The Camberley Nepalese Gurkha Association (CNGA) last week hosted a community event for Dr Al Pinkerton, MP for Surrey Heath, to discuss the ongoing Gurkha Justice Campaign and the fight for equal rights for Gurkha veterans. The programme was coordinated by former CNGA Chair, Yam Gurung.
Major Jud Bahadur Gurung, lead negotiator, gave a presentation on The Gurkha Case Report and explained the key grievances that have affected Gurkha veterans for decades: unequal pensions, unfair pay, and lack of welfare and family rights.
Major Jud said one of the main focuses of the campaign remains pension equality: under the old Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS) Gurkhas who served before 1997 still receive much lower pensions than British soldiers, despite facing the same risks and duties. He said, ‘The campaign is not asking for special treatment, only fair and equal recognition.’
Krishtina Gurung holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire. At the same event, she presented her research, “Hoping Against Hope: Gurkha Veterans’ Narratives of Mental Health, Activism, and Justice”.
Her study explores the psychological experiences of Gurkha veterans involved in long-term campaigning and finds that, while activism gives them a sense of hope and purpose, it also brings emotional stress, exhaustion, and trauma.
After sharing stories from Gurkha veterans she had interviewed, she explained how the struggle for equality is not only political but deeply psychological. Mrs Gurung emphasised that conversations about Gurkha justice are crucial to psychological repair, and that policy decisions have the power to restore trust, dignity, and belonging.
During the subsequent Q&A session, Dr Al Pinkerton MP discussed these issues with the presenters. He thanked the Gurkha community, acknowledged the ongoing inequalities they face, and said he would continue to raise the matter in Parliament if brought forward again.
Overall, the event was a success. The Camberley Nepalese Gurkha Association thanks Dr Al Pinkerton MP, the presenters, and all other attendees for their support and participation.
