HT Correspondent
BISWANATH CHARIALI, Aug 25: The 25th of August marks Balidan Divas, an annual observance to remember the sacrifice of Gorkha martyr Major Durga Malla, who was executed by the British Government on August 25, 1944, at Lal Kila. Major Durga Malla, a member of the Gorkha community, was the first martyr to be hanged by the British during India’s freedom movement. To commemorate the 79th anniversary of his sacrifice, the Sootea regional committee of the All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union, in collaboration with the Biswanath district AAGSU, organised Balidan Divas at the premises of Laxminarayan Temple, featuring a day-long program.
The day’s proceedings commenced with the hoisting of the institutional flag by Dhiraj Bhandari, president of Sootea AAGSU, followed by a smriti tarpan conducted by Roshan Chetry, secretary of Sootea AAGSU. Additionally, a blood donation camp was organised and inaugurated by Dr Narayan Chandra Upadhyaya, former SDMO of Biswanath Chariali Sub-divisional Civil Hospital.
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The open session of the event was inaugurated by Dilip Gajurel, vice president of the central committee of AAGSU, and attended by Sunil Sutar, president of Biswanath AAGSU, as the chief guest. Dr Chinta Mani Sharma, principal of Biswanath College, spoke about Major Durga Malla’s contributions as a soldier of the INA and his role as a freedom fighter. Various speakers, including Madan Thapa from Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha, journalist Anjan Baskota, Moti Kumar Newar from Gorkha Development Council, and Madhab Sarma, president of Biswanath district committee of Assam Gorkha Sammelan, highlighted Major Durga Malla’s courageous history and ultimate sacrifice.
The event featured a series of cultural activities alongside the program’s proceedings. The event was attended by esteemed dignitaries, AAGSU office bearers, and other participants. The blood bank team from Biswanath Chariali Civil Hospital collected forty units of blood from AAGSU members, showcasing their commitment to community welfare.
