KATHMANDU, July 27: British actress Joanna Lumley, who was the public face of a successful campaign to win British Gurkhas the right to live in the United Kingdom, termed Nepal her home on Monday. [break]
“I am very happy that I have come home,” said the 63-year-old “Absolutely Fabulous” star after being felicitated by hundreds of British Gurkhas and their family members in Kathmandu.
“I speak to the people who have been friends of my father, and forefathers for more than 200 years,” she added evoking a loud ring of applause from the Gurkhas who have been celebrating the victorious campaign ever since Lumley´s arrival on Sunday.
Earlier on Monday, she was separately thanked for her contributions by President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala.
Lumley´s 36-member delegation includes Maiti Nepal president Anuradha Koirala, Folkestone Town Councilor Dhan Gurung, the first retired Gurkha to be elected to public office in the United Kingdom, and British journalists.
Lumley is leaving for Jhapa on Tuesday to meet the Gurkha community there. Later, on Wednesday, she will leave for Pokhara.
Lumley joined the Gurkha cause after the British government denied Tul Bahadur Pun, who had rescued her father during a battle in World War II, the right to live in the United Kingdom.
After a prolonged campaign, Britain announced in May that all Gurkha veterans who have served for four or more years in the British Army could apply for residency. Previously, only those who retired after 1997 were eligible to apply.
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