Prince Harry visits Gurkha British Camp, talks to family members of brave Gurkhas for their relief, jubilation

Basudev Poudel (Pokhara) / March 22: Visiting Britain’s Prince Henry Charles Albert David ‘ Harry’ visited the Lamachaur-based Gorkha British Camp in Kaski Tuesday, and paid tributes to the British Gurkhas killed in the Afghan war. On the occasion, Prince Harry had chat with the families of the brave Gurkhas losing lives in the war in Afghanistan.

Renuka Rai from Udayapur who lost her son in the Afghan war was overwhelmed with happiness for getting an opportunity to have direct conservations with the British Royal. Her son Remand Khulung Rai was one among the 11 brave British Gurkhas who lost their lives in the deadly war.

Rai said her daughter-in-law remarried to another man after the death of his son and she called on the UK Prince that she deserved to own ‘a medal’ offered by the British Government to her son posthumously in recognition to his valiance, and the right of drawing the pension allocated in the name of her son.

Septuagenarian Yubraj Rai from Khotang was another to greet the distinguished guest come far from the seas. He is another unlucky one to lose son in the Afghan battle. He too was flooded with happiness as he got an opportunity to have a chat with the British Prince. He said he felt a kind of relief while meeting the British Royal.

Yubraj Rai, Krishna Prasad Dura, Kumar Pun, Arjun Pun, Remand Khulung, Ishwar Gurung, Suraj Gurung, Suraj Limbu, Sachin Limbu, Gajendra Gurung and Siddhartha Gurung are those brave Nepali British Gurkhas losing lives in Afghanistan.

Similarly, 93-year-old Colonel John Cross, a retired British Gurkha officer and author staying in Nepal who had the experience of commanding Harry’s father Charles visit to Nepal that had taken place some 35 years ago shared that he was engulfed with happiness for he got an opportunity to meet special British guest after a long time.

Regimental Association Nepal Chair in Kaski, Bhim Bahadur Gurung, recalled that during his service in Afghanistan, Prince Harry was in close touch with the British Gurkhas. General Secretary Balkrishna Rana shared information that the UK Prince arrived in the town to pay heartfelt tributes to those who attained martyrdom in Operation Harrick in Afghanistan and Iraq and console their families.

Chief District Officer in Kaski, Hari Prasad Mainali, and his team was at Pokhara Airport to receive the British Prince. The Pokhara folks left no stone unturned to offer warm welcome to Prince Harry who arrived in Nepal on a five-day trip as a representative of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth to commemorate the bicentenary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Before moving to Pokhara, the British Prince ‘Harry’ celebrated the Hindu festival of colours, Holi or Phagu Poornima, playing with carnival of colour powders. Prince Harry mingled among the locals at the Gaunda Secondary School at Gaunda VDC of the western hilly district of Lamjung to mark the Phagu Poornima which is also known as the festival of harmony, reconciliation, love and joy.

Local Panchakanyas (five girls dressed in traditional attires) – Raj Kumari Thapa, Bhawi Gurung, Anju Gurung, Sujata Gurung and Mahima Gurung – smeared red colour powder on Harry to crank up the festival.

Prince Harry, who is on a five-day visit to Nepal, arrived at the Gurung-majority village on Monday after travelling to Bardiya. He has been able to share and mingle with the Nepal folk culture and tradition of the locality to win the hearts of the locals.

The British heartthrob walked for at least an hour after touching down in Lamjung from a chopper and participated in the Gurung community’s cultural programme on Monday.

The Prince has served along with the Gurkha Rifles of the British Army in Afghanistan and specially likes Gurkha soldiers’ bravery, sacrifice, and courageous feats. He is also a nature-lover and is fond of the wilderness and pristine landscapes. RSS