Remembering Nims Purja: A Gurkha Who Redefined the Possible

The world has lost a man who redefined what is possible. Nirmal Purja, or Nims, was a bright light of inspiration to countless people.

In the Brigade of Gurkhas we are proud to call him one of our own. But his achievements belong to none of us, because it was he himself who showed us that the easy path is not the one that leads to achievement.

He died on Broad Peak in Pakistan in a tragic accident that also took the lives of others from around the world, all mountaineers united in the spirit of challenge and human endeavour.

We mourn them all. But we also celebrate remarkable lives, and none more so than that of Nims.

A soldier, a Gurkha, a mountaineer, a husband, a father, a son and a brother. You have shown us a path – we must rise to your example. Rest in peace Nims.

Major General Gez Strickland (Colonel Commandant the Brigade of Gurkhas).