Gurkhas lost dentity

Ram Singh Gurkha on duty. By Faris Arakkal RAM SINGH is no more a Gurkha sporting a long moustache and wielding rod, whistle and knife. He is now a security guard at an ATM counter in the city. Ram Singh from Nepal has been living in Kerala for 65 years. He has a family in Thrissur and owns a voters identity card now. Gurkhas were known for their bravery. Their attire and moustache command respect from people. It was a saying that if a Gurkha took his knife out of its sheath, he never kept it back without blood stains on it. But this is now a folklore that only a granny can tell her kid. Now, the city is not Gurkha friendly for different reasons. The alarming rise in thefts in the city led to the emergence of security guards everywhere. Many private security companies came into existence in the changed scenario, providing security guards to public and private institutions. But Gurkhas are not preferred for the job as they have no address. "Nobody without an identity is allowed in our group," says the man in charge of Gentleman Securities Thrissur. Moreover, Gurkhas are looked down as they turn up to each house asking for money. But Rajesh, who has been a Gurkha in Nadathara since 1998, is the only security guard of the area. He lives here with his Nepali family. He said that he inherited the job from his father. He is happy with whatever the households give in return for his service. Mannuthy is considered the hub of Gurkhas in the city. MB Selvaraj, who works as security guard in the city, said, "Families prefer us to Gurkhas." He criticises Gurkhas saying that they never caught any thief in the city