Ishwar Gurung

Twenty-three-year old Ishwar Gurung, a resident of Bhujrungkhola of Sardikhoal-1, was killed by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan on August 13, 2010. He died a day after another British Gurkha Rifleman, Remand Kulung, succumbed to the injuries he sustained in a freak accident in an army base camp in Afghanistan.

Ishwar's death has caused a great deal of sorrow for the Gurung family, with relatives pouring in at their residence to console the aggrieved mother, Sunkumari Gurung, including Ishwar's elder brother and little sister.

Residents of Bhujrungkhola, a small village in Kaski, said it was hard for them to believe Ishwar is dead.

Tekraj Acharya knew Ishwar since childhood and described him as "an affable and good-hearted boy".

Ishwar was also very good in studies and had recently passed the School Leaving Certificate with good grades.

But the very poor financial condition of his family meant that Ishwar had little option other than to leave his studies and join thousands of youths like him to go through rigorous physical challenges to get recruited into the British Army.

After joining the British Army three years ago, Ishwar became the main bread-winner and the family's condition had greatly improved because of the relatively well-paying job.

Ishwar was deployed in Afghanistan only six months ago. He was scheduled to come home in September to receive tika from his mother during Dashain.

Meanwhile, Sunkumari, accompanied by her elder son, left for the capital from her village on Sunday, after being summoned by the British Embassy. They will head to the UK to attend a memorial service to be held in the honour of Ishwar's departed soul.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Ishwar Gurung is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen