BRITISH GURKHAS NEPAL
PRE ARRIVAL PACK – BOOKLET 2
NEPAL & THE GURKHAS
Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
NEPAL AND THE GURKHAS
It is not the intention of this booklet to give a detailed history of Nepal or of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
It would be wrong to attempt such a task in a booklet of this size as it would do neither Nepal nor
the Brigade full justice. More detailed histories, by more accomplished authors can be found in the
many books written on the subject. The aim of this booklet is to give you a synopsis of the history of
Nepal and the Brigade, some current facts on Nepal and its culture and some detail on British
Gurkhas Nepal and the work that it does.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
CONTENTS
NEPAL AND THE GURKHAS ........................................................................................................ 2
THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS ....................................................................................................... 5
A BRIEF HISTORY......................................................................................................................... 5
THE CURRENT BRIGADE............................................................................................................. 6
The Indian Army Gurkha Brigade .............................................................................................. 6
NEPAL – AN INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 7
History and Politics............................................................................................................... 7
NEPAL - GEOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 9
The Himalayan Mountains. ................................................................................................. 9
The Mahabharat Hills. ......................................................................................................... 9
The Terai Plain. ................................................................................................................... 9
Kathmandu. ......................................................................................................................... 9
Pokhara. .............................................................................................................................. 9
Dharan and Biratnagar. ....................................................................................................... 9
CLIMATE ................................................................................................................................ 10
Autumn: ............................................................................................................................. 10
Winter: ............................................................................................................................... 10
Spring: ............................................................................................................................... 10
Pre-monsoon: .................................................................................................................... 10
Monsoon:........................................................................................................................... 10
Average Temperature and Rainfall. .................................................................................. 11
ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................................... 11
TRANSPORT NETWORKS ................................................................................................... 11
TIME ZONES .......................................................................................................................... 12
GURKHAS - THEIR RELIGION AND CUSTOMS ................................................................... 12
THE RELIGION OF THE GURKHAS ..................................................................................... 12
Where does Hinduism come from? ........................................................................................ 12
Brahma. ............................................................................................................................. 13
Vishnu or Bishnu. .............................................................................................................. 13
Shiva. ................................................................................................................................ 13
Basic Principles. ..................................................................................................................... 13
Buddhism ............................................................................................................................... 13
Pashupatinath ................................................................................................................... 14
Mahabauddha ................................................................................................................... 14
Festivals of Nepal ................................................................................................................... 14
Dashain ............................................................................................................................. 14
Phulpati ............................................................................................................................. 14
Kalaratri ............................................................................................................................. 14
Mar ................................................................................................................................ 15
Tika ................................................................................................................................ 15
Tihar .................................................................................................................................. 15
CUSTOMS.............................................................................................................................. 16
Religious Customs ............................................................................................................ 16
Birth of a child.................................................................................................................... 16
Bhat Khulai ........................................................................................................................ 16
Marriage ................................................................................................................................. 16
Deaths .................................................................................................................................... 17
GREETINGS .......................................................................................................................... 17
Common Courtesy. ........................................................................................................... 17
Greeting............................................................................................................................. 17
Ram Ram. ......................................................................................................................... 17
Dhogne. ............................................................................................................................. 17
ADDRESSING & FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ........................................................................ 17
Gurkha Officers ...................................................................................................................... 17
SNCOs ................................................................................................................................... 17
Addressing Gurkha ladies: ..................................................................................................... 18
DO’S AND DON’TS................................................................................................................ 18
BRITISH GURKHAS NEPAL ....................................................................................................... 20
Geographical Locations .......................................................................................................... 21
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
Kathmandu ........................................................................................................................ 21
East Nepal ......................................................................................................................... 21
Pokhara. ............................................................................................................................ 21
Role and Tasks of British Gurkhas Nepal ............................................................................... 21
Headquarters British Gurkhas Nepal (HQ BGN) ..................................................................... 21
Defence Section, British Embassy .......................................................................................... 22
The Gurkha Welfare Scheme (GWS) ...................................................................................... 22
British Gurkhas Kathmandu (BGK) ......................................................................................... 22
Nepal Signal Troop (NST)....................................................................................................... 22
Defence Estates Overseas Detachment (Nepal) (DEOD(N) ................................................... 22
British Gurkhas Pokhara (BGP) .............................................................................................. 22
British Gurkhas Dharan (BGD) ............................................................................................... 22
RANK STRUCTURE............................................................................................................... 22
British Officer (BO) ............................................................................................................. 22
Sandhurst Commissioned Gurkha Officers ........................................................................ 23
Gurkha Officer (GO) ........................................................................................................... 23
Area Welfare Officers (AWO)............................................................................................. 23
Honorary Rank .................................................................................................................. 23
GLOSSARY OF TERMS .............................................................................................................. 24
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS
A BRIEF HISTORY
Britain first came into contact with the men who established modern Nepal in the second half of
the 18th Century. In 1757 Clive's victory at the battle of Plassey established British supremacy in
India and opened the door for the expansion of the Honourable East India Company. Ten years
after the battle of Plassey the British started to come into contact with King Prithvi's armies on
the northern boundaries of its newly won territories of Bihar and Bengal. Eventually as a result of
boundary disputes and repeated raids by Gurkha columns into British territory the Governor General
of India declared war on Nepal in 1814. After two long and bloody campaigns a peace treaty was
eventually signed at Segauli in 1816.
