Gurkha granddaughter honours ‘invisible’ wives of Nepali soldiers in British army through art
- Suzana Shrish’s art exhibition in Kathmandu reveals the hidden strength and sacrifices of Gurkha wives
- The project aims to integrate women’s experiences into the Gurkha community’s history, challenging the traditional soldier-centric narratives
Dil Kumari Gurung was 14 when she married a Gurkha army man and followed him to India at the age of 23. Living in a foreign land “was not all about comfort” and money was scarce.
Lal Kumari Pun’s husband joined the army after their marriage, but she stayed behind in Nepal to care for the family. It was a struggle-filled life, she recalled, though her husband’s letters and the parcels he sent from abroad helped her carry on.
Both women, now in their 80s, are among the thousands of army wives who either followed their husbands abroad or stayed in Nepal, making significant socio-economic contributions that have been overshadowed in the history books by the gallantry of the Gurkha men.
Those women and their stories are now part of an art project helmed by Suzana Shrish, a Gurkha granddaughter, who aims to shift the focus and honour Gurkha women.
“We study about gender equality and equity but that’s missing in our own communities,” said Shrish, 29, a creative artist. “I wanted to bring these components into my work.”
