Nepal UK
London – A memorial service was held in London to bid a final farewell to student Yeoman Chand, who passed away last week in Edgware, London.
The service, organised on Thursday afternoon at Divinity Funeral Care in Kenton, was attended by members of late Chand’s family, friends, former colleagues, and leaders of the Nepali community.
Expressing condolences, Khamir Jung Gurung, President of Burnt Oak Nepalese Community (BONC) UK, said that death of Yoman, who had come to the UK with big dreams for higher education, was a loss not only to his family but to the entire community. He extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who provided financial support to send Yoman’s body back to Nepal, as per the family’s request.
Murari Thapa, Vice-President of Burnt Oak Nepalese Community, said that members of their Society alone contributed nearly £3,000, and around £20,000 had been raised in a short time from various organisations and individuals. Yoman’s former colleagues from McDonald’s and Ezi had contributed over £1,300.
Pramod Adhikari, Director of Ample International Education, recalled coming to the UK as a student himself in 2010, and said they were deeply saddened by Yoman’s untimely passing. He stressed that in moments of grief, Nepalis must support one another.
Rajendra Pudasaini, President of NRNA UK, said helping one another in times of hardship is deeply rooted in Nepali culture. He added that funds to repatriate Yoman's body were collected transparently and that the Nepali community in the UK contributed generously within a short period. He thanked Burnt Oak Nepalese Community, Harlow Nepali Community, Nepalese British Community (NBC) UK, Rapti Samaj UK, Thakuri Samaj UK, NRNA Scotland, students of the University of the West of Scotland, Sudurpaschim Students’ Society, and all other organisations and individuals for their support.
At the event, Burnt Oak Nepalese Community’s Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Sushma Gurung, former colleague Dipak Rai, Srinti, and others offered heartfelt tributes and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul. The memorial began with a one-minute silence in Yoman’s memory.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Yoman’s first cousin, Sujan Shah, expressed deep gratitude to the Nepali community and organisations in the UK for their moral and material support during an unimaginable time of grief. He said that due to the love and strong support shown by the community, they never felt alone in a foreign land. He said that although Yoman left too soon, his memory will remain alive in the hearts of all those who knew him.
The memorial service was attended by former Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet, Councillor Lachhya Gurung, NRNA UK spokesperson Shyam Luintel, and other community leaders. The programme was conducted by journalist and advisor of Rapti Society UK, Bhagirath Yogi.
Yoman Chand, a resident of Darma Rural Municipality Ward No. 3 in Salyan, had come to the UK only a year ago for his studies and passed away suddenly last Tuesday (11 November).
The 26-year-old was studying MSc Communications and Information Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, and had planned to receive his certificate last week after completing his studies.
According to his family, his body will be flown to Kathmandu on Saturday via Qatar Airways and then taken to his village in Salyan for the final rites.