During the campaign a deep mutual respect and admiration developed between the British and their
Gurkha adversaries. Under the terms of the peace treaty Gurkhas were permitted to volunteer for
service in the East India Company's army.
The Regiments formed from these volunteers first
fought for Britain in the Pindaree war of 1817 and earned their first battle honour at Bhurtpore in
1826. In the second Sikh war of 1848, six regiments of the Nepalese army were offered to assist
Britain.
However, it was during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58 that the Gurkhas proved their loyalty beyond
all doubt. The Second Goorkhas (now part of 1 RGR) and the 60th Rifles (now the Royal Green
Jackets) defended the key British position at Delhi where the Gurkhas suffered 327 casualties out of
a strength of 490 (including 8 out of their 9 British Officers). Also 12 Nepalese Army regiments,
under the leadership of the Prime Minister of Nepal took part in the relief of Lucknow.
After the Mutiny the East India Company's army became the British Indian Army and its Gurkha
Regiments saw service in Burma, Afghanistan, the North East and North West Frontiers of India,
Malta, Cyprus, Malaya, China (the Boxer Rebellion of 1900) and Tibet (Young Husband's
Expedition of 1904). At the outbreak of the First World War the whole Nepalese army was placed at
the disposal of the British Crown. As well as the 16,000 Nepalese troops who served in the
Indian theatre, 200,000 Gurkhas served with the Brigade in Europe and the Middle East. After the
First World War, in 1919, the Brigade returned to fighting in Afghanistan and the North West
Frontier.
During the Second World War 45 Battalions and other units of Gurkha troops saw service. Almost a
quarter of a million men fought alongside their British and Indian counterparts all over the globe.
Again the whole Nepalese Army was placed at the disposal of the British Crown. Eight Nepalese
regiments served in India and a Nepalese brigade fought with distinction at the Battle of Imphal in
Burma. In addition the government of Nepal donated money for the purchase of arms and
equipment and for relief for the sufferers of the Blitz. At the end of the war there were ten Gurkha
regiments in the Indian Army. With the partition of India four regiments were transferred to the
British Army to form the Brigade of Gurkhas. Following partition Gurkha Engineer, Signals,
Transport, Parachute and Police units were also raised. The remainder of the regiments stayed in
the Indian Army where they still serve today.
The period after the Second World War again saw the Brigade of Gurkhas in operations almost
wherever the British Army served. The Brigade played a major part in the Malayan Emergency and
in Borneo, and was involved in operations in Cyprus, the Falklands War and the Gulf War. The
Brigade was based in Malaya until the British withdrawal in 1971, when it moved to Hong Kong to
assist with internal security after disturbances relating to China's "Cultural Revolution". The police
and parachute units were disbanded when the Brigade departed from Malaya.
After 1 July 1997, with the handover of Hong Kong to China, the Brigade of Gurkhas moved to
the UK and since then the Brigade units have been deployed in Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor,
Iraq, and most recently in Afghanistan. 1 RGR were the first British Unit to enter Kosovo in 1999.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
THE CURRENT BRIGADE.
1.
The Brigade of Gurkhas is currently about 3400 strong and consists of the following:
a.
1st and 2nd Battalions the Royal Gurkha Rifles (Brunei and Shorncliffe)
b.
Queen's Gurkha Engineers (Maidstone)
c.
69 Gurkha Squadron QGE
d.
70 Sp Sqn QGE
e.
Queen’s Gurkha Signals
f.
246 Gurkha Signal Squadron (York)
g.
248 Gurkha Signal Squadron (Stafford)
h.
250 Gurkha Signal Squadron (Bramcote)
i.
Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment
j.
1 Transport Squadron (Aldershot)
k.
28 Transport Squadron (Aldershot)
l.
94 Stores Squadron, 9 Sup Regt RLC (Hullavington)
m.
3 x Gurkha Reinforcement Coys, serving with 2RGR, 1MERCIAN, 1YORKS
n.
The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas (Shorncliffe)
o.
Headquarters the Brigade of Gurkhas (Netheravon)
p.
Gurkha Coy, 3rd Bn Inf Trg Centre (Catterick)
q.
Gurkha Support Wing, APC (Glasgow)
r.
Gurkha Demonstration Companies (RMA Sandhurst and ITC Brecon)
a.
British Gurkhas Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara and Dharan)
THE INDIAN ARMY GURKHA BRIGADE
2.
It is worth noting that the Indian Army currently employs over 50,000 Gurkha soldiers, many of
whom are on active service in India's border regions with China and Pakistan.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
NEPAL – AN INTRODUCTION
History and Politics
3.
