The Gurkha soldiers of Nepal are renowned for their bravery. “Better to die than live like a coward,” this is their motto. Seeing their extraordinary fighting skills, they were recruited into the British Army in 1815. Since then, over 200 years, the Gurkha soldiers loyally served the British. They fought bravely alongside the British troops in the two World Wars. Unfortunately, for their unquestionable loyalty and bravery, all they received is unequal treatment and negligence from their masters. For years, the retired Gurkha soldiers struggled to receive equal payment and other facilities.
Last Wednesday, thousands of Gurkha soldiers and their families gathered at the Parliament Square at Westminster, London. As their ultimate protest against unequal treatment, fifty Gurkha soldiers returned their medals they received for their service in the British army. Kentonline reports:
Regret more than anger was etched in the faces of veteran Gurkhas and their families as they marched on Parliament to demand the right to stay in the country they had been prepared to die for.
Several thousand former soldiers, their wives, children and grandchildren travelled to London from all over the country. Many were from Folkestone, Ashford and Maidstone - traditional bases of the Gurkhas.
And many were prepared to make a personal sacrifice - they gave back their long-service medals to be returned to the Queen of the country they had served.
Shobh Raj Gurung said: "What is the point of wearing my medal if it does not mean anything? It is a symbol of my service but if I am only getting a percentage of my pension then there is no point in keeping it."
Currently, there are 3500 Gurkha soldiers serving under the British. Where a Gurkha soldier receives pension of ₤131, his British colleagues get ₤1000. The irony of the matter is, this pension is 19% higher than their previous amount but even with this money they can not support themselves in Nepal, their motherland. Moreover, Gurkhas who retired after 1997 will be able to live in Britain but those who retired before 1997 will not. Those who are allowed to stay have to pay hefty tuition fees for their children’s higher education.
The soldiers handed their medals to Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrat party. Clegg is backing their cause and according to him the treatment they receive is a “national disgrace.” Nick Clegg later presented those medals to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In his defense, Mr. Brown said that Labour party was the first to allow the Gurkhas to stay in Britain and they were also the first to raise their pension.
Leaving their wife and children far away, the Gurkhas come to Britain and fight for them. They sacrifice their lives for Britain’s glory and after all these, they do not even receive sufficient pension money. This is truly a big disgrace for Britain. I hope and pray that British government treat the Gurkhas equally and give them equal facilities as it gives to its regular troops.
Related articles:
Hindustan Times
AFP
Timesonline.co.uk
The Hindu
Nepal News
Kentonline
BBC
Telegraph.co.uk
It seems absurd to open our doors to criminals yet slam them closed in the face of the Gurkhas!
Posted by: Curly | March 22, 2008 5:46 AM | Permalink to Comment