New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee's recent Nepal visit showed that Indo-Nepal ties are not limited to politics alone. His visit to the Pashupatinath temple, Ram-Janaki temple in Janakpur and Pokhara to meet ex servicemen showed the strong emotional and historical connect that India has with people in Nepal.
Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said, "The visit to Janakpur and the meeting with ex-servicemen in Pokhara was a departure from the past and showed that Indo-Nepal relations cannot be narrowed down to the Kathmandu elite and that linkages with Nepal are actually much broader."
Saran, who has served as India's envoy to Nepal, feels a meeting between the Indian President and the Indian ex-servicemen community in Nepal was long overdue. He said, "The meeting would go a long way in reassuring this important constituency that India has not forgotten their contribution"
The visit had many firsts. The Indian Head of State was visiting Nepal after 18 years and the meeting with the ex-servicemen community or the Gorkhhas came after a gap of 35 years.
There are approximately 1.25 lakh ex-servicemen in Nepal who have served in the Indian Army and fought wars on its behalf. Over 11,000 army men had gathered at Pokhara to listen to their Supreme Commander.
Addressing them, President Pranab Mukherjee said, "You Indian ex-servicemen are a pillar of strength and a symbol of India's friendship with Nepal. We are proud of our Gorkha soldiers. I assure you on behalf of the Indian government that we will do all we can to ensure your welfare."
Colonel Sher Bahadur Gurung, one of the most senior most officers among ex-servicemen in Nepal said, "The visit of the supreme commander would go a long way in strengthening ties between the two countries. We are very happy that he came and addressed us."
In the last financial year the Indian ex-servicemen community in Nepal received over 3,000 Crores in pension from the Indian government and the figure is expected to cross 4000 Crores with the implementation of OROP. They are treated on par with their Indian counterparts.
Ex-servicemen, Col DB Thapa, says the Indian government has done a lot for the Gurkhas but despite that the community lacks a sense of identity in Nepal. He laments that despite the Gorkhas fighting valiantly in the First World War and Second World War the Nepal government has not released land for a war memorial. He hopes President Pranab Mukherjee's visit will change the attitude of Nepali politicians towards the Gorkhas and they would stop treating them as just another vote bank.
Shiv Shanker Mukherjee, another former envoy who has served in Nepal, also welcomed the President’s meeting with ex-servicemen. He feels that the Indian government must now capitalize on the positive sentiment created by the Presidents’ visit. He says, "The internal politics in Nepal is in a mess, we must consistently keep reaching out to different communities and it shouldn't end with the Presidents visit."
Talking about the President’s personal equation with Nepali leaders, the ex envoy said, "No one knows Nepal better than Pranab Mukherjee, he knows best what message to give when and in what language."
Indian diplomats feel that Indo-Nepal ties had taken a hit during the four month long blockade and Pranab Mukherjee's visit has provided the healing touch to some extent.
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