Nepal as we know it today emerged from the unification of disparate tribal kingdoms in the
middle of the 18th Century. Until then Nepal only referred to the city-state based in the Kathmandu
valley. However there is strong evidence that the area has been inhabited since at least the 6th
and 7th centuries BC. The rugged terrain that makes up modern Nepal has always been a refuge for
people fleeing persecution and a trade route between India and China. Nepal had been settled by
tribes of Mongol extraction originating from the Tibetan plateau and by people of Aryan Indian
origin fleeing Muslim persecution in India. More recently Nepal has experienced a large influx of
Tibetans fleeing from the Chinese take-over of Tibet and refugees from Bhutan. As a consequence
there is a diverse background amongst the ethnic groups of Nepal, their language, religion and
culture. Despite this Nepal is a relatively peaceful country and the many different cultures co-exist
with relative harmony compared to other parts of the world.
4.
The unification of Nepal was due to the vision of one man - King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the
warrior King of Gorkha. In the 18th Century Gorkha was a powerful hilltop city-state in what is now
Western Nepal. King Prithvi's palace still stands in the modern day town of Gorkha and the term
Gurkhas evolved from the name of the town. King Prithvi led a long and bloody campaign to
conquer Nepal and finally achieved his aim in 1769, after the fall of the last of the cities of the
Kathmandu valley. He continued his expansion and conquered territory from Kashmir in the west to
Bhutan in the east. However this brought him into conflict with Tibet in the north and with British
India in the south. The Anglo Nepal War was fought between 1814 and 1816 and the Treaty that
ended the war reduced Nepal, broadly, to its current size.
5.
It is worth noting at this point that Nepal has never been conquered by a foreign army.
Nepalis are proud of this fact and the independence it gives them, despite the country's landlocked,
unfavourable position. However unlike India, Nepal has not inherited the infrastructure of civil
government, roads, bridges, schools and hospitals that are often the legacy of colonialism.
Nevertheless Nepal has developed its own bureaucracy, similar to, but not as infamous as, that of
its neighbour India.
6.
After the borders of Nepal had been settled, the Shah dynasty established by King Prithvi
continued to rule in relative peace. However in 1846 a strong general, Jungbahadur Rana, and his
18 brothers seized power in an extremely bloody coup. Most of the country's leaders were slain
but the royal family was maintained as puppet rulers. The Rana regime prospered through greed,
exploitation and its good relationship with the British. After Jungbahadur visited England in 1850
he brought back with him a taste for all things European. It was from his time that the Rana families
started building the large neo-classical palaces that can be seen all over Kathmandu.
7.
The period after the Second World War had already seen much turbulence in India leading to
independence from Britain in 1947 and the eventual partition of India and the birth of Pakistan. In
1950 the Rana regime of Nepal was overthrown in a revolution led by the royal palace, and
King Tribhuwan, assumed power. His first act was to abolish the country's hereditary primeministership instituted by the Ranas and establish new, elected government. It was at this time
the country, which until then had been virtually closed to the west, began to open up its
borders. However, this flirt with democracy was short-lived and in 1959, then King Mahendra
dissolved the government, banned political parties and introduced the „Panchayat’ system.
8.
The Panchayat system was a hierarchical system of government, where power and decisionmaking were devolved from central government through regional, zonal and district committees
down to village-level. The problem was that this was a party-less system with little scope for
change and was seen by many to be simply carrying out the king’s orders, so peasants and
workers fared little better than under the old feudal system. The Panchayat system continued until
1990, when the Jana Andolan or „People’s Movement’ forced the then King Birendra to adopt a
constitutional monarchy and in 1991 the conservative Nepali Congress won a general election and
formed the government, though left-wing parties also did well in the elections.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
9.
In 1996, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [CPN
(Maoist)], who had been gaining support in the rural areas, started an insurgent campaign with the
intention of overthrowing the government and the monarchy and establishing a communist ‘People’s
Republic’. This insurgency developed into a bloody civil war which was to last 10 years and result
in over 12,000 people dead and thousands homeless.
10. On 1 June 2001, during the insurgency, tragedy struck the monarchy in what became
known as the Palace Massacre. Although a thorough and conclusive investigation has never
been carried out, it would appear that the heir apparent, Crown-Prince Dipendra shot and killed
his father King Birendra, the queen and other familiy members with an automatic rifle before turning
the weapon on himself. The throne was then inherited by the king’s brother Gyanendra.
11. After nine years of bitter fighting in the hills, on 1 Feb 05, King Gyanendra dismissed the
government, declared martial law and ordered the army to quash the Maoist revolt. Fighting
continued with something of a stalemate – the army lacking sufficient numbers to retake the rural
areas and the Maoists lacking the strength to assault the cities; resulting in guerrilla attacks by the
Maoists and surge ops by the army with neither side gaining any significant advantage. Meanwhile
the parliamentarians deposed by the king, many of whom sought refuge in India, formed the SevenParty Alliance (SPA). The SPA and CPN (Maoist) signed an agreement at the end of 2005 and
launched a series of protests and strikes. These demonstrations escalated through early 2006,
culminating in what became known as Jana Andolan II, on 21 Apr 06, when around 400,000 people
took to the streets of Kathmandu and forced King Gyanendra to repeal his autocratic leadership, reestablish parliament and accede the SPA demand for an elected body to write a new democratic
constitution. The Maoists however, rejected the deal and continued the insurgency, demanding a
Constituent Assembly (CA) and abolition of the monarchy, but maintained a ceasefire while
negotiations with the government were underway.
