The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) will build a memorial for West Bengal’s first governor, Padmaja Naidu, at Tonglu in the Singalila Range, around 39 km from here, where people believe that her ashes have been kept.
Chairman of the GTA Board of Administrators, Binoy Tamang, who visited the area yesterday, said he would send a team of experts to Sandakhpu to see what else can be done to improve the infrastructure for tourists there.
“On the way to Sandakhpu, there is already a memorial for the first governor of West Bengal, Padmaja Naidu, where her ashes have also been kept. The local people did not know about this fact, while I was also surprised to find this out. The condition of the memorial is, however, not good. The GTA will be turning the same into a historical site. We will file a proposal in about 15 days’ time so that a good memorial is built here,” Mr Tamang said.
Naidu, the daughter of freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu, was born on 1 November 1900, and she died on 2 May 1975 in Darjeeling, while her ashes is said to be kept in the small memorial in Tonglu, which stands at a height of about 3070 metres.
A freedom fighter herself, Naidu became the governor of West Bengal in 1956, and she remained so until 1967. Former Prime minister Indira Gandhi had dedicated the zoo in Darjeeling in her name (Padamja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park) in the year 1975.
Who placed the ashes in Tonglu after Naidu’s death is, however, not clear. “We do not know anything about the memorial except that her ash was kept there more than 40 years ago, which my grandfather told me. My grandfather was also a caretaker of the guest house here,” the caretaker of the Tonglu guest house, Raju Thapa, said.
On his visit to Sandakhpu, Mr Tamang said, “This is my first visit here, but officials of the GTA have visited this area earlier. This is a very popular tourist destination with much more potential. Many projects can be take up here, like solar electricity and electricity generated through windmills.”
“Experts will visit here soon and make recommendations to the GTA, which will undertake projects here. We will approach the state government for funds required for the same,” he added.
Mr Tamang also said that there were other areas like the Tribeni where the ashes of popular singer Bhupen Hazarika were scattered. “We would dedicate that site in his name,” Mr Tamang said.