Manoj Tiwari

A leading organization of former British Gurkha soldiers on Monday announced that it will perform the final rites of all those Nepali ancestors who were killed in various battles, including the World War II, while in the service for the British Empire.

According to Padam Bahadur Gurung, president of Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen´s Organization (GAESO), the final rites for thousands of Gurkha soldiers, whose names and addresses have so far been kept secret by the United Kingdom (UK), will be performed before the foundation stone for a Gurkha monument would be laid in Salme Danda of Syangja district by this year´s end.  

The GAESO is already in possession of the design of the Gurkha monument to be built at an estimated cost of Rs four billion. The construction work of the monument will begin from November 27.

The GAESO claims that around 60,000 Nepali people who fought on behalf of the British Empire were killed in the Second World War and several other wars. Gurung said that the GAESO came up with the estimated figure after studying for years the history of those countries who fought wars with the British Empire. 

Gurung said, “In addition to Gurkha soldiers, thousands of Nepali people were used by the British Empire as human shields in the first and second World Wars. The British government has never divulged the details about those Nepalis killed in the wars as it fears that it might be forced to spend a huge amount of money as compensation to the families of the dead.” 

“Those Gurkha soldiers who were killed or went missing in various wars belong to all ethnicities,” said Gurung. “We will consult priests of all castes and communities to perform the collective final rites.”

Published on: 4 September 2012 | Republica