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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tikendra Dal Dewan
| image = Maj_Tikendra_Dal_Dewan.jpg
| alt = Tikendra Dal Dewan
| caption =
| birth_name = Tikendra Dal Dewan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|06|18}}
| birth_place = [[Kurseong]], [[Darjeeling]], [[India]]
| alma_mater = [[Goethals Memorial School]], Kurseong.
| occupation = {{Hlist|Ex-British Army Officer- Gurkha Major|CEO GnERGY|Social worker}}
| net_worth =
| known_for = * Chair of the British Gurkha Welfare Society (BGWS)
* Instrumental in the Gurkhas campaign for equality
* Campaign for equal pensions for Ex-British Gurkha veterans
| title = * Ex-[[Major]] in the [[British Armed Forces]]
* [[CEO]] of GnERGY
| boards = {{Unbulleted list|GnERGY|BGWS}}
| spouse = Milan Dewan
| children = 3
| parents =
| website =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
}}

[[Major]] (Retd) '''Tikendra Dal Dewan''' [[Justice of the peace|JP]], is an ex- [[Gurkha|British Army Gurkha]], a Gurkha leader/social worker/activist campaigning for equal rights of [[Brigade of Gurkhas|British Gurkhas.]] Dewan served in the [[British Army]] for thirty one years, [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Civil Services]] for eleven years and is the [[chairperson]] of the British Gurkha Welfare Society (BGWS) a welfare organisation for [[Gurkha]]s in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Nepal]] and former [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of Gnergy an energy company based in the UK run by retired British Gurkha veterans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07khh4q|title=BBC World Service - Witness History, The Gurkhas: We felt like second-class citizens|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-11530333|title=Gurkhas lose battle on pensions|date=2010-10-13|access-date=2019-08-13|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asiatimes.com/2018/08/article/gurkhas-latest-battle-is-a-fight-for-equal-rights/|title=Asia Times {{!}} Gurkhas' latest battle is a fight for equal rights {{!}} Article|last=Times|first=Asia|website=Asia Times|date=6 August 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://poddtoppen.se/podcast/339986758/witness-history/the-gurkha-soldiers-fight-for-equality|title=The Gurkha soldiers fight for equality - Witness History|website=Poddtoppen|language=sv|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/pensions-retirement/news/gurkha-veterans-battling-better-pensions-despite-government/|title=Gurkha veterans battling for better pensions despite Government top-up|last=Barker|first=Sam|date=2019-03-18|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-08-13|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/398960/Gurkhas-sharpen-up-knife-skills|title=Gurkhas sharpen up knife skills|last=Giannangeli|first=Marco|date=2013-05-12|website=Express.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref><ref name="businessbreakingnews.net">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessbreakingnews.net/2019/03/gurkha-veterans-battling-for-better-pensions-despite-government-top-up/|title=Gurkha veterans battling for better pensions despite Government top-up|date=2019-03-18|website=Business Breaking News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-28}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/pensions-retirement/news/gurkha-veterans-battling-better-pensions-despite-government/|title=Gurkha veterans battling for better pensions despite Government top-up|last=Barker|first=Sam|date=2019-03-18|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-08-28|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pictures.reuters.com/archive/BRITAIN-GURKHAS--GM1E9B81JF701.html|title=Reuters Pictures - BRITAIN-GURKHAS/|website=pictures.reuters.com|access-date=2019-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asian-voice.com/News/UK/Gurkha-regiment-to-recruit-women|title=Gurkha regiment to recruit women...|last=ABPL|website=www.asian-voice.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Army stations ===
Whilst in the British Army, Maj Dewan served in [[Hong Kong]], [[Brunei]], [[Cyprus]], [[Belize]], [[Nepal]] and United Kingdom.<ref name=":2" />

=== Rank ===
Dewan joined the British Army as a regular soldier and rose the rank of a [[Major]], the highest for a Gurkha Officer and retired in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abplgroup.com/Events/Asian-Achievers-Awards/Previous-Winners2/2011|title=2011|last=ABPL|website=www.abplgroup.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/abpl/docs/aaa_postevent2011|title=Asian Achievers Awards 2011|website=Issuu|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>

=== Post army ===
After retiring from the British Armed forces, Dewan served in the British Civil services for eleven years before spearheading the energy company Gnergy as a [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] since 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-threat-to-big-six-as-gurkhas-enter-fray-with-gnergy-ql755096xm7|title=New threat to Big Six as Gurkhas enter fray with Gnergy|last=Webb|first=Tim|date=2014-05-06|work=The Times|access-date=2019-08-29|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06993060/officers|title=GNERGY LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ceo-review.com/issues/issue-10-2018/9/|title=CEO Monthly Issue 10 2018|website=www.ceo-review.com|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>

== Activism and social work ==
Dewan was instrumental in the Gurkhas campaign for equality in the United Kingdom when on May 21, 2009 all retired Gurkha soldiers were granted the right to live in Britain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=61755032|title=The Gurkha soldiers fight for equality from Witness History|website=www.stitcher.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-27}}</ref> According to [[Asia Times]] a critical speech of Dewan's resulted in public pressure that led to then Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] finally relenting to the Gurkhas settlement rights in the UK.<ref>{{Citation|title=Citizenship for Gurkhas (Part 2)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB3OjpIN2Ow|language=en|access-date=2021-03-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asiatimes.com/2018/08/article/gurkhas-latest-battle-is-a-fight-for-equal-rights/|title=Asia Times {{!}} Gurkhas' latest battle is a fight for equal rights {{!}} Article|last=Times|first=Asia|website=Asia Times|date=6 August 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-08-27}}</ref>

