As I begin my term as President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association in the United Kingdom (NRNA UK), I pledge to uphold the ethos of our organisation: “For Nepali by Nepali”. We will achieve our aims by stepping up our innovation efforts and collaborating with our members, like-minded institutions, and associates to leverage our collective ability to transform and help solve social concerns.

I want to express my gratitude to you, for having faith in me and entrusting me to serve as the NRNA UK President. I am committed to this role and look forward to being of service to the Nepalese Community. Through this role, I aim to bring unity, opportunity and integrity. During my tenure, I want to make an impact and look after all our members fairly and equally – not only our elderly, our Gurkhas and ex-Gurkhas but also our youth, as they are the future of our generation. Every one of us is blessed with capability we can utilize to contribute and be an instrument to prosper our community; whether that looks like physical strength, knowledge, talent or simply kindness, we can help one another for a better tomorrow.

The network of NRNA is spread across 83 countries around the world and each country is represented by the National Co-ordination Council (NCC). Together, we collaborate and work hard to ensure happiness, success and abundance in Nepal. We unitedly aim to protect and celebrate all that we love about our beautiful homeland: its cultures, customs, traditions, heritage and most importantly, its people.

Over the last 16 years, we have witnessed how all these Nepalese organisations strive for the same objective. However, our links to the United Kingdom go back farther in history. Nepal and the United Kingdom have been allies for over 204 years. Our long-standing relationship has strengthened our unity and bridged the gap between our communities. Thus, there are more than 300 Nepalese organisations in the United Kingdom.

Since the organization’s founding in 2003, NRNA UK has represented and protected the Nepalese diaspora in this country, overseas and in Nepal. At present, more than 200,000 Nepali reside here, with more people choosing to make the UK their home. NRNA UK has demonstrated in its efforts throughout the years that it can stand on its own to represent the voices of its populous and aid the community – as shown in its resilience amidst the uncertainty and challenges brought by COVID-19, our negotiations with the British government to extend the leave for ex-Gurkhas receiving pension credit and the recognition of Gurkha history through the GMS Project of Havildar Kulbir Thapa VC statue in Aldershot, just to name a few recent accomplishments.

Although we adore this country, we can never completely leave Nepal because we have a sense of belonging and connection to our homeland. That is why, as members of NRNA UK, we come together as one community, which truly feels like a home away from home.

To be in the United Kingdom, one of the world’s most developed countries, provides us with numerous possibilities to gain information and skills, academic knowledge, and financial and commercial competence. We can then bring these great impacts to Nepal, allowing it to develop, progress, and flourish.

I will work closely with all political parties, ethnic minority groups, faiths, and cultures to better understand your needs and serve you. We will continue to join hands with the British government to integrate with the wider community, collectively progress and go forward in a way that improves our NRNA.

In the next two years, I plan to focus on a variety of initiatives and issues, all of which are supported by my commitment to listen to suggestions, consistently improve, focus, and assist each and every one of you. Therefore, I invite and encourage you to come to me with all your ideas, large or little, on how we may continue to forge forwards together.

Thank you, and I look forward to the next two years.

– Prem Gaha Magar, President of NRNA UK