Builders of Darjeeling: Late Rai Sahib Kharga Bahadur Chettri

By N. K. Kharga

One afternoon, about a century ago, a bulky strong man with heavy moustache and keen eyes, riding a well bred horse trotted along Ladenla Road to inspect the construction of important buildings that were then rising up in the heart of town, giving a unique physical appearance of Darjeeling. Among them were the famous Clock Tower (The Capitol), Darjeeling Municipality Office and State Bank of India lying adjacent to one another. The Clock Tower or the Capitol was destined to be a part of Darjeeling, associated with its name. If Kanchenjunga is tantamount to Darjeeling, so is the Clock Tower – like one does not forget what Eiffel Tower is to Paris or Statue of Liberty is to New York.

The stickling old rider gave a smile showing sparkling teeth and nodded approvingly at the work and marched on to see other buildings on nearby sites. An anterior fear had gripped the labourers and particularly the Baidar (work supervisor), since the old man was known to smell a default and point them out promptly, if not satisfied, he would personally kick the cement work, particularly masonry and see if it holds firmly.

Late Kharga Bahadur Chettri was such a person who was conferred the title of “RAI SAHIB” by the then Viceroy and Governor General of India on 1st June 1925, in recognition of his selfless services in connection with the development of Darjeeling and as one of the philanthropists amongst the local communities residing in Darjeeling.

Late Kharga Bahadur Chettri, a Kharga amongst the Chettri clan was born in village Gumu in the district of Kolokha, No. 2, East of Nepal in 3rd. May 1859. Resolving to do something worthwhile, the iron willed person left his home penniless at the tender age of sixteen and migrated to reside in the district of Darjeeling and settled permanently at Ghoom Bhanjang, Darjeeling.

He was, so to say, a social minded person. He has constructed many Hitis (water reservoir), Bridges and Roads at his own cost for the general benefit of the public. Some of such constructions are still in existence, lacking proper maintenance and most of such constructions were either misused by the public or gone with the time.

Besides, being a social minded and philanthropist, he was also a religious minded person. He had utmost faith in Brahmins and poor peasants, he would not eat or rather touch a morsel of food unless half a dozen Brahmins and poor peasants were fed in a day. He used to give money freely for the purpose of charity. He had a striking personality and used to ride horse only. He took much care of animals, specially cows. In case of finding milking cows being dragged by the butchers for the purpose of slaughter, he would immediately purchase the animals and hand them over to Brahmins or other poor persons to look after the cows.

He was a first class contractor of Darjeeling Municipality, Public Works Department of Government of Bengal and the Military Engineering Service. He was one of the trusted employees and a close friend of the Maharaja of Dighapati. Among many of the construction work he undertook, a few of the important ones are as follows:-

Building of Darjeeling Municipality Office, the Clock Tower commonly know as the Capitol, State Bank of India, Dighapati Palace at Jalapahar, Darbhanga House, Alexendria (now B. T. College Hostel), Municipal Boy’s High School, Sidrapong Power House (Asia’s oldest power house), Senchal Lake, The Bridge connecting Raj Bari and Rock Wood locally know as Chyang Chyange Pul and many Military Barracks and establishments both at Jalapahar, Lebong and Takdah connecting roads.  All of them are the places of tourist interest now.

Kharga Bahadur Chettri did not only busy himself beautifying Darjeeling with time tested buildings, he was a member of eight peoples’ delegation from the district of Darjeeling drawn from local communities to see the then Government of India on behalf of the people of Darjeeling in connection with the separation of the district of Darjeeling with portion of Jalpaiguri district from Bengal and formation of a district local government. A memorandum (perhaps the first from Darjeeling) dated 8th December 1917 to Mr. Mongegue, Secretary of State and Lord Chemsford, Viceroy and Governor General of India in Calcutta was forwarded. Among S B Ladenla, T S Palzar and five other gentlemen of the district, Late Rai Sahib Kharga Bahadur Chettri was one of the delegates and signatories of the said memorandum. Although much was not achieved then, the old personalities laid a foundation on which future politicians, philanthropists rose step by step. A down of political realization was established followed by political complexities, of which, stacks of documents are available for research.

Rai Sahib Kharga Bahadur Chettri, one of the unsung heroes, personalities and builders of Darjeeling died on 7th December 1930 at his residence at Ghoom Bhanjang. After his death, Darjeeling Municipality has christened the name of the road from the end of Ghoom Pahar Bazaar to the end of Bhanjang after his name as Kharga Bahadur Road. This road covering more than a mile was constructed by him which now serves thousands of people as an alternative short route to Ghoom from various tea gardens, busties starting from Old Gorkha Station.