Nepalese women walk past a 99 pence discount shop on the edge of the town centre in Aldershot in southern England October 29, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Picture taken October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION) 

Family of retired Gurkha soldiers stand in protest during a demonstration outside the Palace of Westminster in London October 25, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/ Picture taken October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION CIVIL UNREST) 

Retired Gurkha soldiers march in protest during a demonstration outside the Palace of Westminster in London October 25, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Picture taken October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION) 

Retired Gurkha soldiers stand in protest during a demonstration outside the Palace of Westminster in London October 25, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/ Picture taken October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION CIVIL UNREST) 

Captain Dharma, a retired Gurkha soldier, demonstrates outside the Palace of Westminster in London October 25, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Picture taken October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION CIVIL UNREST) 

Retired Gurkha soldiers march in protest during a demonstration outside the Palace of Westminster in London October 25, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Picture taken October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION CIVIL UNREST) 

A retired Gurkha soldier sits down during a demonstration outside the Palace of Westminster in London October 25, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/Picture taken October 25, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION CIVIL UNREST) 

Retired Captain Birbahadur Thapa, a retired Gurkha solider, gestures in a sitting room in Aldershot in southern England October 29, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/ Picture taken October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION) 

Hari Thupa, 71, a retired Gurkha Captain, poses with a photograph of himself as a young soldier as he sits in his sitting room in Aldershot in southern England October 29, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/ Picture taken October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION) 

Tikendra Dal Dewan, a retired Gurkha major and chairman of the British Gurkha Welfare Association, sits behind his desk in Aldershot, southern England October 29, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. The veterans' situation has helped fuel protests by a group of ex-Gurkhas, their families and supporters, who are calling for improvements to their pensions and other benefits. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Picture taken October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (BRITAIN - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION) 

Bhim Prashad Gurung, who served in the Gurkha regiment of the British army, tells a joke as his wife Kamalawoti Gurung enters the room at home in Gurung Village in Pokhara valley, west of Kathmandu October 29, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Gurkha protesters say that current pensions do not stretch far enough in Nepal, but William Shuttlewood, director of the GurkhaWelfare Trust charity contends that they can provide a "very good standard of living" there. Gurung disagrees. He receives a pension of around £350 a month, which he says would not be enough without extra income that he makes from a rice field. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/ Picture taken October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar (NEPAL - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION) 

Bhim Prashad Gurung, who served in the Gurkha regiment of the British army, and his wife Kamalawoti Gurung row a boat on Phewa Lake in front of their house in Pokhara valley, west of Kathmandu October 29, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Gurkha protesters say that current pensions do not stretch far enough in Nepal, but William Shuttlewood, director of the GurkhaWelfare Trust charity contends that they can provide a "very good standard of living" there. Gurung disagrees. He receives a pension of around £350 a month, which he says would not be enough without extra income that he makes from a rice field. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/ Picture taken October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar (NEPAL - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION ENVIRONMENT) 

Bhim Prashad Gurung, who served in the Gurkha regiment of the British army, points to a photograph of himself as a young soldier, as he sits at home in Gurung Village in Pokhara valley, west of Kathmandu October 29, 2013. An estimated 10,000 ex-Gurkha heads of family live in Britain, having come here after serving in the famous brigade that since 1815 has fought in numerous conflicts, from Gallipoli to Malaya to the current war in Afghanistan. But though they have been part of the British army, many older ex-Gurkhas do not speak good English and find navigating life in the country a challenge. After a series of 24-hour fasts by demonstrators, protest organiser Gyanraj Rai on November 7, 2013 began an all-out hunger strike to push for their demands, which start with equal pension payments for Gurkha soldiers compared to their counterparts in other parts of the British army. Gurkha protesters say that current pensions do not stretch far enough in Nepal, but William Shuttlewood, director of the GurkhaWelfare Trust charity contends that they can provide a "very good standard of living" there. Gurung disagrees. He receives a pension of around £350 a month, which he says would not be enough without extra income that he makes from a rice field. To match Story BRITAIN-GURKHAS/ Picture taken October 29, 2013. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar (NEPAL - Tags: SOCIETY MILITARY IMMIGRATION)