The inquiry commission led by barrister Ian Macdonald QC of UK probing the socio-economic realities of Nepalis who served in the British Army has endorsed what the British Gurkhas have been saying for years — they are not receiving adequate recognition or compensation for their services. Prior to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon’s announcement that the areas of discontent would be looked into in order “to ensure that such differences are absolutely justifiable,” the British government has maintained that di-sparity in salaries and other benefits between the Gurkhas and their British counterparts, based as they were on the agreement pertaining to the Gurkha recruitment, were justifiable. But that clearly has not been the case. No amount of scripture citing will do justice to those who receive far less perks than the British citizens doing similar work as the Gurkhas.

But it must be appreciated that the British government did finally overcome its myopic adamance on the issue when it decided to look for the actual truth. An announcement from no less a person than the leader of the fact-finding mission contrary to the British government’s official stand on the issue, therefore, brings a wisp of fresh hope for the Gurkhas and their families. It must be noted that Macdonald et al have also added an altogether new dimension to the issue: wives and family members of the British Gurkhas have been instrumental in keeping their families together when their husbands and sons were on active duty. It is true these members have been ignored and denied parallel British support, as the probe points out. These are facts that must constitute the basis for a fundamental review of the terms and conditions governing the Brigade of Gurkhas.

The Gurkhas have been and still are in certain sense, the bedrock of Nepal-British ties that are nearly 200-year-old. The British government will only be remaining true to its share of obligations if it accepted the recommendations of the commission. The ex-servicemen look forward to a fair deal that contributes to further cementing their confidence in the British justice. That gesture will also turn a new leaf on the diplomatic ties between Kathmandu and London. The commission findings must, as a rule, pave the way for sorting out all outstanding issues including the ones in the British courts, once and for all.