Despair of WWII Gurkha 'widow'

Kyt · Apr 23, 2008

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Despair of WWII Gurkha 'widow'

In her old age, Shantamaya Limbu is still optimistic that she will again see her lost husband, 66 years after he went missing.

Baburaja Limbu, who fought for the British in World War II in Burma, has been missing since 1942.

Mrs Limbu last saw him in 1941 when he came home for 10 days' holiday.

But before finishing his leave he was called back to the army for combat. His brigade went missing in Burma.

Disappeared

Mrs Limbu still waits for Baburaja, her eyes filled with the hope that he will return.

She is not ready to accept his death.

"After he had been missing for nine years I was informed that all the missing soldiers were killed. But how can I believe that when I haven't seen his dead body?"

"At first it was so tough. All the time, his image kept dancing in front of my eyes. But now I am trying to adjust, even though my heart doesn't let me."

When her husband departed, they had been married for just one year. Mrs Limbu married when she was 14. She was devoted to her husband and did not marry anyone else after he disappeared.

"Although I didn't have time to get to know him properly, I loved him very much. He is my everything, so how can I marry anyone else?"

Mrs Limbu is now old, nearly 81, and has no children.

She didn't get much time to share and experience things with her husband.

She does not remember every aspect of his behaviour from the short time they had together. But she says he was a loveable and wonderful soldier, who never drank alcohol and never smoked.

'No response'

Mrs Limbu is being paid an Indian army pension of 4,000 Nepali rupees ($63) a month. She is not satisfied.

"My husband fought for the British government. At the time it was the colonial government in India, but the pension is an Indian army pension," she says. "I should be paid a British pension as it's because of Britain that my husband is missing."

She has visited Indian and British government offices and met many officials from both countries, asking them to clarify her pension position and inform her of the fate of her husband. But they have not given her any response.

Shantamaya Limbu lives in the Sunsari district of eastern Nepal. As she has no children or support for her old age, she is now staying with a male relative.

He has no job, having returned from six years in Korea, and is now planning to go back there to earn more money. She has few other people that she can stay with.

Some months ago she was honoured by the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (Gaesco).

It celebrates 27 November as Victory Day for Gurkhas because it was when they succeeded in forcing the British government to provide compensation for soldiers who were taken prisoner in Japan.

During the celebrations she was honoured and given some money.
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Antipodean Andy · Apr 23, 2008

I think her grievances are most warranted.

The Gurkhas are a fine people and they keep volunteering for service...yet they don't get the support their service deserves.

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