Taken from an article in www.nepalnews.com

Gurkha Soldiers: The other side of the story

It is quite natural to show concern when any fellow citizen is killed, specially if he or she is killed in a war. When such a tragedy happens in a battle taking place far away in another country, the controversy intensifies even more.

Perhaps it sounds strange when one says a citizen of one country has been killed in the war of another country. However, Nepal has a chance of this happening more than perhaps any other nation in the world, because thousands of its young men are recruited by the armies of Great Britain and India. This has been possible through a tripartite agreement signed between the three countries.

But even before India was given independence by Great Britain, the British Army had started recruiting the hardy and tough Nepalese, specially from the hilly areas. And these people had proved their worth in the First and Second World Wars and at other battles too.

Now, some politicians and intellectuals in Kathmandu are questioning the very logic or morality in sending our young men to work in foreign armies. Some political parties had made it a point to raise this issue once in a while in the past too.

Surprisingly, joining these ranks of politicians, have been some retired personnel of the British Army itself. An Association has been formed and through that organisation a lot of pressure has been put on the British Government to treat the Gurkha soldiers in its army on par with the native soldiers.

Both the theories sound very logical and any sensible person can see the point that is being made. For example, why should Nepalese be recruited in foreign armies and then be sent to do the fighting for them? Also, after they have been recruited, why should the Gurkhas, who are well known for their bravery, be treated less equal than the British?

However, one has to answer more questions than these to understand this matter well enough.

First of all why have these young Nepalese chosen to go and work for another country? Is it for fun or adventure? Is it because they are traitors? Is it because they don’t care about their country? No. It is because of the abject poverty they see in their villages and the opportunity they don’t see in their own country. Joining these armies is the only way out to make something of their lives and provide a good life for their families.

One another aspect is, who are these young people? They are the youths of the various ethnic communities living in the hilly areas of Western and Eastern Nepal. The Gurungs and Magars are mostly from West Nepal and the Rais and Limbus are from Eastern Nepal.

One interesting point that could be raised here is, what percentage of the population do these ethnic communities make up? If added, just these four ethnic sides could make up about 30 per cent of the Nepalese population. But how many of the people belonging to these tribes are doing well in the country? Probably a negligible number, compared to the Brahmans and Newars, who add up to make less than half the population of these ethnic people.

In terms of employment opportunities in such places like the government bureaucracy, political parties, University, government corporations and even private sector, a handful of people may be there.

No in depth research has to be made to find any statistics regarding these numbers. How many Magars, Gurungs, Rais and Limbus are there as party leaders? How many of them are ministers? How many are secretaries or top ranking bureaucrats? How many head govt corporations? How many are ambassadors, vice chancellors, generals in the army, top ranking officials in the police or even doctors and engineers?

All such things point out that these people have not received the opportunity to go into any sector, except eke out a bare living in the hardy hills of their villages.

Some may find it too harsh when this is said, but it is a fact that there is some sort of a discrimination against these ethnic people. Yes, the Gurungs and Magars and Rais and Limbus are a straight forward lot. Specially so the Magars, but this does not mean they are slow in learning or in gaining knowledge. When given the opportunity, the members of these tribes have proved that they can compete with the best. But when no chance is given, how can they do anything?

It has been reported that even in such an extreme case like the Maoist insurgency, almost 50 per cent of the people killed by the police are Magars. And ironically, almost 50 per cent of those killed by the Maoists also happen to be Magars. How could this have happened, it does not happen even in Kosovo. It is either the Serbs killing the Albanaians or the Albanian extremeists killing the Serbs.

More interestingly, who is the leader of the Maoists? The two top leaders are Brahmans.

Now the point is, when all doors have been closed, if a young and determined boy gets the opportunity to go and find a good job from which he can make money which he could never dream of if he stayed back home, then who wouldn’t take up such an opportunity?

There are hundreds of thousands of young people from these communities now, who are what they are, an educated lot and professionals, just because their fathers and other family members received the opportunity to find work either in the British or Indian armies. Had they been given the same opportunity here, it is sure they would never have left their motherland.

So ideologically, it is definitely wrong to go and work abroad, including in places like Japan, Australia and the Middle East, forget the British or Indian armies. But what can the poor people do when they have no option back home?

