'Better to die than be a coward'

I recently visited Pokhera in Nepal which is the home of the Ghurkha army. Alongside the barracks is a museum which celebrates the contribution these brave soldiers have made to conflicts the world over. Their motto which is proudly displayed in the entrance is ‘Better to die than be a coward’. In a dark corner I found a very moving poem pinned to the wall. I thought I’d share it with you.

My Mother will ask where her boy Is

My mother will ask where is her boy

Tell her that the battle has begun

My father will ask where is his boy

Tell him his inheritance has increased

Younger brother will ask where is his brother

Tell him he died in battle

Elder sister will ask after her brother

Tell her one less choli

Younger sister will ask after her brother

Your Maiti become smaller tell her

Sister in law will ask where her brother in law is

Tell her to cut a goat to mourn

My buddies will ask for their lahure

Tell them to kill all memories

My son will ask for baba

Tell him to take his off his cap

My daughter will ask for baba

Tell her to save her honour (ask her to offer a daan of gold bangles)

My love will ask after her husband

Tell her to break her necklace and the bangles

Wipe her sindur, and that she is now free.

Brothers will talk of me at family gatherings

Father will talk of me for six months, a year (fathers cry for a year)

Mother don’t cry, don’t cry

Mother will weep and talk about me for ever

I wanted to come, the enemy stopped me

I did not come, death met me.

Choli – clothes given by brothers to sisters

Maiti – married woman’s parents’ home

Lahure – soldier

Baba – father

Daan – a ritual offering

Sindur – coloured powder on the forehead of a married woman