Prince Harry’s visit boosts hope of ex-Gurkha soldiers for equal pension

Pritam Bhattarai / Kathmandu: Wrapping up his five-day official visit to Nepal (though it was later extended by six more days), Henry Charles Albert David ‘Harry’ flew back to the United Kingdom on Tuesday. The visit marks bicentenary of bilateral relations between Nepal and the UK and is said to be supporting British interests in Nepal and heighten broad and deep relationship between the two countries.

Though the British prince’s visit was said to be personal, there were many expectations of this visit from people of different walks of life in Nepal including Ex-British Gurkha soldiers, who served the British Crowns. It may be noted that they have been demanding pension and other facilities on par with their British counterparts.

People from some quarters also looking to the effect of the visit in the context of both India and the UK issuing a joint statement, expressing “dissatisfaction” over the newly promulgated constitution of Nepal during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to UK some four months ago.

During his total 11-day stay in Nepal, Prince Harry visited various parts of the country, relishing its natural beauty. He was also seen helping earthquake survivors rebuild their damaged houses. His act of carrying bricks and mud in a basket on his back in an attempt to help the quake victims rebuild their damaged houses and help rebuild ravaged school buildings brought him more respect from the Nepali people.

This was the first visit of the Prince of Wales to Nepal and one of the top priorities of his visit was visiting Grukha soldiers and their families and learn more about their background and culture. Gurkha soldiers’ continuous services to the British Crowns since 200 years ago aside, Prince Harry’s personal ties with the bravest of brave soldiers are also deep-rooted.

In 2008, Prince Harry served his country as a Forward Air Controller, serving at Garmsir in southern Helmand and Musa Qaleh in Afghanistan alongside Gurkha regiment. During his service, the Prince told that he was amazed by Gurkha soldiers’ courage. “When you know you are with Gurkha there is no safer place to be,” he said praising their courage. Moreover, Gurkha soldiers used to make special spicy mutton curry for the prince and once Prince Charles, father of Prince Harry, joked about his son being habitual to eat goat meat and with his hand, the very Nepali way.

And during his stay in Nepal, it was natural for Prince Harry to inquire about the background and culture of Gurkha soldiers and help them financially out of respect or provide them with labour donation, be it helping them rebuild their houses damaged by the quake.

But what about the ex-British Gurkha soldiers demanding pension and other facilities on a par with their British counterparts for long? They have been demanding for the facilities for long, sometimes to the extent of taking to the streets. However, their demands have not been heard yet.

Other Gurkha demands include the right to live and work in the UK including free medical treatment for their children above 18 years of age.

The ‘equal pay for equal work’ provisions enshrined in the charters of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, European Convention on Human Rights and in the conventions of the International Labour Organisation also support their claim to the equal pension credit in line with their British counterparts.

Pension credit and social service allowances ex-British Gurkhas receive are more attraction to them rather than allowing them in foreign land devoid of their culture and community and often engaging in odd jobs at old age.

Going by the history of British Gurkha soldiers, the British government offered to recruit Gurkha Army in British Army since 1947 when Nepal, India and East India Company signed a treaty. Since then, the Gurkhas have loyally fought for Britain helping it extend its Empire all over the world.

More than 200,000 Gurkha soldiers fought in the two world wars, while 13 Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Nepalese Gurkha soldiers. In 200 years of the history of British Gurkha Army, the bravest of brave soldiers have served British Crown irrespective of the loss of their lives or causalities. So it is the rights of the Gurkha soldiers to claim pension and other facilities in line with their British counterparts so they can make their living without being burden financially for others.

And, Prince Harry is also an influential figure in the British establishment, and the British Gurkha soldiers including ex-Gurkha soldiers need support of Prince Harry. RSS