Therefore, if the political parties and other so called intellectuals who write from their comfortable rooms here in Kathmandu don’t want to see Nepalese working in foreign armies, then they must first provide equal opportunities to these people here in their own country. Otherwise it will be sheer hypocrisy in shedding crocodile tears for them.

Now to come to the protesting former army personnel, one simple question is, did the British government drag them to go to join its army? It is common knowledge that youngsters in the hills of Western and Eastern Nepal, consider it their fortune to find a job in the British army. Their second choice is the Indian army. They prepare night and day to join these armies. There is fierce competition and only a lucky few are recruited. Furthermore, they know fully well the terms and conditions when they join the army.

Had it not been for their army job, they may have been poor porters or ordinary labourers barely making out an existence and ignorant of all their rights. Then why the protest now?

Yes, seeking to increase pay and perks through quiet dialogue is one thing, but jeopardising the future of other young Nepalese like them, who could have made a better life, is sheer selfishness. What if the British government says enough is enough and not recruit any Gurkha boy? Who will lose more?

As for sending the army men to fight in places wherever their employer finds it necessary, is it logical to ask any question regarding this? What have these tough and brave people who have proved themselves in innumerable wars been recruited for? To change guards at the Buckingham Palace or to make a march past at India’s Republic Day parade? It would be an insult to the bravery of these people to even think like that.

So before making any judgements and comments in newspapers, it would be worthwhile to contemplate on all these issues on why a young boy has made the tough decisions of leaving his near and dear ones and going abroad to find work. At least those people who are secure about their existence and living in the comforts of Kathmandu are not qualified to make honest comments about this.

Very intesting article. My take on the whole issue, in a nutshell, is it's ultimately about demand and supply. Economics trumps morality in this case.

If our government is smart, they should not only continue to allow the Nepali people to join the British or Indian armies but also any other armies of the world for that matter. However, the Nepali government should negotiate with these countries that the Nepalis - if recruited - be paid "on par" with the native soldiers of these countries for the same level of work/rank from day 1 till they part the earth.

Gurkha soldiers nothin but a foriegn employement. I encourage foriegn employement.

Good posting....

well said. cover almost everything. Although many Gurkhas son joined British and Indian army and some in Singapore Police, handful of others are pursuing higher education in USA, UK, Autralia and Canada Universities and Colleges. It's a matter of time before they would make a name for themeselves and start contributing to Nepal.

well, some good points are made!

Very weak argument.

The choice of whether to join a foreign army or not is in the hands of the people. The fact that these soldiers don't hesitate to die for the foreign land for some dollars should reflect on their morality. Nepal by no means can match their salaries, pound per pound. Its their choice as to whether they want to struggle in Nepal or abroad. If they choose abroad, the rewards are higher and so the "perpetrators" should take the responsibility for it as well. Stop shifting the blame. You chose an easier means to provide for your family. If you want to be a hero in the eyes of your children wear that badge of a traitor on your chest as well.

Another thing that I really disagree with is that government should provide everyone with opportunities to excel. Government can't do that. I don't hear of these british or indian army job seekers coming back to do anything good for the community. I dont hear of them taking some risk for the people back home. I dont see them investing on their countrymen. Seems like what they do is out of personal greed and greed should not be rewarded or celebrated.
Like I said before, if you want to celebrate your bravery with your kids, be ready to shoulder the burden of selling out.

What if Nepal happens to fight a war with India, how would these "gentlemen" feel to find themselves at the other side of the border?

Hey VincentBodega,

If you got so much morality then why don’t you create an abundance jobs, an equal playing filed and no discrimination so that the “gentlemen” or others in Nepal need not seek employment as soldiers??? If you had done all you could to help all these soldiers for a decent living in Nepal that can provide them to put food on the table, send their children to schools, medical, respect, to see most importantly for any parents a brighter future for their children and working their work (soldiers in this case) with dignity but if these soldiers still don't hesitate to die for the foreign land for some dollars then you have something to say…. until then SHUT THE FCK UP, you ARSE!!!!

