Gurkhas in Nepal

Old soldiers fade away

Nepalis do not see the Gurkhas in quite the same light as the British do

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Readers' comments




Woah, calm down there for a second. Gurkhas are by all accounts excellent soldiers, so what's wrong with calling them racially gifted in the arts of combat? The designation 'martial race' makes no attempt at saying anything about their hard living conditions back at home or anything.

Touchy people, sheesh.


The article seems to imply that there is something wrong with people wanting to leave a badly-governed country in order to live in a more stable and congenial one. Surely The Economist should stand for people's right to live wherever they want? Only a world that allows complete freedom of population movement would provide sufficient incentive for badly-governed countries to clean up their acts. But when populations are captive, the ruling elite can "farm" them to death if they so wish, as Zimbabwe, North Korea, Burma et al so gruesomely demonstrate.

My village

Those Gurkhas who served in the British Army did bank their lives while on service. There always been discrimination throughout almost 200 years. It is about time to realize that poor Gurkha soldiers suffered too much. Luckily Ms. Jonna Lumley rose up for Gurkhas to convince the British Government. There agian there been lots and lots of British officers and soldiers worked and fought side by side with Gurkhas. But no one on earth felt so deeply about Gurkhas like Ms. Lumley's father. Everything started from a diary of Ex-Major Lumley. I believe Ms. Joanna Lumley was the person sent by the god to take care of poor Gurkha veterans.

Well Gurkhas were compelled to look for alternatives. Because Gurkhas were always treated as second class citizen in their own country. Any where in government offices if a Gurkha goes for an official work nothing could be achieved untill some bribe is paid. In fact they were the people who earned foreign currencies. But their status were wrongly interprited. They come from foreign contries they have money let us milk them!!! Till today attitude of government officials stand out.

May be with regret I have to say Nepalese people understand but they want to extort easy money. Nepalese people do not understand in general their duties. Nepalese want to enjoy and live like a king by cheating other people. This is bad thing but has become tradition.

Reason to be in this way is because Nepal has many things mixed up. Specially politics and adminstration is mixed up. When politics overides administration corruption starts. when it happens government workers at lower level loose interest at work. Naturally salary is insufficient so start extorting general public. In Nepalese administration at lower level ther is no promotion system. That is one of bad part in Nepal administration. Civil service should have their independent promotion system. At the same time civil service promotion should be according to performance. Any appointment should not be appointed by the ruling government. Political parties are temporary. Any party can be in the government for short time. Where as administration of the country has to be there always.

As long as Nepal does not addopt independent government administration and stop appointing political posts country will not move forward.

What happens in Nepal. A political party comes in power and appoints their own people in all top level positions. Then they start to milk all the money be it from aid or collected revenues. This completely stops all development of the country.

Gurkha veterans are lucky and thanks to Ms. Joanna Lunley that they are able to settle in the UK. At least this offers them an opportunity to work and make money for their future. British administration is the best one in whole world. Administration is untouched by the politics. It is unlike Nepal!

It will certainly affect the economy of Nepal. But Gurkha veterans are better off to live in the UK then in Nepal. If Nepal wants them back then she has to improve her administration mecanism.


For all these Gurkhas did and struggled to carry out their duties, they still have to take the brunt of negativity.This article is onesided, unbalanced.Men from the hills left to join the Brits army because they had to survive. The Brahmins of Hindu origin kept them away from basic opportunities. The only opportunities these hill tribe were given were for the men to serve the ruling families as servants 'pipas' and their beautiful women were kept as maids/sex slaves in the palace.Now too the people from this ethinic caste are looked down upon. Regardless of the money they earned abroad these 'chinks' are seen as unintelligent lot by the Brahmins who fill majority of the government lucrative jobs and get access to every opportunities.This is the sad and raw reality which your article doesn't touch.Because they are discriminated against,in their own country, they are willing to leave their family, friends, the soil they love once again. You are right the Gurkhas are not seen in 'quite the same light as the British do" if you mean they are shown some respect for their loyalty and bravery.And By the way the person you quoted is a Brahmin, you couldn't get someone from the 'chinks' ethnic cast to get a quote could you? Yes understandably it would be tough to find for the very obvious reasons.


The Gurkha can be regarded as the oppressors in the Himalaya but now pressed into services as mercenaries. I wonder why the British Government continue the Bliar's unpopular policy to send the young Brits to Afghanistan when they can get the job done more effectively with the Gurkhas at a fraction of the costs.


"Martial Races" ? Have the writers at the Economist gone mad? Nepalese villagers joined the British Gurkhas (if they could) for one reason and it was not love of England. A Job. Conditions in the hills of Nepal are so tough that hauling Brits up Everest-- at the risk of death-- is something Sherpas are willing to do, for money. The men who help Brits climb mountains, the men who helped Brits fight their wars-- they did it because life in the hills of Nepal is so tough, and offers so few oppourtuinties, that men are willing to die for a chance to "make it". Your writer is ignorant of the the tough reality that motivates the hillmen of Nepal. They do not join the Gurkhas because they are "Martial Races". Please. Stop. Think before writing. Are Brits "Drinking Races"?


"unruly wives and children" so what?

And why would you want to live in Nepal when you can live in England?

I live in Australia and I really cannot think of any reason why I would want to live in England but I am not a Gurkha who put his life on the line for the Queen and her country.

Ms Lumley has done the right thing for soldiers who are motivated by a true sense of loyalty and duty.



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