The Gurkha Army Ex-servicemen’s Organisa-tion (GAESO) has scheduled a mass funeral rite for over 60,000 undocumented Nepali soldiers who died while fighting for the British Empire during the first and second world wars. 

GAESO founding President Padam Bahadur Gurung said the service will deliver the souls of the unidentified soldiers who vanished or were lost during the war. Gurung said that the date for the ceremony will be made public after consulting with priests on September 9.

“We will decide on an auspicious date after consulting with priests from 14 different religions,” said Gurung. Based on various historical documents, GAESO has estimated that at least 14 castes fought for the British crown in 60 countries, hence the plan to perform the death rituals of 14 cultures. They are also planning to bring in soil from the 60 countries in order to use as the last lump of the cremation—’astu’.

The mass ceremony is likely to take place before the end of November in Ward No 8 of the Phedi Khola Village Development Committee in Syangja district. 

Although there is no concrete data, GAESO estimates that at least 60,000 Gurkha deaths have gone unrecorded. “Many innocent people were illegally used and sacrificed in the wars. Neither the Nepal government nor the British government has made the exact number public, fearing that they will have to provide compensation to families,” said Gurung. “Despite Nepal being an independent state, the British used thousands of our citizens with consent from the Rana regime that had its own hidden motives.” 

GAESO is also planning to construct a monument at Phedi Khola to the dead Gurkha soldiers. As per the plan, the foundation stone will be laid on November 27.

Published on: 5 September 2012 | The Kathmandu Post