Read the article properly it is addressing discrimination and lack of work etc… these are the things that need to change in Nepal so that we will have lesser people going overseas not only soldiers but others fields also is what the article is saying!!! 100000 non-soldiers workers in Malaysia, so you have heard good things done by them when they are back at Nepal!!?? How can you when they receive wages lower or minimum when they are at foreign places both for soldiers and non-soldiers??!! Pokhara, is a good examples how ex-soldiers have opened up hotels and doing so created some jobs for the people of Nepal. Just don’t see what you want to see or come with an agenda of your own!!!!!!!

You seem to be anger that you did not did not get to take your “cut” or you want to be spoon-feed or waiting for handouts from others hard earned money and shouting foul if you don’t get it!!! How why don’t you were a badge of a traitor on your chest, as it is worst then if India and Nepal went to war and brothers of Nepal had to fight each other. Why because you don’t love, trust or care for your fellow countrymen. If you are not a citizen then stick your head out of your arse and take a look at the soldiers at the UN, which countries are they coming from!!

So preach your freaking morality there also and celebrate your bravery to your kids!!!!

The contribution of gurkhas so far cant be ignored especially in an economy like Nepal where the main source of income is ' Remittance'.The remittance affects not only the revenue of the country but also indirectly the salaries of Govt. Personnels... infact also affect salaries of Nepal Army itself whose salary is peanuts compared to the former.
No wonder nepal army has been the least choicet for any soldier who wish to pursue his career as an army personnel.Only the filtered 300 gets recruited in British Army every year.
It has become a brand of bravery over the time so much that even at present time the ex -colonial british empire still chooses to recruit gurkha despite the fact that the british
army in it's colonial era recruited armies from almost all of it's colonized countries.

Truth is bitter :Many gurkhas got offended in england when the data revealed that even the nepal's prime minister's salary was far less than what an ex gurkha captain was getting as his pension.This was a defense the british govt had to support for the lower pension for ex gurkhas who was living in nepal .(lower pension for ex gurkhas in nepal -as the living costfor the retired gurkhas living in nepal would be much lower than was needed to retired britsh soldiers who lived in england with much higher living cost)

But now tha all the ex gurkhas have got the options to stay in UK and get the equivalent pensions-would it be financially viable for nepal's economy?
will the flow of remittance get reversed to UK's economy instead?

Gesar,

I am not going to help or provide for people who don't hesitate to go fight for other countries for so called "better living standards." I have no respect for them, and theres a huge difference in washing dishes in foreign land and picking up guns for the foreign land.

So what do these cowards want? A world thats created around them? Tell these traitors to for once learn to struggle in Nepal instead of some foreign land. I am sure they do struggle in foreign land as well. Its it funny that they would rather be insulted over and over again in the foreign land and are happy to live a life of a second class citizen. They should be used to living such lives, why do they complain about it so much when according to them have to do the same in their own country. To answer your question about distrimination, noone is going to create a special playing field for them. No one is going to fight for them so that they have so called "equal oppotunities." They are too busy going abroad, then who will fight their war in Nepal? They are man enough to struggle and strive on their own. If they fail to do that in their own country and decide that they would rather be of use to the foreign land, then they are traitors in my book.

You talk about my failure in getting a cut. Well heres the story, the cut I have is enough to make your female family members my mistresses. Hope you got the message. If these jokers are really creating jobs in Pokhara, why are there more people going abroad to be in the army. UN is a different scenario, they never fight a war to take over any nation, unless the need is created by prior take over. Their work is to be involved in peace keeping and diffusing the hostile situation.

May be you need to get your head out of where you have kept it, and read the article. This time read between the lines. Theres a book called "Wag the Dog." You might want to do yourself a favor by learning something from that book.

British and Indian army people (I dont called these losers gorkhas as they don't deserve it) read my lips. T-R-A-I-T-O-R-S.

VincentBodega wrote,

"You talk about my failure in getting a cut. Well heres the story, the cut I have is enough to make your female family members my mistresses."

saying that with such anger, really must have hit were it hurts.... Ha ha ha ha... you really are a LOOSEER!!!!! everyone knows dude, those who has a tooth pick of a manhood usally boast of a lager then it acually is... ha ha ha ha!!!!!!

read what you are saying man, you have only supported my points...... LOOSEEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learn to spell Loser correctly before you accuse someone of being one, and this reverse psychology is not going to work for me. Lets stick with the topic at hand. When time comes we can both take a stab at who can make whom his/her bit(h.

ha ha ha... VincentBodega my friend, that why asked you read the article carefully. the question the writer is how can we stop all this or minimize it so that our brothers from nepal does not have to work in any another army even those who are ex-soldiers are for this. when we have problems pointing fingers won't help but to address it objectively, don't you think?

ps: my spelling is weak but am not shy about, given time will improve.

