KATHMANDU, Aug 28: Tim I Gurung, a retired British Gurkha, is traveling to several Asian countries to write a book and encompass the real story of British Gurkhas.
Gurung, who is on a quest to interviewing war veterans in different parts of Nepal after visiting Gurkhas in other countries claimed that his book, ‘The Gurkhas- a true story’ is a unique literature, which narrates the story of the Gurkhas from the perspective of another Gurkha.
The book is scheduled to be published at the end of 2019, after three years of relentless efforts from Gurung.
Worth of stories
Recruited in the army in 1993 after immediately completing his school level education, Gurung served in the British army for 13 years before retiring. Originally from Dhampus, Kaski, he currently lives in Hong Kong. Gurung, who has already penned 14 novels retired, even from business, some two years earlier to focus entirely on writing.
The writer is in Nepal for a thirty-day trip to interview war veterans who had battled in the foreign soil during World War - II along with military experts and sociologists. He plans on traveling from Pashupatinagar in the east to Kanchanpur in the west to document the real story of the resilient and fierce Gorkhali Army.
According to Gurung, despite national and international efforts to write on the matter, there is still a shortage of a complete documentary that exactly depicts the lives and history of the Gurkha soldiers. “Foreigners have analyzed the Gorkha movement from their own lens. They have only romanticized Gurkhas, so I will do my best to narrate their real story,” said Gurung.
Gurung claimed that his main motive was to present a complete story of the 200-year-old Gorkha Regime, at least to inform the coming generations of the contributions of their forefathers. He believes that the completion of his story at this time is extremely critical. Elaborating on the urgency of the matter, Gurung said, “With most veterans already dead and those alive approaching their demise, the entire regime will be wiped in a few years.”
According to him, foreign writers have always used flattery to appease the Gurkhas but their story goes beyond valor and heroism. “It is also a story of tragedy”, he said.
Gurung’s book is to portray the reality of the Gurkhas from a Nepali perspective.
As to completely invest in the book, Gurung has made writing his full-time job. He has referred to numerous newspapers, scientific journals and articles, watched several documentaries and had personal meetings with 20 war veterans. He has been to Burma, England, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong to meet veterans who have settled there and collect additional information that could benefit from his writing.
The story will cover the stories of Gurkhas in UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indian Army, and Nepal Army among others. The book will be divided into two parts with a total of thirty chapters. Twelve independent experts will review the draft of the book before publication. It is hoped that the book will be a global sensation that will attract readers interested in the British Army, British Gurkha, and military science.
