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In support of the Gurkhas
NEPAL is a small country, far away, of which we know little, but last week it burst on all our consciousness because of its Gurkhas.
Nepal is a desperately poor and backward country and, when we English arrived there, just over 200 years ago, its people saw us as so advanced, so educated, so developed they were prepared to do virtually anything to gain our favour.
That is why they encouraged the best, the strongest and bravest of their young men – those with the greatest intelligence and initiative – to join the British army as mercenaries. Nobody likes putting their sons in harm's way, but the opportunity of serving so civilised a nation as the English was not to be missed, even though it entailed significant risk of death.
We English tend to be a self-deprecating lot and we do not puff ourselves up that our civilisation is still so outstanding, 200 years later, that there are Nepalese mothers and fathers competing to offer their sons for military service, not to defend their homeland but simply for the opportunity to become part of one of our national institutions.
Until Tony Blair came to power the Gurkhas served their 15 years and then retired to their native country – or perhaps Hong Kong – with a pension which, though generous by local standards, was only a fraction of that enjoyed by British soldiers. They had their money, their medals and their memories, but they retired to their motherland.
Mr Blair did not think that was fair and started a process which is still under way, a process under which their wages and pensions are being brought to British levels and more and more Gurkhas are allowed to retire here, not only with their pension but with the right to use the NHS, have access to council housing and the full range of welfare benefits.
It is a gesture which, at the end, will probably not cost more than 25 a year for every man, woman and child in England and, from reading the papers, it seems the great majority of English people want to pay the full amount straight away.
To me, the interesting thing about the Gurkhas is this. They are Nepalese citizens who are members of the British army. In return for the Queen's shilling, they have promised that, if we ever decide to fight their motherland, they will fight for us against their own people.
We usually deprecate this sort of behaviour. When a young Englishman, perhaps from Leeds, travels to the subcontinent and joins a foreign military force which might attack us, we tend to think the less of him, but the truth of the matter is that he is doing the same as every Gurkha.
The only difference between the young Nepalese Gurkha fighting for England and the young Englishman fighting for the Taliban is that one is fighting for civilisation and the other for barbarism.
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Weather for Clitheroe
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
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