Chakra Bahadur Shahi News Reporter
Victoria Cross, abbreviated as VC. The VC is the UK government’s largest medal. There is a tradition of honoring the soldiers who have overcome the great crisis for the country by risking their lives with the VC medal. Notable Nepalis serving in the British Gurkha Army got visas in the First and Second World Wars. Since then, the number of Nepalis getting visas has been negligible. Therefore, the number of living Nepalis getting visas at this time is very low. Ram Bahadur Limbu is one of the three Nepalese.
Let’s look at an example of how much the UK government respects the Victoria Cross winner. Ram Bahadur Limbu has the right to enter the British Parliament whenever he wants. When he enters the parliament, Samabhukh gets up from his seat. He will not stay until Visi Limbu gives the order. Leaving aside the issue of the Speaker and the Prime Minister, ministers and parliamentarians, on some occasions even the Queen arrives in Parliament wearing a crown. If VC winner Ram Bahadur Limbu had entered the parliament at that time, even the Queen should have got up from her seat wearing a crown in his honor.
However, the queen does not have to get up at the entrance to the ceremony at the royal palace, other members of the royal family and the prime minister and below must get up. You have to wait for the visa order to stay.
Some of the Visi winners of Nepal passed away without understanding the prestige of the medal they got. Take Lachhuman Gurung for example. About two decades ago, he applied to the UK-based embassy in Kathmandu for treatment, but was denied a visa because he did not mention that Victoria Cross was the winner. Shortly afterwards, Victoria Cross applied to be the winner. I got a visa immediately. He left for the UK. When the plane he boarded entered British skies, all other flights were postponed. The UK has the busiest sky in the world. But another flight did not take place for about an hour after the Lachuman boarded the plane. The minister went to pick him up at the airport. He was taken straight to the palace for the honor. As soon as she arrived at the ceremony, everyone except the queen got up. Lachhuman Gurung sat in the asana prepared for him. Other members of the royal family, the prime minister, the ministers stood up. What does poor Lachhuman know, other members of the royal family and prime ministers will get up until he gives orders. After some uncomfortable situations, someone told Lachhuman that members of the royal family and the prime minister and ministers could not stay until you gave the order. Surprised, Lachhuman ordered him to stay.
This columnist has got an unprecedented opportunity to collaborate with VC winner Ram Bahadur Limbu in Brunei. He served as a firing range commander in Brunei. I found in him a different style than that of an ordinary Gurkha soldier. No matter how noble in her nature. He was an LT lieutenant. When he picked up the phone and spoke, I was stunned by the same sentence. In response to a phone call, he said, “There may be a lot of great people here in terms of position, but in terms of bravery, I have spoken to the greatest people here.” And he addressed as Salam Saheb. Limbu had given such an answer when he initially asked him to call the eldest person. There is a proverb that says ‘gem in the land of villas’. In fact, the older generation passed away without knowing the significance of the Victoria Cross. The chances of the new generation now receiving the Victoria Cross are slim. In the case of our country Nepal, the Victoria Order winners have no respect. The British have not been stingy in honoring the Gurkhas who have made the world a country of heroes. The number of Gorkhalis receiving the second medal MC (Military Cross) after VC is significant so far. But the number of Gurkha recruits in the UK has dropped dramatically.
Now is not the time to show bravery on khukuri like before. The methods of warfare have changed a lot. The strategy of war has also changed. The number of Gorkhalis receiving the second medal MC (Military Cross) after VC is significant so far. But the number of Gurkha recruits in the UK has dropped dramatically. In the traditional way and strategy, the Gurkha army is still the army of all countries. But how long will this situation last?
The question has been raised. How long will the granary of our Gurkhali khukuri last? The question has become very complicated. In the traditional way and strategy, the Gurkha army is still the army of all countries. But how long will this situation last? The question has been raised. How long will the granary of our Gurkhali khukuri last? The question has become very complicated.
Today, in recognition of Gorkhali’s bravery, the UK has arranged for a residence visa. Special allowance has also been provided for medical treatment. Gorkhali’s children also have the facility to study in the UK. Due to which many Nepalis have got the opportunity to study higher education in the UK. Salary and pension for the new generation of Gorkhalis is the same as for the whites. But old age pensioners are still discriminated against.
After the end of World War II, millions of Gorkhas were sent home empty-handed and barefoot. There is no accounting of how many Gurkhas were killed in the First and Second World Wars. The Gurkha Welfare Trust has given only a few token allowances to the Gurkhas sent home empty-handed and barefoot. This is the most despised discrimination in the world. For the same reason, some Gurkhas are raising their voices in protest in the UK. The victims even went to court, but the British court did not give justice.
The Government of Nepal is also to blame in this regard. During the Rana period and the Panchayat period, there was no scope for the Nepali government to speak. After the restoration of democracy in 2046 BS, the aggrieved Gorkhalis have not appealed to their government, but the stand of the Government of Nepal has been weak. The victims have not received justice because the government of Nepal has not given priority to the issue of Gorkhalis. The Government of Nepal has also given assurances but not implemented them.
Due to the absence of Gorkhalis and their families in the mainstream of the state, there is a suspicion that the Government of Nepal has not shown any interest in raising the issues of Gorkhalis. If the Government of Nepal takes a stand, it is certain that the British Government will be ready to address the demands of the victims. But it seems that not only the British but also the Nepali rulers have not raised their voice in favor of the victims as the royalty of Gorkhali’s sweat has been eaten.
If the British people did not have love for the Gurkhas, the Gurkhas would not even get a residence visa in the UK. If the pension and compensation for the deceased, which has not been received till date, is to be received, then more than the budget of two years will flow into Nepal. But those in the government of Nepal have not understood this issue.
If the pensions of all Gorkhalis are the same as those of whites, Nepal’s GDP will skyrocket. Since the Gurkhas would invest that amount in their own country, employment would also increase exponentially. The Gurkhas not only fought for money, they fought all over the world because of their special relationship with Britain. About two lakh Nepalis have sacrificed their lives for Britain since the First World War. Those who sacrificed their lives are entitled to the Victoria Cross Medal. But the life of those visis has become like the death of a dog in the street. If two lakh Gurkhas had shed blood and sweat in their own country at that time, Nepal would have been more prosperous than present day Japan. But when the same Japanese were used to kill, two lakh lives were lost. Most of the survivors were forced to return empty-handed and barefoot.
Was it only Britain’s hand in such a big difference then? Absolutely not. The incompetent rulers of our country also had a role to play. Today, Nepalis are roaming around the world for low-level employment because those in power are useless. Poor self-respecting Nepalis are forced to sell their blood and sweat on credit and spread their arms like beggars on the streets of Britain. What kind of justice is this?
