The bust of Mukunda Das, a freedom fighter and "charan kabi” or minstrel, was on Wednesday unveiled at Anandamayee Kalibari, a Kali temple here which Das had established around a century ago.

In 1925, Das, who reached Siliguri then, brought a Kali idol made of black stone from Varanasi. Till date, it is worshipped by thousands throughout the year.

On Wednesday, members of the Anandamayee Kalibari Samiti unveiled Das's bust at the temple. Mayor Gautam Deb and Siliguri-based freedom fighter Tikendrajit Mukherjee graced the event.

“We have put up his bust on the temple premises. This is our homage to him as he established the temple here,” said Bhaskar Biswas, general secretary of the samiti.

Sources said that over 100 years ago, the temple was made of bamboo with a tin roof. When Das reached the temple, he used to perform kirtan or devotional songs, deliver motivational speeches and practise lathi khela or the skill of using sticks for self-defence.

“Mukunda Das organized a kirtan and managed to collect ₹500 from the event, a huge sum then. He donated half to the managing committee to revamp the temple. He then went to Kashi (Varanasi) and returned with the new blackstone idol of Kali. The idol was installed in 1926 and since then, it has been worshipped here,” Biswas added.

Born as Yajneshwar De in Bangladesh in 1878, Das left school and joined a kirtan group in 1897. Three years later, he formed his group and in due course, he was named Mukunda Das by Rasananda Thakur, whom he idolised as his mentor. He died in 1934.

“The birth anniversary of Mukunda Das falls on February 22. Every year, we observe it with a blood donation camp,” said a member of the samiti.

The samiti, he said, regularly conducts devotional activities, along with philanthropic events which include free coaching for students, health check-up camps, and yoga camps for women.

“The bust will encourage people to visit the site and learn more about Mukunda Das, his life and work, and his connection with Siliguri,” said Deb.