I did read the article, and I believe I read it with equal comprehension as you. I just don't buy the rationale of these "soldiers" going abroad just to get their lively hoods met. There's more and thats greed. I dont blame them for the paths they are taking, but to come back and say "oh this is because I HAD to do so," is not acceptable to me. They chose a path, now be responsible for it.

I have a question for you. If someone who sells his/her daughter/sister for prostitution (to make their ends meet) makes the same claim, would you still say lets think about it. What he/she did is understandable?

Plain truth:

Royal nepalese army proudly served and protected the monarch and even the rana regimes.Sometimes they got to wage war against their own country fellowmen to protect the monarch.They had not much choice.Army was one of the few employment opportunities in nepal they got.
But unless the economy and hence the living std of nepal itself doesnt get better, the Nepal govt can do little to improve their lives

Those lucky enough to be selected in the toughest competition got hired by the british not under british regiments but under the name of 'Gurkha' regiments -even in the foreignlands where otherwise Nepal is so unherd of.
They got the chance to flourish the legends of nepal's bravery throughout the world.Bravery is always associated with the Gurkha regiments and the Gurkhas with Nepal.

Increase in the Price of commodities like land in many parts of Nepal( including ktm) -which directly affected the living std of the locals -can be also be credited to them.Infact to anyone who has been contributing to the country through remittances -in stabalizing the economy of nepal - which was just so close to doom.

Well Mr. vincent seems like your not from gurkha army families. If you are, you probably wouldn't be making that kind of claims. So that was my guess. You first join army to make a living and people who die for doing his duties and you are calling them people with no morals. C'mon give a break!!. I bet you would do the same if you were a hundred yrs. back and you were in same situation like those early gurkha armies. So just stop preaching about traiters, morals, and so on. I know that and I don't have to read that whatever book you're talking about to know human being need and plight.

I wonder if the Nepalese who have migrated to other countries like USA, Australia, Canada and many more can be labelled as traitor, greedy and opportist ?

nimjung ...quite an article there :oD

anyways thats that..i just came to blabber a bit with vincent ;o)

yooohooo vincent ;o)..VincentBogeda ;o)..(is Bogeda a nepali thingy?dun mind me..not really knowledgable about nepal stuffs..and cant really be arsed to get 'knowledgable' surnames etc ;o) hehe)

i will really try to be short here(so yeah pray for me?hehe..i dun pray :oS..u pray?if u do..and yet u dun wanna pray for me?its ok..thats understandable?..one shud do their own prayin?even if they say they dun pray?if they dun..dun expect another to pray for him/her?)

and i do believe u comprehended the article..def more than me :oD...

and there are too many things i realy wanna say..but yeah..try to keep it short(cos someone is prayn for me to keep it short?lets make someone prayer come true?;oP hehe)

anyways...

" I am not going to help or provide for people who don't hesitate to go fight for other countries for so called "better living standards." I have no respect for them, and theres a huge difference in washing dishes in foreign land and picking up guns for the foreign land. "

Now if one goes for a better living standards..arent them makin a right choice for themselves and their family?..If u can help..why not help someone who has such sense to try help himself and his family?Cos in the end if u could help and did try to help..ur help would make a diff..esp when the person has sense and maximes ur help?makes sense?hehe..so Why disrespect a person who seems to have SENSE?..doesnt make sense does it?;oP hehe..

and huge diff in washin dishes in foreign land and pickn up guns in a foreign land?i dunno wat diff u see..other than the type of job..cos both are jobs?agreed?and its def pays more!than compared to doin it in our own poverty striken country?no?

" So what do these cowards want? A world thats created around them? Tell these traitors to for once learn to struggle in Nepal instead of some foreign land. I am sure they do struggle in foreign land as well. Its it funny that they would rather be insulted over and over again in the foreign land and are happy to live a life of a second class citizen. "


cowards eh?hehe..would u prefer to live a life of a 2nd class citizen in a foreign country..or a 2nd class citizen in ur own country?!

