Saru of Nepali origin elected Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough

By Ramnath Ghimire, Britain, May 15: Former British Gurkha Captain Bhim Saru Magar of Nepali origin has been elected as the Mayor of Nuneaton Bedworth Borough in the United Kingdom.

The ruling Labor Party's Councilor Captain Saru has been elected as the mayor in an election of Nuneaton Bedworth Borough Council held today during the annual meeting of the Council. He bagged 20 votes. The Borough has 19 Councilors from the Labour Party, 17 Councilors from the Conservative Party, and two Councilors from the Green Party.

His competitor Will Markham received 15 votes. Four other Councillors were absent from the election process. The newly elected mayor, Saru, took the oath of office and secrecy at the Council's plenery meeting today.

After the swearing-in, Mayor Saru thanked the council and all the people of the borough for giving an opportunity to serve as a mayor in Britain to an ordinary person who was born in Nepal's rural area and followed his father's footsteps to enlist in the British army.

On that occasion, he stated that he would play a role in making the services of the council effective by bringing together all classes and communities in the area. 

Talking to RSS immediately after taking the oath of office, Mayor Saru expressed happiness about being able to become a mayor in the UK even though he was born in Nepal. 

"Since Nepalis have been able to work in leadership roles in various parts of the world, it is a pride for all of Nepal," he said and expressed his readiness to share with Nepal what he has learned.

Mayor Saru said: "Firstly, as the mayor, my responsibility is to implement my plans for the overall development and the welfare of the community of the borough. Therefore, the issues of this community are my priorities. 

There is also a large Nepali community here, so they will surely find it a bit easier. My experience as a mayor could also be fruitful for Nepal. I am positive about collaborating with the mayors (in Nepal)." 

He expressed happiness that for the first time in the over two-hundred-year history of Gurkha recruitment in Britain, a person born in Nepal from the Gurkha community has been elected as a mayor.

Who is Saru?

Born in Chidipani, Palpa, Bhim Saru Magar has carved a remarkable path through dedication, hard work, and resilience. After serving nearly three decades in the British Army's Royal Engineers, he retired as a Garrison Engineer and later established his own business, Saru Embroidery, in the UK. He had joined the British Army in 1993.

Last year, he was elected as a councillor from the Labour Party in the Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council. Now, he has been nominated as the Mayor, with support from the Green Party, marking a historic moment for the Nepali community in the UK.

His journey from a Gurkha soldier to a business leader and now a political figure is an inspiration to immigrants worldwide. Bhim Saru Magar’s story is a testament to the power of commitment, leadership, and perseverance in achieving success in a foreign land.

The borough proudly plays home to a 3,000 strong Gurkha and Nepalese community and boasts a unique memorial to the Gurkha regiment that is based at nearby Bramcote Barracks. (RSS)