UK Gurkha veterans would fight on despite losing case of equal pension

Let’s begin with these statements, it may make the topic easier for you. On the word of erstwhile Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha.” Heed this too. As said by none other than the Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler, if he had Gurkhas then he can win all over the world. He went further and said "there is nothing in the world I scare of but Gurkhas."

I think that you are already impressed and have already borne some veneration of the Gurkhas. Truly speaking, a Gurkha or a member of Hindu people descended from Brahmins and Rajputs who live in Nepal is one of the most fearless persons the world has ever known and the aforesaid statements prove their commitments to the cause, valiance and certainly fierceness in combat. Even the former British Empire regarded it as one of the brightest jewels in the royal crown and had no other way save for taking one Gurkha brigade back home after the Indian independence in 1947.

Nevertheless all these greatest virtues and valor prove to be futile for UK Gurkha veterans as they have lost their High Court attempt to claim the same pensions as their British comrades. The Hon’ble court rejected their case that the Ministry of Defence illegitimately discriminated against them on the grounds of age and race. It is to be noted that the Gurkha veterans were tying their best so as to raise the pensions of those who retired before 1997, which are a third of those paid to British soldiers.

What is more shameful, even these payouts are only available to troops who served for at least 15 years. Nevertheless the Gurkhas were supported by 90 MPs, including Tory Ann Widdecombe. She said: 'It is an injustice to give a pension based on their country of origin instead of the country in whose Army they loyally served.'

What shall be the next step of the hapless Gurkha community? True to their spirit, Gurkhas are still stubborn and as per Major Tikendra Dewan, Chairman of the BGWS, they would fight on despite the 'shattering blow'. He added: 'We are bitterly disappointed. We had hoped British justice would prevail.

'All we were asking for is equal pay for equal service, so Gurkha veterans can live in dignity. But we will appeal and take it to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.'