The statue of Karna Bahadur Rana Magar, the youngest recipient of Britain's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross (VC), has been unveiled.

Former Indian Army Colonel SS Singh unveiled the statue at the Varse Photo Gallery in Satyawati Rural Municipality-8 Varse, Gulmi on Wednesday. Rana Magar, who has a permanent residence in Foksing, Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-5, Gulmi, received the VC medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1919.

The statue of Karna Bahadur Rana Magar was installed in the courtyard of the Varse Photo Gallery under the leadership of the Varse Bhupu Sangh last month. The statue, made by sculptor Yama Bahadur Thapa at a cost of Rs. 1.55 million, uses 300 kg of brass.

Born in 1898, Karn Bahadur joined the British Army and served in the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles, serving with the 232nd Infantry Brigade of the 75th Infantry Division in the Palestine Campaign. During the battle against the German army in the El Kefr area of ​​Palestine on 10 April 1918, he displayed extraordinary courage by using a Lewis gun to suppress enemy machine guns and attacks amidst heavy shelling and bombing. He was victorious in the battle. For his bravery, it was decided to award him the Victoria Cross on 21 June 1918 through the London Gazette. Karn Bahadur is the first person to bear the name of Nepal to receive the VC medal in 19 years. Later, due to the First World War, Karn Bahadur joined the Indian Army.