KalimNews, Kalimpong, June 18, 2025: Desh Bhakt, the son of former Kalimpong MLA Renuleena Subba, has raised serious concerns over his mother’s decision to accept the first-ever Subash Ghisingh Memorial Civilian Award. The award, instituted by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), is named after Subash Ghisingh, the founder of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). Desh Bhakt’s objection stems from the painful memories of the atrocities his family endured at the hands of GNLF cadres during the 1986 Gorkhaland agitation.
Desh Bhakt, in a candid statement to the press, recalled the harassment and social ostracism his family suffered during that turbulent period. His mother, Renuleena Subba, who was the Kalimpong MLA at the time, was a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (ABGL), which opposed the GNLF’s call for secession. The GNLF had pressured Gorkha leaders to resign from government positions, and although ABGL leaders initially decided to step down, Renuleena was initially set to resign two days later. However, when the sabhadhipati of the Darjeeling Zilla Parishad resigned immediately, it led to the perception that Renuleena was defying the GNLF directive.
This perceived defiance, according to Desh Bhakt, triggered a six-month-long social boycott of his family. Villagers were prevented from offering help with their farmland, and local traders were coerced into withholding essential supplies, including groceries and petrol. Desh Bhakt, who ran a milk business, said that his customers were threatened, and even the family’s jeep could not be refueled in Kalimpong.
He also recounted the near-death experience when GNLF supporters allegedly attempted to harm him, and how his parents feared for his life. “My parents thought I would never return home,” Desh Bhakt shared.
Reflecting on the suffering his family endured during those years, Desh Bhakt questioned the appropriateness of accepting an award named after Subash Ghisingh, under whose leadership his family had faced severe hardships. “Given what we went through, is it right to accept this award?” he asked.
Desh Bhakt also mentioned that his mother, now nearly 90 years old, had made the decision to accept the award without consulting any family members. “She sometimes forgets things, and she made this decision on her own. But I made it clear to her that I would publicly share the struggles we faced during those years,” he said.
While Desh Bhakt acknowledged that it was his mother’s personal decision to accept the award, he said he felt compelled to speak out about the pain his family endured under GNLF’s actions. “It is her decision, but I had to make public the truth of what we went through,” he added.
The controversy surrounding the award highlights the deep divisions and unresolved issues stemming from the 1986 Gorkhaland agitation, as well as the complex legacy of the GNLF and its leader, Subash Ghisingh. Desh Bhakt’s remarks are sure to stir further debates on the role of the GNLF in the Gorkhaland movement and its lasting impact on the Gorkha community.
