110.34.27.228 at 03:01, 25 December 2022

2022-12-25T03:01:25Z

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{{short description|Indian freedom fighter}}
[[File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the unveiling of the statue of Shaheed Durga Malla in New Delhi on December 17, 2004.jpg|thumb|The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the unveiling of the statue of Shaheed Durga Malla in New Delhi on December 17, 2004]]
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Dūrgā Malla
|mother = Parwati Devi
|image =
|caption =
|birth_name =
|birth_date ={{birth date|df=yes|1913|07|01}}
|birth_place = [[Dehradun]], India
|death_date = {{death date|df=yes|1944|08|25}}
|death_place = [[Delhi]], India
|resting_place =
|resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]] {{IND}}
|known_for = Prominent Figure of [[Indian independence movement]] activism and reorganizing and Major in the [[Indian National Army]]
|education =
|occupation = Indian Freedom Fighter (Army)
|title = Major of [[Azad Hind]]<br> [[Indian National Army]]
|spouse = Sharda Devi Chhetri
}}

Major '''Dūrgā Malla''' (1 july 1913 - 25 August 1944) was the first [[Gorkha regiments (India)|Gorkha]] soldier from the [[Indian Gorkha]]s, [[Khas]] ethnic group in [[Indian National Army]] (INA) to sacrifice his life for the cause of [[Indian independence movement]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Parliament honour for Netaji warrior |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1021122/asp/siliguri/story_1404192.asp |work=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |date=22 November 2002 |access-date=2008-10-14 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Malla was born in July 1913 at [[Doiwala]] near [[Dehradun]], into a [[Khas]] [[Thakuri]]/[[Chhetri]] family of [[Indian Gorkha]]s. He was the eldest son of Nb Sub Ganga Malla. In 1930, when [[Mahatma Gandhi]] was leading the countrymen for independence through Dandi March, Malla was a student in class nine. Though he was young, he caught everybody's attention by his outbursts in public against the British. In 1931, when he was 18 years old, he moved to [[Dharamshala]] and got 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 devotion to duty coupled with other skills elevated him to the rank of a Major in INA and he was asked to work in the intelligence wing of the INA. When he was collecting information about the enemy camps, he was caught in action at [[Kohima]] on 27 March 1944. He was given death sentence by the Court of Trial at Red Fort, [[New Delhi]]. However, before the death sentence was finally executed, the authorities tried to coerce Major Durga Malla into admitting to sedition. His wife was brought to the prison cell but Malla did not succumb to the pressure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=TheDC News |date=2021-07-01 |title=REMEMBER THE BRAVEHEART: Major Durga Malla of INA on his Birth Anniversary |url=https://thedarjeelingchronicle.com/remember-the-braveheart-major-durga-malla-of-ina-on-his-birth-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=The Darjeeling Chronicle |language=en-GB}}</ref>
{{blockquote|"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 [[Hindi|Hindustanis]] are with you," Malla told his wife. Those were his last words to his wife.}}

Malla was married to Sharda Malla of Shyam Nagar, [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamshala]] in [[Himachal Pradesh]] in 1941. Just three days after marriage, Malla was recalled to his headquarters and directed to go abroad. He next met his wife only before his hanging at Delhi District Jail. In 1944, Major Durga Malla was sent to the [[gallows]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Sikkim, Perspectives and Vision |last=Chamling |first=Pawan |year=2003 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-140-5 |pages=353 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D15liv9RDloC&q=%22Durga+Malla%22&pg=PA353 |access-date=2008-10-14}}</ref>

==Memory==
[[File:Statue of Durga Malla at Garidhura 03.jpg|thumb|The statue of Durga Malla at Garidhura in Darjeeling district]]
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 on the occasion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gorkhas Demand Separate State, Recognition in India |url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gorkhas.demand.separate.state.recognition.in.india/8847-2.htm |work=[[Christian Today]] |date=25 December 2006 |access-date=2008-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526111630/http://www.christiantoday.com/article/gorkhas.demand.separate.state.recognition.in.india/8847-2.htm |archive-date=26 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 25 August, the day of his hanging is observed as Balidan Diwas, or Martyrs' Day, by Gorkhas across India. Another statue of Malla was founded at Garidhura village in [[Darjeeling district]].

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline|Category:Durga Malla}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malla, Durga}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Dehradun district]]
[[Category:Indian National Army personnel]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Indian Gorkhas]]
[[Category:People executed by British India by hanging]]
[[Category:Executed Indian people]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Gurkhas]]
[[Category:Executed spies]]
[[Category:Military personnel killed in World War II]]

Durga Malla - Revision history

110.34.27.228 at 03:01, 25 December 2022