A dynamic young Gorkha entrepreneur, Deoraj Gurung, passed away due to COVID-19 at Delhi’s Holy Angel Hospital on Saturday. He was the owner of Kalimpong Express Restaurant in Safdarjung, New Delhi.
In a public message, IGP Robin Hibu of Delhi Police, who is also the patron of people from the Northeast in Delhi and mentor of NGO Helping Hand, announced a scholarship and gold medal in his name.
He said, “To me, he was a pious soul, who wanted to make this world a better place to live… I will never forget his selfless contributions during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. He was the in-charge of Helping Hands Ration Control Room 24/7, which was responsible for the collation of all ration seekers from northeast states, including Gorkhas stranded in Delhi and other cities of India through our robust daily rations distribution in Delhi-NCR and arranging rations for stranded NE folks through our ‘Connecting the dots’ scheme all over India. We could provide rations including pads for more than 1 lakhs needy NE people all over India.”
Deoraj has highly contributed towards the greater North East society. He hosted the first pioneering meeting for setting up North East Chamber of Commerce for the empowerment of NE entrepreneurs in cities at his Safdarjung hotel, his soft-spoken caring hospitality was superb, he even contributed his hard-earned money for rations for stranded NE people during the lockdown.
“To keep his memory alive forever, Helping Hands will institute UPSC SCHOLARSHIP every year and will name it as Deoraj Gurung UPSC Scholarship for Gorkhas from Darjeeling. Will also institute Award in his name – Deoraj Gurung Samaritan Gold Medal for social workers every year for indelible social works for North East people, including Gorkhas,” Hibu said.
Sharing his personal grief, IGP Hibu said, “Deoraj Gurung was exceptional Gorkha, who left an indelible mark by touching others heart through his social works. To others, he may be just another Gorkha youth, but to me, Deoraj was an epitome of true a Gorkha man – pious, helpful, hardworking and above all loyal till death.”
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