12. The civil war finally ended on on 21 Nov 06, with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace
Accord (CPA) between the CPN (Maoist) and the governing Seven Party Alliance. The
agreement included Cantonment of the Maoist PLA under UN supervision, confinement of the
army to barracks, participation of the CPN (Maoist) in government, the planned dissolution of
the monarchy and establishment of Nepal as a secular republic, and the election of a CA to write
a new constitution.
13. After several delays, the CA elections were finally held on 10 Apr 08, with about 60% of the
electorate turning out to vote. The conduct of the elections, which were a hybrid of the Proportional
Representation and First-Past-the-Post systems, went well although there were instances of
intimidation at the polling booths and accusations of election rigging. Of over 20,000 polling
stations, only 108 had to be re-polled, and international and domestic observers concluded that
the results were a true reflection of the will of the people, though none were prepared to go so far
as to the elections were completely “free and fair”.
14. The results of the election surprised everyone, not least the CPN (Maoist) who were able to
garner some 38% of the vote – twice as many seats as their nearest competitors, the Nepali
Congress (NC) [19%] and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN (UML))
[18%]. The fourth largest party in the CA was the Madhesi People’s Rigths Forum (MPRF) with
9% and the remaining 16% divided between 21 minor parties. The first act of the CA was to
ratify a decision taken at the end of 2007 and on 28 May 08, the monarchy was abolished and
the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was born. The election result did however, cause a
problem in that no single party had a majority and the right to form a government; therefore,
some form of coalition was necessary. After much political wrangling, the president, vice- president
and speaker of the house were elected by 21 Jul 08 and a coalition government of the CPN
(Maoist), the CPN (UML) and the MPRF, together with three minor parties was formed by the end
of August. The UCPN (Maoist) chairman and leader of the insurgency, Pushpa Kamal Dahal
“Prachanda” became prime minister. The NC refused to join the government and opted to sit in
opposition.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
15. The new government produced a people-oriented manifesto and ambitious budget, but
suffered from internal disputes within the coalition partners, most notably within the CPN (Maoist)
between the hard-line communists and the more moderate socialist elements. These intra-party
conflicts, together with obstructionist opposition from the NC ensured that the government was
unable to bring any noticeable benefit to the people of Nepal and confidence began to wane.
16. Between December 08 and April 09, a dispute began between the Nepal Army and the
government. Initially over army recruitment, the row escalated to involve the retention of senior
army officers and even participation in a sporting event. Comments from both sides became
increasingly bitter and personal until in April 09 the now UCPN (Maoist) [after amalgamation with
a minor communist party] decided to sack the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS). Despite advice
from virtually all other parties and international observers, on 3 May 09, following a walk- out by all
other cabinet members, the UCPN (Maoist) unilaterally sacked the CoAS. At the virtually
unanimous request of the other parties, the president immediately revoked the UCPN (Maoist)
decree and reinstated the CoAS. The following day, the PM and UCPN (Maoist) ministers
resigned leaving the country without a government.
17. The Maoists protested in the streets against the president’s move and obstructed the
business of the CA. Meanwhile a coalition of 21 parties was formed led by the CPN (UML) and on
25 May 09, Madhav Kumar Nepal became prime minister. At the time of writing, this government is
in place and although its policies are very similar to the previous governments, it seems to be
making better progress with implementation.
NEPAL - GEOGRAPHY
18. Nepal is sandwiched between the 2 major powers of the area; India and China. The country
extends for 500 miles from west to east and its depth from north to south varies between 80 and
150 miles. Nepal lies in an earthquake belt, but major tremors are rare - the last being in 1934.
However a tremor in Northern India affected East Nepal in 1988. The country is approximately the
same size as England and can be divided into 3 distinct areas.
a.
The Himalayan Mountains. On the country's northern border with Tibet are the
Himalayas, varying in height from 15,000 feet, to the top of Everest, at just over 29,000 feet.
b.
The Mahabharat Hills. Below the Himalayas the Mahabharat Hills run through the
centre of the country from east to west. The hills extend from 5,000 to 15,000 feet and are
divided by deep valleys and fast flowing rivers.
c.
The Terai Plain. Running along the southern border with India is the Terai a low, flat,
fertile area that forms the northern boundary of the Ganges flood plain.
19. On Nepal's eastern border lies the Indian district of Darjeeling, where many people of Nepali
origin live. It is a former Indian Army Hill Station and the schools in Darjeeling used to provide
many of the more educated recruits for the Brigade of Gurkhas. Strong ties between British Gurkhas
Nepal and the area still exist and it is the site of the only Brigade Welfare Centre outside Nepal. The
main centres of population are:
a.
Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the capital city and has the largest population, currently
estimated at just over one million. The city lies in a fertile valley at an altitude of 4,500 feet or,
to put this in context, higher than any point in the UK.
b.
Pokhara. Pokhara is to the west of Kathmandu, at the foot of the Annapurna Himal and
at an altitude of 2,500 feet. It has a population of about 80,000.
c.