"They should be used to living such lives, why do they complain about it so much when according to them have to do the same in their own country. To answer your question about distrimination, noone is going to create a special playing field for them. No one is going to fight for them so that they have so called "equal oppotunities.""

used to?are humans ever gonna be used to anything?hehe..and plus are we freakn ever gonna stop complainin ever in our life?wahahahaa..btw do give me hope by telln me u nevr complained about anything!esp smthin so miniscule wahahaha ;oP

and oh ..they are fightin for themselvs for their so called 'equal opportunities'..or hirin ppl to fight for them?;oP hehe..well look at the case of them gettn to reside in UK as PR after some yrs of service?..doesnt that decision by the UK goverment reek of 'equal opportunities'?hehe..

"They are too busy going abroad, then who will fight their war in Nepal? They are man enough to struggle and strive on their own. If they fail to do that in their own country and decide that they would rather be of use to the foreign land, then they are traitors in my book. "

fight their war?u mean to fight for nepal?or their own war..against discrimination etc?..i dunno why...but im sure u will agree when i say this..there is more than enuf left still in nepal(and new ones sproutin out)..who is experiencing the war of discrimination etc in nepal..do we need them to come back and be in the war too?aint enuf experiecing it?being in it?

if one cant do it one place(own country) and he/she does it in another place(in another country)..is tht called traitor?shudnt we acknowledge them for not stoppin to stive and makin it..tho they made it in another country??they feel useful..tho in another country?is that a sin?^o) hehe

btw is the 'BOOK' u have/carry..BIG?big book on how to find and label a traitor?wahahahah ;oP hehe..

"You talk about my failure in getting a cut. Well heres the story, the cut I have is enough to make your female family members my mistresses. Hope you got the message. If these jokers are really creating jobs in Pokhara, why are there more people going abroad to be in the army. "

oho..u seem to know the 'market price' for a 'mistress'?how much ho..per mth?annually?a day?;oP hehe..

and seriously when u said more ppl are goin abroad to be in the army..grin became bigger wahahahaa...duh!cos it just made me realise..we do have ppl with SENSE!it pays more in the army abroad!!now wouldnt any senseful person choose that?esp if he/she isnt gettn nothn much in nepal?and oh pls lets not talk about greed here..when did we humans ever stop being greedy?..lets not measure greediness..everyone has a diff level of it..but greed dun we all have it?^o)..so why compare?some have it more than u..some less than u..isnt that how it goes?^o) hehe

ok skip a lot here..will take ages wahahaha ;oP

"I just don't buy the rationale of these "soldiers" going abroad just to get their lively hoods met. There's more and thats greed. I dont blame them for the paths they are taking, but to come back and say "oh this is because I HAD to do so," is not acceptable to me. They chose a path, now be responsible for it. "


oho soldies inside the " "?special arent they ;o) ;oP hehe..plus i covered greed..but yeah each of us..we make our own decisions..cos we have our own circumstances and situations?...and if they just say.."they HAD to do so"..err..benefit of the doubt?..why shud they explain their actions to us?just like why we shud explain every actions or lack of it?..cos if we start explaning..will we have time?^o)..and plus ironically will end up with more words to explain?they arent polictians are they?we shud be askn politicians?for answers..since their job to 'answer' us?;oP hehe..


and dun mind me being nosey(if u dunno let me tell u too..thulo nhaak cha :oS..and i seem 'intent' to show it?wahahaha ;oP)...but u asked someone else this..

but here i go givin me lame opinions :oS hehe..

"If someone who sells his/her daughter/sister for prostitution (to make their ends meet) makes the same claim, would you still say lets think about it. What he/she did is understandable?"

understandable?if a person says he/she understands that situation..then he/she would have gone thru that situation?which is scary aint it?..u wanna be in that situation?the thing poverty and hunger makes u do eh?takes one to find out wat it makes u do..and even a nosey me aint tht curious to find out thank u :o)

..funny the world is hoina?things happens that just doesnt make sense..poverty exist when there is enuf food for all?countries destroy their crops if there is excess..cos they dun wanna the market to have too much of it.which might mean price will fall?

