SHIVA SHARMA

Many and various are the tales of valour displayed on battlefields by Nepali soldiers serving in Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army and the British Army. ‘Brave’ was an inseparable superlative earned by Gurkha soldiers during World War I and the saga of their gallantry continues till this day. For many young Nepali men, serving in the Gorkha regiment has become a family profession, a tradition of bearing on the valiant legacy of their predecessors. Continuation of the family legacy by proving one’s mettle on battlegrounds, however, is not the sole reason that drives these young men to become servicemen in foreign lands. Perks and salary offered by the job are what attracts them these days. 

Hundreds of young men have arrived in Pokhara from different parts of the country to take part in the recruitment programme of the Indian Army. They will undergo different levels of physical and aptitude tests at Ratnachowk ground.
Jeevan Thapa Magar is trying for the Indian Army for the fourth time. He flunked the written test three times in the past, but he has not given up hope. The 18-year-old from Palpa believes that the job in the Indian Army will secure his future.

“There is no guarantee that I will get a well-paying job in the country. I will continue to try for the job in the Indian Army as long as my age allows,” Magar said. The cut-off age for recruits eligible to join the Indian Army is 21 years. There are scores of young men like Magar, participating in the ongoing recruitment even after multiple disqualifications in the past. Dhan Bahadur Thapa of Gulmi is also trying his luck for the fourth time. He flunked in the previous three tryouts, as he could not measure up with other candidates in the sprint challenge. “If I fail this time then I will have one last chance and if that, too, does not work, then I plan to go abroad for employment,” the 20-year-old said.    

Lack of job opportunities in the country and the not-so-handsome paycheque have led many young Nepalis to choose the Indian Army, for it offers good money compared to jobs they could land in the country. For men like Magar and Thapa, it is a dream job and as such, they are not ready to give up on it despite their past failings. The tenacity these men have shown is tinged with a sense of desperation. 

“There is nothing to do in the country. Recruitment is more of a compulsion than interest,” said Tukesh Radhi, who is trying his luck for yet another time.

Published on: 13 September 2013 | The Kathmandu Post