Dharan and Biratnagar. In East Nepal are the towns of Dharan, with a population of
120,000 and Biratnagar, with 140,000, which also hosts the regional airport.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
20. It is 130 miles by road from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and the journey time is 6-8 hours.
Dharan is 140 miles from Kathmandu as the crow flies, but the journey by road is 360 miles and
takes approximately 16 hours.
CLIMATE
21. In a country that varies in altitude from just above sea level to 29,000 ft the climate
experienced in any location is clearly dependent on altitude. Life in Nepal is very much governed by
the seasons and land that looks barren during most of the year bursts into bloom under intense
cultivation during the monsoon season. The climate can be described in 5 general seasons:
a.
Autumn: October – November. Autumn is the best part of the year and the most
popular season for tourists. After the monsoon season the air is clear and gives excellent
views of the Himalayas. The weather is clear and dry, being neither too cold in the mountains
nor too hot on the Terai.
b.
Winter: December – January. Although it very rarely snows in Kathmandu, snow can
occasionally be seen on the hills surrounding the valley. Nights are cold with regular ground
frosts. The mornings and evenings are cold and clammy with thick mists. The sun clears the
mists by mid morning and temperatures are warm during the day.
c.
Spring: February – Mid April. The weather becomes warmer but not as clear or dry as
the autumn. Occasional rain and mist can obscure the views. The rhododendrons are in
bloom and this is the second most popular tourist season.
d.
Pre-monsoon: Mid April - Mid June. Although warmer than spring, the increase in
humidity is the main factor in making the weather less pleasant. Lightning storms and
sudden high winds can blow up regularly. In the Terai, it can be very hot and humid.
e.
Monsoon: Mid June – September. The onset of the monsoon proper brings relief from
the oppressive humidity. The rain mostly falls during the night and the fields come alive with
greenery as everyone attends to the crops. Leeches emerge on the trails and mosquitoes
(non-malarial in Kathmandu and Pokhara) appear wherever there is stagnant water. Frequent
storms and landslides disrupt air and road movement.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
22. Average Temperature and Rainfall. The average temperature and rainfall figures for
Kathmandu and Pokhara are shown below:
Rain
February
Temperature
Rain
April
Temperature
Rain
Jun
Temperature
Rain
August
Temperature
Rain
October
Temperature
Rain
December
Temperature
cm
Max (
Min (
cm
Max (
Min (
cm
Max (
Min (
cm
Max (
Min (
cm
Max (
Min (
cm
Max (
Min (
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
C)
Kathmandu
(1300m)
3
20
4
6
27
11
29
29
19
36
28
20
6
26
13
0
20
2
Pokhara
(800m)
3
21
8
9
30
15
57
29
20
71
29
21
22
26
17
0
20
7
ENVIRONMENT
23. It is worth mentioning the environment of Nepal, as it can be a shock to those used to the
(relatively) clean cities of the west. There are few pavements in the towns and the sides of the
roads are generally dirty. In the dry season, this creates large amounts of dust. In the wet season the
sides of the roads and most of the tracks are very muddy; as there are very few drains (as we know
them) the puddles created can be quite deep. During most of the year, you will find houses and
clothes become very dusty, whilst in the monsoon, mud takes over from the dust.
24. Pollution and rubbish are part of the scenery in Kathmandu. Household rubbish is deposited at
the side of main roads in specific locations. Collection of the rubbish is at best sporadic and you will
soon become used to the sight (and smell!) of large mounds of rubbish. They provide welcome
feeding points for the numerous dogs, cows and pigs that wander the streets. In Kathmandu, the
pollution from vehicle exhausts can be irritating if you are caught in a traffic jam, especially during
the hot weather. In Pokhara, there is a much lower traffic density and pollution is hardly noticeable.
TRANSPORT NETWORKS
25. The hilly nature of Nepal does not favour the construction of roads or railways. There is no
train network. Consequently, Nepal relies on air transportation far more than most countries. Nepal
is landlocked and its nearest major seaport is Calcutta in India.
26. Nepal's roads are generally in poor condition and even the best of them sometimes deteriorate
into dirt tracks where there have been landslides. Kathmandu and Pokhara are connected by road
and there are 3 roads from this main highway over the hills to the plain. On the Terai plain there is
a main east-west highway which is the major road in Nepal. There are also smaller roads to one or
two major towns and a road to Tibet from Kathmandu. However, during the monsoon season,
landslides can block any of the hill roads.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
TIME ZONES
27. Nepal is 5 ¾ hours ahead of GMT and this reduces to 4 ¾ hours during British Summer
Time.
GURKHAS - THEIR RELIGION AND CUSTOMS
28. Serving in Nepal, it will be important to widen your background knowledge of Nepal, the
Gurkhas/Nepali people, their culture and customs. Ignorance of these customs may lead to a lot
of unnecessary misunderstanding between yourself and those you work with. The areas covered
are:
a.
Religion
b.
Customs
c.
Greetings
d.
Addressing/Family Relationships
e.
Do’s and Don’ts
THE RELIGION OF THE GURKHAS
29. Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. Constitutionally, the religion of the state is
Hinduism. However, there are other religious groups in Nepal. The main religious groups found in
Nepal are:
Hinduism
Buddhism
Others
-
85-88%
7-8%
4-8%.
