Other side of the Gurkha story: Fight for rights in British army

Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd)

In the introduction to his book ‘Ayo Gorkhali: A History of the Gurkhas’, Tim I Gurung writes, “The Gurkha story is not only about bravery alone, but it’s also the story of tragedy, which is what this book is all about: that other side of the story.” The term ‘Gurkha’ (or Gorkha as spelled in the Indian Army) denotes those soldiers who left their country to serve in the Indian and British armies, and so the book has the character of military history.

The book has two broad parts. The first is a retelling of the history of the Gurkha soldiers and their contribution to various wars. The second is largely focused on the Gurkhas in the British army and their struggle for equality and justice in matters of pay and service conditions. Here Tim Gurung brings in his own experience of 13 years in the British army.

The book takes us on a journey of the Gurkhas, starting with their induction into the British Indian Army. Impressed by their bravery in the Anglo-Nepal war, the British decided to recruit soldiers from Nepal, and the 1st Gorkha Rifles was raised in 1815. This was the beginning of a 200-year-old legacy that survives till today.

World War I saw Nepal, a nation with a population of 50 lakh, contributing almost 200,000 soldiers between 1914 and 1918. A similar number joined the ranks of the British Indian Army during World War II. In the book, Tim briefly covers the operations of various Gurkha units in different campaigns and incidents of individual bravery. Together, in the two wars, the Gurkhas won 12 Victoria Crosses, Britain’s highest gallantry award.

The post-Partition history of the Gurkhas is primarily devoted to their role in the British army in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Hong Kong. There is also a brief mention of the Gurkha regiments in the Indian Army.

Tim makes a strong point that the British have consistently exploited the Gurkhas and that their relationship was “always one-sided”. Speaking of the two World Wars, he says, “The way the British had treated the Gurkhas in the aftermath of WW-I and WW- II was not only cruel and inhumane, but also a disgrace. Almost half a million young men fought for the British, many died, and others were injured. But instead of being thankful, the British sent them back to Nepal empty-handed… They were discharged without pension, medical expenses, gratuities, or severance pay.”

After India became Independent, four Gurkha regiments of the British Indian Army got absorbed in the British army. However, they were not on par with the British soldiers. In Malaysia and Hong Kong, a British soldier drew $450 while a Gurkha soldier was paid 42 a month. There was also discrimination in promotion, welfare and other facilities.

Tim details the Gurkha Justice Campaign that was launched to fight for the rights and welfare of Gurkhas serving in the British army. Their first success came in 2009 when the British government granted citizenship to Gurkha soldiers as was always applicable to all Commonwealth soldiers. The issues of equal pay and pension have also been resolved, though some matters remain.

As an officer who has worn the Gorkha badge for 40 years, I can relate to the passion and sentiment of Tim Gurung and his attempt in the book to go beyond the stories of valour and fighting skills of the Gurkhas. He has, therefore, covered a whole range of issues like Gurkha women, Gurkhas in literature, recruitment policy, etc.

If there is a shortcoming, it is that the author has attempted to pack in too much information to ensure that no part of the Gurkha military history is omitted. This results in a narrative that appears too factual and a touch dry. However, for those who wish to study a brief compendium on the Gurkhas, Tim Gurung’s work provides a useful guide.