Historic anti-panchayat movement shelter of Panchthar falls into disrepair

BY RADHA LUINTEL,Phidim, May 26: The house used as a shelter for the movement against the Panchayat regime located in Pauwa of Phalgunanda Rural Municipality-3 in Panchthar district is in dilapidated condition. 

Freedom fighters Bhu Bikram, Dilli Bikram Nembang and Bairagi Kaila's father Khadga Bikram Nembang had taken shelter in the house in one of the most significant times in history.

The house was a crucial place for strategising to intensify the movement against the then rulers when King Mahendra banned the multi-party system and seized power on December 15, 1960.

The house witnessed the formulation of strategies to give impetus to the revolution, driving the police away from the Police station at Sukepokhari in Panchthar in 1960. After that, many freedom fighters including Bhu Bikram Nembang, Dewan Dorje Thing and Dilli Bikram Nembang prepared strategies for democratic movements in Panchthar, Taplejung, Ilam and Terhathum from 1960 to 1989, informed Dhobihang Nembang, an activist of the democratic movement.

The Panchayat rulers increased surveillance upon finding that activists were using the house as a shelter, forcing the Nembang family into exile in Darjeeling, India, where they continued the movement, said Dhobihang Nembang. 

Although the Nembang family had moved to India, the Congress and its leaders BP Koirala, Ganeshman Singh and Girija Prasad Koirala visited the house during the democratic movement in Eastern Nepal.

The three-story house resembles a palace and is constructed with stones cut into brick-sized pieces and has been surrounded by stone walls for security. Dabal Subba, the constructor of the house, had brought construction materials from Darjeeling in India as the place was not connected by road networks. 

The house holds historical and archaeological significance and contains Congress's old documents, utensils and sticks. However, the structure is deteriorating daily due to a lack of preservation. 

Meanwhile, the families of freedom fighters have migrated to different places. House constructor Dabal Subbas's son Bhu Bikram, who was also the leader of the then movement, migrated to Dhulabari after 1991. He died a few years ago.

Bairagi Kaila (Til Bikram Nembang) has shown concern about preserving the house. Bhu Bikram's daughter Babita Nembang said, "Bairagi uncle, who resides in Kathmandu, repeatedly calls and messages us, urging us to preserve the house as a museum." 

The Nembang family is discussing preserving the house as a museum through retrofitting. However, various reasons have prevented the process from moving forward.