30. Among the various religions in the world, the Hindu religion is considered to be the oldest.
Although it is difficult to say when Hinduism started or to identify the prophet who initiated it,
some believe that it originated in 1000 BC.
WHERE DOES HINDUISM COME FROM?
31. Hinduism is simply the religion of Hind, which is the old name for India. So Hindu simply
means the religion of India.
32. This religion is based on the Vedas, which are the rules of almighty God (like the
commandments). According to the Hindu philosophy, there is only one God and he is omnipresent.
He is like an electric current which if put through various gadgets will give a different performance.
For example, the fridge and the oven have different functions but have the same electric current.
In the same manner, Almighty God appears in different forms and ages - in anything up to
8,400,000 forms in order to fulfill the various needs of human beings. All these are appeased
separately and sometimes collectively by rites and rituals, fasts and feasts. This is why, if you
speak to Gurkha soldiers, most would talk about „Bhagwan’ which simply means God (the one and
only God).
33. Among all these various semi-gods or god-agents, Gurkhas mainly worship the following as
they are considered omnipotent ones:
a.
Brahma (The Creator God)
b.
Bishnu (The Protector God)
c.
Shiva (The Destroyer God)
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
34. Brahma. He is the creator of all things and the mystical absolute made manifest for the
understanding of the finite mind. The four main castes of Hinduism are related to the parts of
Brahma’s body from which they originated.
a.
The priest castes come from his head.
b.
The warrior castes (i.e. Gurung, Magar, Rai and Limbu) from his arms.
c.
The traders and farmers (i.e. Newars, Tamangs, Thakalis) from his thighs
d.
The menial class (i.e. Kami, Damai etc) from his feet.
35. Vishnu or Bishnu. He is the preserver of life. His chief job is to intervene to save the world
from destruction. To do this he assumes corporeal form from time to time and becomes an
incarnation (i.e. Ram, Krishna, Buddha, the King of Nepal is also regarded as a reincarnation of
Lord Vishnu).
36. Shiva. He is the destroyer. He creates natural calamities - earthquakes, floods, storms,
famine and spreads disease, suffering and involves countries in wars. His home is said to be on
Mt Kailas in the Eastern Himalayas. Some non-Hindu nature worshipper tribes like the Lepchas
and Sherpas also pray to the Himalayas as their God. Shiva is regarded as perhaps the most
powerful of the Gods.
BASIC PRINCIPLES.
37. The basic principles of Hinduism (believed widely by the Gurkhas) are related to Brahman,
Karma, Dharma, Samsara and Moksha.
a.
Brahman is the individual soul, which never dies.
b.
Karma is the result of actions a man does in life.
c.
Dharma is the religious laws to be followed which lead to the righteous path.
d.
Samsara is a cycle of transmigration and re-incarnation.
e.
Moksha is liberation or deliverance from Samsara.
38. Hence, if you did good Karma within Dharma (which simply means good religious deeds)
your Brahman, the soul, will dwell in a rich female body to be reborn (Samsara) until such time
as you attain Moksha. If you sin, your Samsara would be a worse one, you would be born again to
suffer hardship probably as an insect, animal or even as a human being and your chance of
attaining Moksha would become far remote. So what you will become in your next life depends on
how well you follow these principles. This is the traditional Hindu teaching.
BUDDHISM
39. As mentioned earlier on, the second most common religion followed by Gurkhas is
Buddhism. This religion considers Lord Buddha as the God. However, the majority of Buddhists
consider that Gautam Buddha was only a mortal incarnation (Gautam was born in Lumbini, Nepal,
in 623 BC). He was the successor of many earlier Buddhas and that he is to be followed by many
other Buddhas. Non violence is the main theme of this religion although all other conventional
preaching of a religion is also embodied in it.
40. Among the Gurkhas in Nepal, Buddhism does not differ greatly from that of Hinduism. This is
why the adherent of both religions gets on so well. Followers of both religious faiths celebrate
festivals of both religions together with equal zeal and interest. They also visit temples and
Buddhist monasteries without any discrimination and with equal respect and faith. (For example
both Hindu and Buddhists worship Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath with the same faith and
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
devotion). Buddhists in Nepal include the Lamas, Gurungs, Tamangs, Newars and other
communities living in high altitudes.
Pashupatinath
41. This temple is believed to be the holiest and most famous temple in the entire Hindu world.
The Pashupatinath complex is the center of an annual pilgrimage on the Festival of Shivaratri. It is
believed that the temple was constructed on the spot where cows left traces of milk. On
investigation, the then king, Gopal found a huge statue of Lord Shiva and he built this temple there.
The main temple area is not open to non-Hindus and it lies on the bank of the Bagmati River.
There are also open crematoriums adjacent to the main temple for the royal families, Ranas and
lower ones for the commoners. In Nepal Lord Shiva is most commonly worshipped. There are
many other similar temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses dotted all over the
Kathmandu Valley area.
