Nimsdai Set To Receive Guard Of Honour At UK Funeral As Calls Grow To Declare Him Nepal’s National Hero

Nimsdai’s Remains Arrive In UK

The mortal remains of renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja have arrived in the United Kingdom, where his family is preparing for his funeral later this month.

According to NRNA UK President Prem Gaha Magar, Purja’s family received his remains on August 9, and they have since been kept at an undisclosed location for security reasons. The funeral is expected to take place toward the end of August, with those wishing to attend asked to register by August 22.

Guard Of Honour Planned

Purja is expected to receive a guard of honour at his UK funeral, according to NRNA UK.

The planned honour has renewed discussion among Nepali diaspora groups about how Nepal has recognised the mountaineer following his death.

NRNA UK has criticised what it describes as the absence of a formal national honour or proper condolence message from the Nepal government. The organisation has also formally asked Prime Minister Balendra Shah to recognise Purja as a national hero.

Calls To Declare Nimsdai A National Hero

NRNA UK has submitted a formal request to the Nepal government seeking national hero status for Purja.

The demand has also received support from Member of Parliament Indira Magar, while Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa had publicly called for Purja’s remains to be brought to Nepal so that people could pay their final respects.

The debate has also raised questions about how Nepal recognises internationally prominent Nepalis who have served or lived abroad.

A Mountaineering Record That Put Nepal On The Global Map

Purja, a former British Gurkha, became one of the world's most recognised high-altitude mountaineers after climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in just over six months in 2019.

He subsequently continued to set mountaineering records and accumulated 18 Guinness World Records, according to the report.

His achievements earned him a large following in Nepal and internationally, particularly among young Nepalis who viewed his expeditions as a source of national pride and inspiration.

Killed In Broad Peak Avalanche

Purja was among 10 climbers killed in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan's Karakoram range on July 30. Six of those killed were Nepali, according to the report.

His death brought renewed attention to the risks faced by mountaineers and the legacy of Nepali climbers on some of the world's highest peaks.

NRNA UK Urges Nepal To Recognise His Legacy

NRNA UK President Prem Gaha Magar said Purja's service in the British Army should not diminish his identity as a Nepali.

The organisation argues that his achievements went beyond military service or mountaineering and helped promote Nepal internationally.

According to Magar, Purja sought to inspire people regardless of nationality, ethnicity or religion and had become a global figure through his achievements.

A Wider Debate Over Recognition

The controversy surrounding Purja's funeral has also revived a broader discussion within the Nepali diaspora about the recognition of Nepalis who serve abroad.

NRNA UK has argued that Nepalis serving in the British Gurkhas remain connected to Nepal and should not be viewed as less Nepali because they live overseas.

The organisation has therefore urged the government to consider Purja's overall contribution and international legacy while deciding whether to grant him national hero status.

Memorial Held In The UK

Earlier this month, NRNA UK organised a memorial and condolence event at Princess Garden in Aldershot in memory of Purja.

The upcoming funeral is expected to bring together members of the Nepali diaspora, British Gurkhas and others who wish to pay tribute to the mountaineer.