The British armed services will now allow Gurkha women to join the Gurkha battalions. The decision has come on March 8, the Intenational Women’s Day. Gurkha women will be recruited from 2009, army officials said.

They will serve as engineers, signallers, logisticians and medics as women in the rest of the army do.

Gurkhas have formed one of the valiant units in the British Army ever since they began to be recruited in early nineteenth century to serve as soldiers in the British Indian Army. They have seen action in various parts of the world, including places like Iraq and Cyprus.

These ethnic Nepalese fighters have fought many important wars in the past and significantly contributed to victory. Their legendary valour and resilience are greatly appreciated. It is said that a Gurkha with a Kukhri is unbeatable. Kukhri is the curved knife taditionally worn by Gurkhas as a part of their garment.

The Gurkha soldiers continued to serve the British Army even after the British left the Indian shores on India becoming independent in 1947.

But, there were some anomalies in their salaries and pensions in the British Army. They earned less in comparison to their British counter-parts. The present changes in the rules will end the disparity between Gurkhas and other British soldiers, though the Gurkha soldiers who retired before 1997 are not benefitted by the new rules.

Gurkhas will continue to be recruited in Nepal as usual and will remain Nepalese citizens. After five years of service they will be free to transfer to other branches of the armed forces. They will have the choice of returning to Nepal or settling in the UK on retirement. The Gurkhas in service have welcomed the new rules.

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