They take their name from Guru Gorakhnath, an 8th century Warrior-saint. Best known for their history of bravery, strength and discipline- Many Singaporeans much like myself were perturbed by the recent news that the presence of Police Riot Police vehicles surrounding the Ghurka Base compound in Mount Vernon was the result of in-fighting amongst the Nepalese soldiers.
Apparently, the Gurhkas were fighting over the rising cost of living and the inability of their salary to keep pace. Right.
"Were you one of the few that believed toilet urinals have doors?" asked Ken sarcastically refering to the terrorist escape debacle.
Justin Ken- He was a senior editor at one our country's local mainstream offerings. I met him after a particularly bitchy letter to his publication.
I have a gift- I know how to spin a yarn, add a dash of backhanded compliments and a smidge of antagonism and you have the makings of one semi-interesting columnist. That's how he became my boss. Only part-time though. Long story.
Besides, it doesn't matter what I did for a living before the outbreak. Overnight, the celebrities of the new age weren't the movie or radio stars. Neither were the bald headed hairdressers or cutie pie models like Marggy Mee. They were carpenters, engineers, electricians and plumbers. That's right, in the new age, manual labor professionals were the rockstars.
Truth is- you don't get much experience rebuilding fortifications or splicing communication lines when you're a film actor, model or rich young scion from a family with deep pockets. Money didn't count for jack in the new economy neither did looks. You were a benefit to society or a deadweight.
Boy those fuckers who used to diss ITE graduates are probably feeling mighty stupid now.
Anyhow, Ken, proud owner of a gorgeous (till this day) Prada black leather bag was giving me an earful over spotty cellular connection, "Listen, it wasn't some in-fighting bullshit. I'm probably going to be asked to tea by ISD over this..."
I narrowly avoided a pair of idiots chatting a the foot of the escalator as Ken continued, "Hard nosed no-nonsense Ghurkas are not going to fight over some shit like pay. The riot vehicles were there to contain something greater, I dunno what the hell it is but apparently, there were more reports of the "bite attacks" taking place over there."
"Bite attacks?" I asked, to think I used to write movie reviews.
"Yeah that's what the elites are calling them. Some bangras (yeah that's what we call our migrant bangladeshi workers) were attacked during land reclamation works over at the former cemetery. Doesn't say what exactly but do the math."
"So police were there to keep the "biters" in? Not so much as to keep people out?"
"Bingo."
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