N Bengal university’s tribute to ‘Hill Gandhi’

The History department of the North Bengal University would give recognition to the contribution of the Darjeeling Hills-based freedom fighter, Dal Bahadur Giri, better known as “Hill Gandhi”. “We seek support from the state government and the North Bengal University in this respect,” said one of the NBU History professors.

According to an eminent historian, Prof Ananda Gopal Ghosh, the contribution of Giri, the first freedom fighter from the hills as per the historical records, remains unrecognised in the state even as the 125th anniversary of the legend is round the corner.

“A few people in the state know that DB Giri founded an unit of the Indian National Congress in the Hills a decade before the first unit of the Grand Old Party came into being in Siliguri in 1931. Besides, the first political hartal was observed in the Hills when Giri was arrested by the British government in May 1921 for his role in arousing the hill populace against the alien thralldom in course of the non-cooperation movement. When he fell ill owing to inhumane torture in gaol Subhash Chandra Bose issued an appeal to the countrymen to donate to the medical fund raised at his initiative meet the expenses for the freedom fighter's treatment,” he said.
Speaking on the matter, the head of the NBU History department, Dr Bijay Sarkar said that when Giri had died an untimely death at the age of 36 Mahatma Gandhi had taken initiatives to rehabilitate his family at the Sabarmati Ashram. “It is the bounded duty of the state government and the North Bengal University to recognise the contribution of the great freedom fighter who had played a crucial role in integrating the Nepali-speaking Indians into the national mainstream. We would organise seminars and workshops to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary that is drawing near.” Dr Sarkar said.