https://www.scmp.com/rss/510255/feed Tim I Gurung is a novelist, ex-Gurkha, author of an acclaimed Gurkha book and lives in Hong Kong en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The Gurkhas are known for being among the most feared fighting men in the British and Indian armies. And, if London and New Delhi have their way, they could soon be known for being the most fearsome fighting women too. Both Britain and India had hoped that their long held ambitions to enlist Gurkha women in their militaries would finally bear fruit this year, but with little more than three months to go before the end of 2021 both countries face an uphill battle to hit that target. With the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3149596/britain-and-india-want-gurkha-women-fight-their-armies-nepals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3149596/britain-and-india-want-gurkha-women-fight-their-armies-nepals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Sep 2021 04:00:34 +0000 After Britain’s Ministry of Defence failed to address their long-term grievances, three British Gurkhas – Gyanraj Rai, Dhan Gurung and Gurkha widow Pushpa Rana Ghale – have been camped outside 10 Downing Street since August 7, vowing to continue a hunger strike even if it costs them their lives. Police have sought to evict them but their campaign to ensure equal military pensions for former Gurkha soldiers, originally from Nepal, has begun to attract support from the British public. Gurkhas have... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3145459/gurkhas-fought-and-died-britain-they-should-not-have-beg-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3145459/gurkhas-fought-and-died-britain-they-should-not-have-beg-their?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Aug 2021 12:00:14 +0000 Britain’s recently adopted policy to grant Hongkongers with British National (Overseas) passports a pathway to citizenship in the UK seems to be a pretty generous offer. Indeed, many Hongkongers have already taken advantage of it. But there’s also something puzzling about this policy: it is the most interest the British have shown in Hong Kong’s internal affairs since they handed the city back to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. One wonders, why the sudden change of heart? After all, the British... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3140335/hongkongers-should-learn-how-britain-treated-gurkhas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3140335/hongkongers-should-learn-how-britain-treated-gurkhas?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jul 2021 05:00:06 +0000