Major Durga Malla was the first Gorkha soldier of the Indian National Army (INA) to sacrifice his life for the cause of the nation.
In the years between 1927 and 1937 a wave of nationalism was sweeping across the country .In the late 1920s a young Gorkha boy in Dehradun was highly influenced by the national movement. He was only fourteen but he regularly attended public meeting and dreamed for a free India. In 1930s when the civil Disobedience Movement started, the boy took active part in it. The British in retaliation to the civil Disobedience made all attempts to divide the people. Muslim fears of Hindu domination were encouraged .The legitimate and natural resentment of the ‘untouchables’ which were finding expression through Ambedkar’s movement were played off against the nationalist demand for independence . The British also sought to keep the Gorkhas out of the national movement by propagating the idea that they (the Gorkhas) were the loyal servants of the British Empire.
This young boy who was so inspired by the national awakening was Major Durga Malla. Concerned at his active participation in the national movement his parents persuaded him to join the army in 1931. He was also on the run from the police for having participated in a demonstration. He allowed himself to be persuaged and joined the 2/1 Bn. of Gorkha Rifles.
This young boy who was so inspired by the national awakening was Major Durga Malla. Concerned at his active participation in the national movement his parents persuaded him to join the army in 1931. He was also on the run from the police for having participated in a demonstration. He allowed himself to be persuaged and joined the 2/1 Bn. of Gorkha Rifles.
Soon he was promoted to Signal Havildar .He was sent to the battle field in 1941. By September 1941 his battalion was in Malaya. In December, a group of Indian soldiers lost themselves in the jungle of Malaya . Two of them were Capt. Mohan Singh and Havildar Durga Malla. The Indian Independence League at its tokya conference had taken the decision to form the Indian National Army. Capt. Mohan Singh took over the command. He was arrested by the Japanese in December, 1942.
In the INA , Major Durga Malla was given the rank of Major and was entrusted with the task of intelligence . He was posted in the Burma border. He had to send information regarding strategic importance to the INA Headquarters in Rangoon .While collecting information of the enemy camp at Ukhrul in Manipur he was captured by the British army and deported to Delhi .
After the surrender of the Azad Hind Fauz the British government tried Shah Nawaz Khan , Guru Bux Singh Dhillon and Seghal on the charge of treason. This public trial was a mistake because the whole of India joined in denouncing the trial. In the end the British government had to change the judgement and release them. All this is written in the history books. But what the history books do not mention is that with these to officers were two Gorkha officers also incarcerated in the jail. They were Capt, Dalbahadur Thapa and Major Durga Malla was executed on 25th August 1944 and Captain Dalbahadur Thapa was executed on 3rd May 1945 in the Delhi Central jail .
Today the Indian Government has honoured the services of Gorkha Soldiers in the fight for the freedom of our country and have put up a statue of Major Durga Malla outside the Parliament house.