The unsung hero of the Indian freedom struggle

Tulshi Upadhyay

(He can be reached at 8876635028)

TThe Gorkhas have a long and proud history of service and sacrifice for India. Their courage and commitment have been evident from the days of the freedom struggle to modern conflicts. Shaheed Durga Malla is a shining example of this legacy. A prominent figure in the Indian freedom movement, he joined the Indian National Army (INA) under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. His commitment to the cause of India's independence and his supreme sacrifice are testimony to the courage and patriotism of the Gorkha community.

Durga Malla was born on 1 July 1913 in Doiwala village in Dehradun district of Uttaranchal, the eldest of four sons of Parwati Devi and Ganga Ram Malla. Ganga Ram Malla served as a Jamadar (now Naib-Subedar) in the Gorkha Rifles while Parwati Devi managed the household. In course of time, the family was blessed with three more sons and three daughters. Since his childhood, Durga Malla was different from other children of his age. Besides a keen interest in sports, especially football, Durga Malla had a great fascination for literary and social activities. He did very well in school. However, since there were no proper educational facilities in the Doiwala area, he had to attend the Gorkha Military Middle School, now Gorkha Military Inter College, near Dehradun. As the school was quite far from Doiwala, Durga Malla moved to the house of his paternal uncle, Kedar Malla, at Nalapani. He walked to school with one or two of his friends, covering a distance of about 8 to 9 miles every day. Although he returned home from school tired in the evening, he never neglected his studies and was always the topper of his class.

Durga Malia was deeply inspired by the literary work of poet and social reformer Subedar Major Bahadur Singh Baral and musician and playwright Mitra Sen Thapa. He was also inspired by the prominent Gandhian freedom fighters from Dehradun like Thakur Chandan Singh, Veer Khadagbahadur Singh Bisht, Pandit Ishwaranand Gorkha and Amar Singh Thapa. The famous Dandi March of 1930 led by Mahatma Gandhi instilled patriotic feelings in Durga Malia and motivated him to participate in India's freedom struggle. Durga Malla was a young and bold personality in India's freedom struggle. During the Satyagraha movement, though he was only a ninth grader, he actively participated in anti-British activities in his area. He took part in processions along with other freedom fighters. His involvement in these activities led to his family being frequently interrogated by the British authorities. Durga Malla's early contributions to the freedom movement reflect his dedication and courage, even at his young age. In 1931, he joined the 2/1st Battalion of the Gorkha Rifles. Due to his educational background, he was selected for special training in signals in Pune after completing his recruit training. Over time, he excelled in various military disciplines and was recognized for his dedication and skills, leading to rapid promotions within the ranks. Eventually, he was promoted to Signal Havildar, a crucial role in military communications.

In 1941, Durga Malla married Sharda Devi, a woman from the Thakuri family of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. However, his married life was abruptly interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Japanese forces were increasing their aggression in regions such as Burma, Malaya and Singapore. The 2/1st Battalion of the Gorkha Rifles, of which Durga Malla was a member, received orders to advance to the war front. The situation escalated on 8 December 1941, when Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the Allied forces stationed in South East Asia, marking the official start of the war in that region. By 11 December 1941, the situation of the British forces had deteriorated considerably and the Japanese forces began to increase their influence in the war. The situation in Malaya in December 1941 marked a turning point for many Indian soldiers serving under British rule. The demoralisation of the troops was unprecedented. Amidst this chaos, a significant development occurred when a group of Indian soldiers lost in the jungle got cut off from the retreating British forces. One of their officers, Captain Mohan Singh, decided not to rejoin the British forces. He was convinced that Indian soldiers had no reason to fight for the British and instead fought alongside the Japanese against the British. With this mission in mind, he approached Major Fujiwara of Japan, who assured him that Japan was ready to do anything to help India attain independence. To consolidate the Indian freedom struggle with Japanese help, the Indian National Army (INA) was formed in Singapore in September 1942. Inspired by Mohan Singh, who was the commander of the Indian National Army before Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose joined the INA, Durga Malla joined the army in Singapore in 1942 to carry the fight against the British. Later, he was promoted to the rank of Major in the INA due to his exceptional performance. Durga Malla was asked to lead a special unit responsible for intelligence gathering and guerrilla warfare against the British forces. The unit was deployed in Burma, but later Durga Malla was assigned the task of collecting intelligence about the movements of the British troops in Assam. On 27 March 1944, when Durga Malla was on a mission to collect intelligence about the enemy camps, he was captured by the British Army at Ukhrul in Manipur near Kohima and was court martialed in July 1944 for waging war against the British king. He was sentenced to death by the military court and sent to the Delhi District Jail. He remained there for about two months before being executed by the British on 25 August 1944. His last words before his death to his wife were, “The sacrifice I am making shall not be in vain. India will be free… It is only a matter of time.” Thus ended the journey of another noble son of Mother India who sacrificed his precious life on the altar of freedom. Durga Malla's physical body no longer exists but he sacrificed himself after living a meaningful life for just 31 years and became immortal. In honour of his bravery and selfless spirit of sacrifice, the Government of India has installed a statue of Shaheed Durga Malla in the Parliament House. His death anniversary, August 25, is observed as Balidan Diwas by the Gorkhas across the country.

(Source: Parliament’s Digital Library)