Major Shaheed Durga Mall is one of the many forgotten heroes of India’s freedom struggle. He worked with Netaji Subahas Chandra Bose in the formation of the Indian National Army. He not only joined the army with patriotic zeal but also inspired his fellow men to join it. Major Durga Mall was posted in the intelligence branch of the Indian National Army and had to collect vital and strategic information on enemy forces. During one such mission, he was captured by the enemy forces at Ukhrul in Manipur. He was later prosecuted by military court under section 41 of the Indian Army Law and section 121 of the Indian Penal Code and was handed a death sentence by the Imperialist Court. On the 25th of August, 1944, he was sent to the gallows and executed.

Among the many other martyrs of the freedom movement, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh has been paying tribute to this brave soul since 2004 and has been observing August 25 as Balidan Diwas or Martyr’s Day. Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh is the only All India organisation of Gorkhas whose reach extends through 22 states in the country. As a part of the observance of this martyr’s Day, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Meghalaya organised a blood donation camp in collaboration with the regional blood bank, Pasteur Institute , Shillong.