they are willin to donate money..but not those excess food?(i still cant get over the scenes of those millions of suntalas being dumped :oD..fresh juicy orange lookn suntalas..would have fed millions out there for a long long time :oD hehe)...funny aint it ..they donate money...money which will never be enuf to another person ..esp that someone whos 'pickpocketin' it?instead of reachin to the intended needy?

but if the food had been donated..that much?even anyone that greedy to want it all..to eat it all..would die before finishin eatn it?hehe..but ironically that person will still keep it even tho knowin its more than enuf?..just doesnt make sense eh?..thats why duh!we need more SENSEFUL ppl!!!like those who has enuf sense to try go abroad..if one cant do anything in their own country?!!!;oP hehe GURKHAS KE!;oP hehe

enuf of wafflin..i need sleep!!dyam im gonna pay for me actions tomorrow :oS hyaa :oS..but it be worth it?;o)..cos duh!..i chose to type (even tho it wont be read?and if its read..ppl will be shakin their head and telln themselves..'bhagwan..why was i that bored to read this bhakwash'?wahahahaha ;oP )....

but yeah seriously...the 'reputation' the Gurkhas have got..i guess we shud 'thank' WWI !!and WWII!! and so many other freakn WARS!!!(Gallipoli?)...funny eh death..lots of it.. earned us this 'repuation' but in the end..for wat?own country folks preachin about being a traitor?dying for another country?why dun u just look at it as dyin for a job..if it hurts u that much ;o) hehe...cos im sure the dead ones arent/cant be hurt from the negative feelns..but u be hurtin urself?;oP hehe...

no one is perfect ..are they?and may India and Nepal never go to war :oD..just cant imagine wat will happen..i mean i can imagine it..but of cos we do know that war is smthin we cant really imagine but have to experience to know wat it feels like..and yes have heard from tonnes its not a good thing to experience :o)...im sure there be some loyal Gurkhas who will still fight for their employers..and there will be some who will 'resign' and head back home to be with their fellow bros?..but seriously..im sure u have read/seen wat the Nepal Army and Maoists are doin?..if that aint bros/sisters fighting against fellow bros/sisters...and u dun really find anything wrong with that..why the problem thinkin about the nepalis in the indian army against the fellow nepalis from nepal?..it hurts when ur bro is fightin with u for a neigbour(stranger to u)..more than it hurts when ur fightin with him inside the house eh?;oP hehe...nhaak ko kura ho?;oP hehe..

ook ok enuf!!hehe

ps mero dad was an ex gurkha ;o)...and no he aint perfect..(and i guess u do know by now..kasto nalayek chora ho ma :oS..dad lai pani esto bhanney!:@ :o( hehe..hope he doesnt read this..would be hurt :o| and malai marcha!wahahahaa..and i dun mean it literall :o| hehe..)...but i sure have seen the sides of 'gurkhas' ..ppl who are workn there..they are just nepalis..not just good hai ;o) hehe..but seriously they aint diff from any tom dick or hairy hehe..

and well..glad that he had the choice then to try and get lucky to get into the gurkhas..cos due to him..i got a chance ..more chances than tonnes of other nepalis?(if not i be village right now..holo joddai..and with tonnes of kids ;o)..thats wat me mum tells me hehe..and yes!the thots of me bein that..doin that..actually gives me pleasure wahahaha..duh!..wat i could have been!!!wasted chance :o( ;oP hehe..duh!not everyone has sense!and those who have sense ..not everyone gets a chance like me?:oS hehe)...

anyways..yeah..hopefully the bloody politicians dun freakn mess it up!!and hope the british/indian/singapore goverment wont mess it up too!!as long as there is this choice for fellow nepalis to try for!give them fellow nepalis a choice!!the more the better!!!hehe

and may no war come again that gurkhas have to 'show' their worth :oS...reputation is smthin that is hard to keep hoina?

and oh..if u thot i got 'stirred' think again ;o) hehe...dance paye type garnu..dance diya saab ko dimag bhajney para?;oP hehe..


wtf am i typin bhaney !:o| hehe..and i did keep it short!:@ ..tried to :o( hehe...and succeeded to some length!!:@ hehe...


ok ok enuf..

birta to chino!!..birta ko samjho..
sayeed ko raagat..lahurey ko nishani ;o) hehe..

*poof*