SILIGURI: Statues of social pioneers Baghbeer Gurung and Punyaprasad Pradhan were unveiled on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at Veer Jawan Chowk in Gurung Busty, Siliguri, in a ceremony organised by the Bhanu Bhakta Samiti to honour their roles in establishing and developing Gurung Busty and Pradhan Nagar.
The unveiling had been scheduled to be performed by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), but he was unable to attend owing to prior official engagements. The programme proceeded with several prominent guests representing political and community leadership.
Those present included Jacob Khaling, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sikkim; West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh; Cabinet Minister Bishal Lama; MLA Sonam Lama; Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief Bimal Gurung; Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front chief Ajoy Edwards; and Birendra Tamling, Press Adviser to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, among other dignitaries.
A commemorative souvenir titled Chinhari-2026 was also released at the event. Organisers said the ceremony aimed to recognise the two leaders as visionary community figures who significantly shaped their localities and worked for the social welfare of Siliguri’s Nepali-speaking population.
Krishna Lama (Pemba), General Secretary of Bhanu Bhakta Samiti, described the occasion as a collective tribute to the enduring legacy of Gurung and Pradhan. He said the statue unveilings and the release of Chinhari-2026 reflect the community’s determination to preserve its social, cultural and literary heritage for future generations.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/statues-of-two-social-pioneers-unveiled-in-siliguri
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date:
