old, and yet he became immortal. Today, the Gorkhas across India stand together as a proud community and commemorate this day as ‘Balidan Diwas’ to remember this great Freedom Fighter”, said Bista in the statement.

He also said that generations of Gorkha warriors have sacrificed their lives for protecting the motherland.

“There has not been a single year since Independence, when a Gorkha soldier was not awarded with a bravery award for protecting our motherland. They all walk in the footsteps of this great patriot.” Bista said.

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