Mahabauddha
42. Regarded as one of the oldest and largest Lamaist Shrines in the world. There are 15 steps
between the dome and pinnacle, which are regarded as the 15 steps of enlightenment. Some say
that a piece of Gautam Buddha’s bone is buried inside the dome shaped structure. On each of the
4 sides is a pair of unblinking eyes. It is thought that these eyes observe the deeds of human
beings. The third eye painted between the normal 2 eyes is to see beyond and inside. Below the
eyes there is a sign that looks like a question mark. This is not a nose but number one. Its
interpretation is that all are one and there is only one single way out and that is through Buddhism.
Note that there are neither lips nor mouths as it is said that the Buddha does not like to speak. Ears
are also not painted owing to the assumption that Buddha does not like to hear prayers said in his
praise. Mahabauddha is also a very famous place for pilgrimage for Buddhists. It is about 2000
years old. This temple is also known as Baudhanath.
FESTIVALS OF NEPAL
43. The Nepalese observe one festival or another practically every day of the year. These are in
honour of Hindu gods and goddesses. Each god or goddess is worshipped either to protect him or
herself from harm or to bring good fortune. Amongst various festivals, the main two festivals are
Dasain and Tihar.
Dashain
44. The most auspicious festival of Nepal takes place in the bright lunar fortnight of October. It
lasts for 15 days but here we only celebrate 4 days. Many mythological stories are associated with
Dasain or Dashain. The common thread in each, however, is the triumph of good over evil - the
victory of the gods over the wicked demons that harassed mankind in ancient times. A legend,
current among the Gurkhas, is that the goddess Durga slew the demon Mahishasura who, in the
form of a water buffalo, terrorized mankind on earth. Hence the symbolic sacrifice of buffaloes
takes place in Dashain. Dashain is therefore a time of family re-unions, the exchange of gifts and
blessings, profuse Pujas, ritual bathing and animal sacrifices.
45.
In the Brigade of Gurkhas, the four main days celebrated during Dashain are:
a.
Phulpati (7th Day). The whole unit goes in procession to the countryside to collect
PHULPATI (plants, branches, twigs and leaves). On arrival at the selected spot a shrine is
erected, a sacred fire (Hom) lit and prayers are offered. In the meantime, nearby the Nautch
party (dance troupe) entertains with dances and songs. A goat is sacrificed and the
PHULPATI is BLESSED.
b.
Kalaratri (Black Night - 8th Day). In the evening the whole unit with families and a
large number of guests gather at the Dashain Hall for celebration and entertainment. While
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
the priest and his assistants perform the necessary Puja the crowd is entertained with a
special Gurkha type of variety show. The sacrificial ceremony is at midnight when the lights
are switched off for one minute to symbolize KALARATRI.
c.
Mar (9th Day). The next day is known as Balkan or Mar, and it is the day of sacrifice.
The whole unit and large number of invited guests assemble at the Maula (sacrificial post).
After the necessary prayers a number of goats are decapitated with a Khukri. It is most
important that this is done with one clean stroke of the Khukri. The unit’s Commanding
Officer with a gift of money and a white „Pagri’ or „Pheta’ (turban) rewards the man who slays
the goats. His success ensures a prosperous and favorable year for the unit. Women are not
invited to witness this ceremony.
d.
The long-standing tradition and custom of sacrificing a male buffalo in all units in Hong
Kong and Brunei ceased in 1973. Today only one buffalo is ‘chopped’ for the whole Brigade of
Gurkhas in BG Pokhara, Nepal.
e.
Tika (10th day) The last day in chronological order is Tika and it is considered of great
importance. On this day all soldiers assemble at the temple where the unit priest and the
Gurkha Major present each man with small tufts of barley and place a special caste mark,
called Tika on his forehead. The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives and in giving and
receiving Tikas and presents. Gurkhas visit elder relatives and superiors in order of seniority
or rank.
Tihar
46. This Festival of Light honours Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune and the wife of
Lord Vishnu. The Gurkhas believe that during these five days (15 days after Dashain), the goddess
Laxmi tours the world. She visits homes and if pleased with her visit, showers bounties on the
household. Nepalese clean their homes thoroughly, paint the doors and windows and decorate
these with flowers to welcome the goddess. The houses, bazaars, streets and temples are brightly
illuminated with traditional Nepalese clay „Palas’, candles and electric light bulbs.
47. This is also the time to pay homage to birds and animals. On the first two days, which are
not holidays in the Brigade of Gurkhas, food is left out for crows and dogs. Dogs are often
garlanded and given a tika on that day.
48. On the third day, Gurkhas worship Laxmi, performing a cow Puja in the morning in
honour of Laximi’s visit to their homes. In the evening, groups of girls go door-to-door singing and
dancing for traditional money offerings.
49. On the fourth day, farmers worship their bullocks and farm implements in the morning.
Bullocks are regarded as their breadwinners because they plough their land and help produce
grain for them. Similarly the cows are regarded as their mothers as they drink the milk. The third
and fourth days are therefore devoted to honour them in appreciation for the work they do to
sustain mankind. On the same evening of the fourth day, groups of boys go door to door
singing and dancing for traditional money offerings.
50. The last day of Tihar is Bhai Tika day, wherein sisters honour and worship their brothers.
On this day every man tries to visit his sister. In the Brigade, if he has no blood sister, he tries to
find an adopted or god-sister to perform the ceremony and blessings.
