Draft:Ari Bahadur Gurung

Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung the lone Gorkha signatory of the Indian Constitution was the first barrister (Bar-at-Law) in the Darjeeling hills. He became a ‘replacement member’ of the Constituent Assembly of India when Damber Singh Gurung, the original Gorkha representative and a lawyer and social worker, died in 1948. Following this unfortunate event, Ari Bahadur took his place when the Assembly adopted it on November 26, 1949.

Early childhood and education
Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung son of Late Shri Satal Singh Gurung and Shrimati Madhulata Gurung was born on Dec. 8, 1912 in Kalimpong (West Bengal). He was educated at Scottish Universities Mission Institution, Kalimpong, and Scottish Church College, Calcutta University (1935).

He obtained the highly regarded Bar at Law degree in 1941 from the Inns of Court, Middle Temple, London.

Social
He was also a member of District Board, Darjeeling and Chairman of Central Co-operative Bank. He also practised law at Calcutta High Court.

In 1950, Ari Bahadur Gurung also was the founding president of the All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association. Additionally, in the same year, he was appointed as a member of the West Bengal Constituency Delimitation Advisory Committee.

In 1937 Gurung donated 50 decimal of land in Mahakaldara, Bara Bhalukhop, Kalimpong to a primary school in memory of his dear mother Basanta Maya Gurung and was named Basant Maya Junior Basic School.

He loved playing Tennis and Music. His hobbies were Orange gardening.

Politics
He also holds the distinction of being the inaugural Member of Parliament for the Darjeeling constituency in the Lok Sabha, following India's attainment of independence and appointed in 1948.

Damber Singh Gurung (Bengal: General) and after his death Ari Bahadur Gurung (West Bengal: General) were the two members of Gorkha community to represent in the Constituent Assembly who participated in the debates of the Constituent Assembly of India.

He along with Damber Singh Gurung revived AIGL on 15th May 1943.

He was elected president of the All India Gorkha League (1948).

On November 23, 1949 when the Constituent Assembly of India met in the Constitution Hall, New Delhi at Ten of the Clock with Mr. President (The Honourable Dr. Rajendra Prasad) in the chair, Ari Bahadur Gurung in his debate said.

"With regard to article 3 and 4 read with article 391 of this Constitution, I have some observations to make on West Bengal. As you know, Sir, after the Radcliffe Award the two Districts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri have been entirely cut off from West Bengal. In view of the defence of the northern frontier of India, this is a matter that calls for immediate attention of the Government of India. With the imminent fall of the Kuomintang Government in China, Tibet, the next-door neighbour of India, is according to reports, becoming the scene of Communist intrigues. The State of Sikhism and the District of Darjeeling connect Tibet with the Indian Union, and Assam, the eastern-most frontier of the Indian Union, is linked with the rest of India by a narrow strip of land consisting of portions of Darjeeling district and Jalpaiguri. These areas as also the State of Cooch Bihar, in view of their strategic importance need to be strengthened and consolidated.

''The Districts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri which are the northern-most districts of West Bengal have no contiguity with the rest of West Bengal, East Pakistan having come in between. This circumstances gives rise to many administrative inconveniences in ordinary times and more so during a period of emergency. Being a Frontier region such inconveniences if allowed to continue longer are fraught with grave dangers. My object in making this observation with regard to these two districts of West Bengal is this that if we look at the map of India, we find that there is only a narrow strip of land, connecting Bihar with Assam, that is the districts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. Pakistan points like a sword towards the heart of India. If there is to be any trouble, unfortunately, God forbid, especially between Pakistan and India, Assam can be isolated within a very short period, the northern parts of Himalayas being inaccessible; and these are the territories that need the immediate attention of the Government.''"

Death
Ari Bahadur died on July 4, 1980 at the age of 67 years.

Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung the lone Gurkha signatory of the Constitution of India was a barrister (Bar-at-Law) in Darjeeling.

Early life and education
Shri Ari Bahadur Gurung son of Late Shri Satal Singh Gurung and Shrimati Madhulata Gurung was born on Dec. 8, 1912 in Kalimpong (West Bengal). He was educated at Scottish Universities Mission Institution, Kalimpong, and Scottish Church College, Calcutta University (1935).

He obtained the highly regarded Bar at Law degree in 1941 from the Inns of Court, Middle Temple, London.

Hobby
He loved playing Tennis and Music. His hobbies were Orange gardening.

Political career
He also holds the distinction of being the inaugural Member of Parliament for the Darjeeling constituency in the Lok Sabha, following India's attainment of independence and appointed in 1948.

He along with Damber Singh Gurung revived All India Gorkha League on 15th May 1943. He was elected president of the All India Gorkha League (1948).

Social activities
In 1950, Ari Bahadur Gurung also was the founding president of the All India Gorkha Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association. Additionally, in the same year, he was appointed as a member of the West Bengal Constituency Delimitation Advisory Committee.

On November 23, 1949, Ari Bahadur Gurung in his debate said: "With regard to article 3 and 4 read with article 391 of this Constitution, I have some observations to make on West Bengal. As you know, Sir, after the Radcliffe Award the two Districts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri have been entirely cut off from West Bengal. In view of the defence of the northern frontier of India, this is a matter that calls for immediate attention of the Government of India. With the imminent fall of the Kuomintang Government in China, Tibet, the next-door neighbour of India, is according to reports, becoming the scene of Communist intrigues. The State of Sikhism and the District of Darjeeling connect Tibet with the Indian Union, and Assam, the eastern-most frontier of the Indian Union, is linked with the rest of India by a narrow strip of land consisting of portions of Darjeeling district and Jalpaiguri. These areas as also the State of Cooch Bihar, in view of their strategic importance need to be strengthened and consolidated.The Districts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri which are the northern-most districts of West Bengal have no contiguity with the rest of West Bengal, East Pakistan having come in between. This circumstances gives rise to many administrative inconveniences in ordinary times and more so during a period of emergency. Being a Frontier region such inconveniences if allowed to continue longer are fraught with grave dangers. My object in making this observation with regard to these two districts of West Bengal is this that if we look at the map of India, we find that there is only a narrow strip of land, connecting Bihar with Assam, that is the districts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. Pakistan points like a sword towards the heart of India. If there is to be any trouble, unfortunately, God forbid, especially between Pakistan and India, Assam can be isolated within a very short period, the northern parts of Himalayas being inaccessible; and these are the territories that need the immediate attention of the Government." In 1937 Gurung donated 50 decimal of land in Mahakaldara, Bara Bhalukhop, Kalimpong to a primary school in memory of his dear mother Basanta Maya Gurung and was named Basant Maya Junior Basic School.

death
Ari Bahadur died on July 4, 1980 at the age of 67 years.