Dewan was appointed a Governor in the Hampshire [[National Health Service|National Health Service (NHS)]] Council in December 2018 and [[Justice of the peace|Justice of Peace (JP)]]: [[Magistrate]] for England and Wales, standing since January 2014 ([[North Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency)|North Hampshire]] Bench).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://improvement.nhs.uk/documents/5633/Surrey_and_Borders_Partnership_NHS_Foundation_Trust_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2018-19.PDF|title=NHS England}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/aboutus/members-and-governors/governors/your-governors|title=Your Governors :: Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust|website=www.sabp.nhs.uk|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wenepali.com/2019/03/61329.html|title=गोर्खा घोषणाबारे मेरो दृष्टिकोण|website=We Nepali|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-11}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=विश्व लिम्बुको यक्ष प्रश्न, यूकेमा नेपालीहरुको समस्या के के छन् ? टिकेन्द्रदल देवानको जवाफ Tikendra|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0plznBYvwHE|language=en|access-date=2019-09-24}}</ref>

== Gurkha Justice and campaigns ==
Maj Dewan also heads the campaign for equal pensions for Ex-British Gurkha veterans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-13841856|title=Gurkhas take pensions to Europe|date=2011-06-20|access-date=2019-08-27|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=publications.parliament.uk|date=11 September 2014|title=HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/chan37.pdf|journal=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)}}</ref> The legal and political campaign is over the fact that Gurkhas who retired before July 1, 1997, despite having won the right to settle in the UK with the assistance of [[Joanna Lumley|Joanna Lumley's]] campaign, continue to receive much smaller pensions than their British counterparts. The pension inequality rule affects about 25,000 Gurkha veterans and the challenge was brought to court by BGWS on [[human rights]] and discrimination grounds.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gurkha-veterans-lose-pensions-appeal-battle-2105412.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gurkha-veterans-lose-pensions-appeal-battle-2105412.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Gurkha veterans lose pensions appeal battle|date=2010-10-13|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.grin.com/document/345084|title=GRIN - The Impact of the British Empire in Nepal|website=www.grin.com|date=14 November 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-28}}</ref> According to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|UK Ministry of Defence]] (MOD) the ruling was "justified and proportionate" and not discriminatory on the grounds of age or nationality.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://everesttimes.net/archives/8510|title=बिजीडब्लुएसद्वारा प्राविधिक समितिलाई खुलापत्र|website=Everest Times UK|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-11}}</ref>

The UK MOD also argued the discrepancy is justified because of lower living costs in Nepal, although thousands of Gurkhas are UK residents.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/3025124/gurkhas-fought-britain-now-hunger-strike-veterans-say-they-are|title=Gurkha soldiers who dedicated their lives to Hong Kong feel betrayed by UK|date=2019-08-31|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref>

The BGWS had taken the case to the [[European Court of Human Rights|European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)]] in [[Strasbourg]], [[France]] which got rejected in 2016. Dewan and BGWS continue to fight for equality and justice for the retired Gurkhas.<ref name="businessbreakingnews.net"/><ref name=":0" />

== BGWS ==
BGWS is the first and the largest ex-Gurkha veterans organisation established in the UK to fight for Gurkha Justice and the welfare of ex-Gurkhas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/196677/MoD-budget-cuts-threaten-Gurkhas|title=MoD budget cuts 'threaten Gurkhas'|date=2010-08-31|website=Express.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref>

== Achievements and awards ==

* Gold Asian Achievers Award (UK), 2011 in community service, the first Nepali to receive this award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/abpl/docs/aaa_postevent2011|title=Asian Achievers Awards 2011|website=Issuu|language=en|access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Asian Achievers Awards 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL7y66-qTLs|language=en|access-date=2021-03-30}}</ref>
* The OCU Commander's award for community relations in 2014.<ref name=":2" />
*Hampshire Constabulary Award in 2009
*Don Allen Award Service to Education 2014
* The Nepali Media UK- One of the top ten Nepali personalities in the UK in 2013.
* CEO of the year 2013 for Hampshire by the CEO review magazine.<ref name=":1" />
*First Nepali Justice of Peace (JP): Magistrate for England and Wales, standing since January 2014 (North Hampshire Bench)

== See also ==
*[[Brigade of Gurkhas]]
*[[Gurkha]]
*[[British Army]]
*[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]
*[[Kukri|Khukuri]]
*[[List of British Army regiments]]

==References==

<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/witness-history/the-gurkha-soldiers-fight-Qs5oO3pwbcm/ Witness History: Tikendra Dewan, chairman of the British Gurkha Welfare Society. The Gurkha soldiers fight for equality]
* [https://vimeo.com/113661394 BBC World News: looking at the proud tradition of the Gurkhas, and their campaign for equality]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-49331955/the-gurkhas-we-felt-like-second-class-citizens BBC Witness History speaks to retired Major Tikendra Dal Dewan. The Gurkhas: We felt like second-class citizens]
* [https://vimeo.com/12937909 Interview with Major Tikendra Dal Dewan from BGWS]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csywv5 BBC: A Nepalese regiment of the British army won the right to settle in Britain in 2009]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0plznBYvwHE&feature=share विश्व लिम्बुको यक्ष प्रश्न, यूकेमा नेपालीहरुको समस्या के के छन् ? टिकेन्द्रदल देवानको जवाफ Tikendra Dal Dewan]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dewan, Tikendra Dal}}
[[Category:Royal Gurkha Rifles soldiers]]
[[Category:Royal Gurkha Rifles officers]]
[[Category:British activists]]
[[Category:British social reformers]]
[[Category:British social workers]]
[[Category:Nepalese activists]]
[[Category:British chief executives]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Tikendra Dal Dewan - Revision history

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