Feature: Nepal's capable Gorkha soldiers fail to change fate of own communities

Nepal is home to world class warriors, who are recognized for their bravery as Gurkhas. These Gurkhas originate from the northeastern hilly district of Gorkha, which itself is steeped in 240 years of monarchic history.

Barpak is one of the villages in Gorkha which produces this fearless military power, but unfortunately, it itself is underdeveloped and lacks infrastructure.

Inhabited by ethnic Ghale and Gurung communities, Barpak has more than 50 percent of a total of 1,500 households' populations serving in foreign armies, mostly in Britain, India, Singapore, Iraq and Afghanistan. However, Barpak doesn't have a single hospital, private higher secondary school or even a good road connection.

Capable soldiers have uplifted the living standard of their respective families. However, they have failed to change the fate of their own communities, which are enriched with natural beauty and a distinct culture, language and lifestyle.

"The basic factor for the backwardness of Barpak is the poor road condition. We alone cannot do anything. There should be funding and technical support from the side of the government," 32-year-old Buddhi Sumsher Ghale, from the British Army, told Xinhua.

Ghale, who has served in the British Army for the last 15 years is in Barpak on a month-long holiday to help family members with their recovery following the April 25 earthquake.

The road that links the Gorkha district to Barpak village is only 45 kilometers but it takes more than 4 hours to cross the muddy road which cannot be used during the rainy season.

There are strong and capable young people, but they are more focused on joining the foreign armies. These days, even the selection process is tough, meaning less than 10 young people are recruited in foreign armies every year.

Retired foreign army personnel feel proud of the Gurkha history that witnessed both victories and sacrifice but failed to fulfill the needs of the community.

Fifty-six-year-old Bud Bahadur Ghale is a former Gorkhali who had served in the Indian Army for 20 years since 1971. After being involved in the Indo-Pakistan border region for several years, he opted for retirement in 1991.

Ghale told Xinhua, "Resuming life in my own community after retiring is quiet difficult. I even worked as a security guard in Malaysia for one year but returned and started running a local shop. I am stuck reconstructing my own damaged house; doing something for the community is far beyond my capacity."

Ninety percent of the stone-carved houses in the unique clustered settlement of Barpak were severely damaged by the massive quake. Barpak being the epicenter of the quake has added one more hardship to the aging shoulders of the villagers.

It is said that during the World Wars, more than 200,000 Gurkhas served in the British Army. There is even a popular saying, "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha."

The village that used to be almost empty in the past due to the recruitment of foreign armies has a bleak image even 100 years later.

Most of the retired soldiers in Barpak have been limited to playing with their grandchildren and tackling the freezing winter, with little provisions to protect against the cold.

Despite a worldwide recognition for bravery, first-class life and monthly pensions, the former warriors have no options than waiting for the government's relief programs and development projects.

Brish Raj Ghale, a former Indian Army member told Xinhua, "The government has not provided Rs 200,000 as promised for the reconstruction of the damaged house. I also heard about the government's plan for an integrated settlement. So, we are waiting for the government's action." Endit