Call to honor Dayaram Khadka as national hero

KATHMANDU: Lawmakers and historians have called for Subedar Dayaram Khadka, a key figure in the historic Nalapani War, to be honored as a national hero.

At a meeting of the Public Policy and Legislative Committee under the National Assembly today, historian Prof. Shree Ram Prasad Upadhyaya emphasized the need to commemorate Khadka, who attained martyrdom while fighting the British.

“Even after being hit by bullets in the chest during the battle against the British, Dayaram Khadka continued to fight until his last breath,” Upadhyaya said. “He should be declared a national icon.”

Upadhyaya proposed the construction of statues in Ramdikot and Nalapani to honor Khadka and the development of these sites as public parks.

He also suggested establishing a foundation in his memory, securing financial support from both government and non-political sectors, and providing scholarships and government positions to Khadka’s descendants.

Representatives from the Subedar Dayaram Khadka Foundation further recommended naming infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, schools, and cable cars after the national hero. They proposed building a cable car in Ramdikot to boost tourism, naming the area “Dayaram Ramkot.”

The foundation also urged the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation to establish awards in Khadka’s name and include lessons on national icons in school and college curricula.

Committee Chair Maya Prasad Sharma said the matter would undergo further study, consultation with experts, and be presented to the government for consideration.

The discussion was attended by National Assembly Vice-Chair Bimala Ghimire and Legislative Management Committee Chair Tulsakumari Dahal, among others.