Gorkhaland row hits British-era landmark
Raj Rajeswari Hall, a British-era community hall run by the Bengali Association of Kurseong, was completely destroyed in the wee hours on Wednesday when alleged Gorkhaland supporters set it on fire.
Made of wood, stone and concrete, the single-storey building on Dow Hill Road in Kurseong town was set up in 1930.
The hall was part of local history and venue of the only Durga Puja held in the town. The puja turned 100 last year. In February, CM Mamata Banerjee had allocated funds for renovation of the heritage structure.
The arson took place on the 35th day of the bandh in the hills and hours after the 15 political parties and non-political organisations heading the agitation decided to stage rallies and seminars in Delhi to draw the Centre’s attention to their demand.
Chandan Karmakar, a member of the trustee board that looks after the building, said that all documents, furniture and the audio system were gutted. Interestingly, the property was never attacked during the earlier Gorkhaland movements in 1986-1988 and 2007-2011.
The state PWD department had recently started a renovation project at a cost of ₹38 lakh. Brijmohan Ghosh, secretary of the Bengali Association of Kurseong, said, “A part of Darjeeling’s history is lost.”
With only around 75 members left, the 100-year-old association is a proof of the ethnic tension and exodus of Bengalis from the hills since mid-1980s.
Though many government and private properties, including Darjeeling Himalayan Railway stations, have been targeted since June 8, Raj Rajeswari Hall was never attacked. It was used for community events such as marriage and social gatherings.