51. Also during the whole time of Tihar, the Gurkhas gamble, in the hope that the Goddess
Laxmi will bless them with good fortune and a lot of money. There are other minor festivals but
they are not celebrated in the same manner as Dashain and Tihar.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
CUSTOMS
52. Customs associated with religion and social behavior in Nepal have an important place in
the life of the Gurkha soldier and his family. It is equally important that the British Officers or
soldiers know and understand the more common of these, and pay due attention to them.
Religious Customs
53. Some customs associated with religion directly affect a soldier’s life in the army. Here are
notes on some of these.
a.
Birth of a child. According to Hindu custom, the mother remains unholy for at least 11
days. During this period, she needs special attention or assistance. That is why soldiers
are given 11 days line leave. On the 11th day, Nauran (christening) takes place. Soldiers
invite their relatives to this ceremony. The Pandit (Regt Priest) calculates the birth date,
month and year and comes up with a letter from which the child’s name will begin and also
produces a horoscope called „Chhina’, which is used to forecast the child’s future. The
Chhina is consulted in all major events affecting the person like marriages, buying of
property, finding auspicious days to start big ventures and is burned in the funeral pyre upon
death of the person.
b.
Bhat Khulai (weaning ceremony). This ceremony takes place when the child stops
breast feeding, has a couple of teeth and is able to eat some solid food for the first time;
normally when the baby is between 5 to 6 months. Again relatives and friends are invited to
feed the child with rice pudding. The father gets two days leave.
MARRIAGE
54. Nepal has a unique system of marriage. Traditionally, the parents make the match, but nowa-days young Gurkhas are increasingly making their own free choice. The ceremony is the same
in either case.
55. First, there is an official engagement ceremony, when the boy’s parents send gifts of betel
nuts to the girl’s parents. The girl’s parents make a display of feigned reluctance and the boy’s
representatives give plausible reasons for the marriage and tell of the boy’s virtues. After this
sometimes-hilarious exchange the girl’s parents accept the young man and the wedding may
proceed as planned.
56. The priest fixes dates for weddings according to astrological calculations. Certain seasons
are considered not auspicious but for marriages at short notice, (mostly in our soldiers’ case,
during leave), the priest can be persuaded to fix a suitable date. Weddings are long affairs and
stretch on for the better part of a week. On the day of the marriage, at dusk, the procession
forms. Drummers and musicians make their way to the girl’s house walking under an umbrella.
The visitors remain outside the bride’s home sitting in the courtyard drinking and eating. The bride
and bridegroom then go through various stages of ritual and ceremony throughout the night. The
following morning the bride is taken to her husband’s home in the same procession only this time
with more guests and presents from the bride’s family. At the boy’s home, the bride is received
officially with rituals by the bridegroom’s parents followed by a feast and drinks throughout the
whole day. In the evening, the marriage at last can be consummated.
57. The traditional marriage is still popular in Nepal but love marriages are slowly creeping into
society. Now a days where the boy or girl selects his or her mate a short modern version of
marriage takes place - registry in the court or panchayat, or a simple ritual in the temple. In the
event of the parents rejecting the love marriage, the boy and girl elope and over a period of two to
three years, the girl will gradually be accepted into the boy’s family.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
DEATHS
58. On the death of one’s father, mother, husband or wife ‘Kriya’ (mourning) is performed for 13
days, which is mandatory. On the death of one’s father or mother the son normally shaves his
head. Consumption of meat and salt, wearing of coloured clothes, and sleeping in bed during the
13 days, are prohibited. On hearing the death of one’s father or mother or wife a soldier gets 13
days line leave. Compassionate leave depends on whether he has an elder brother in Nepal who
can perform the necessary rites or not. Usually a Gurkha abstains from taking milk or any milk
product for a period of a year to mourn the passing of his or her mother who had fed him milk as
his first food.
GREETINGS
59. Common Courtesy. Gurkhas are polite and courteous by nature and they expect the same
from those they work with.
60. Greeting. The most common form of salutation amongst the Nepalese is to join the palms of
both hands and to say ‘Namaste’. This is a Sanskrit word meaning, “I bow to the God in you”.
This is equivalent to Hello/Good day/Good Morning in English. This is appropriate between men
and women, amongst civilians, or between soldiers and civilians. For politeness, you are expected
to „Namaste’ first to your elder/senior and they will respond ‘Namaste’ to you.
61. Ram Ram. This is another form of greeting but usually between soldiers. A more casual form
of greeting. Ram is a Hindu god. The correct way is to say Ram Ram followed by the person’s
name or number, or Hajur. Nowadays, most soldiers greet you “Morning Saheb’ or ‘Morning
Hajur’.
62. Dhogne. Touching the feet of another person with your forehead. This is only done to one’s
elder blood relations. Only done on occasions when you meet after a long absence. In the Bde it
is not practiced openly but instead done in the privacy of quarters.
ADDRESSING & FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
63. Mutual respect, in particular to your elders, is very important. Gurkhas always respect their
parents and never call them by their names. They tend to give similar respect to others by
addressing them as Daju (elder brother) or Didi (elder sister). Depending upon the relative
differences in age, an older person is addressed as uncle or aunt, grandfather or grandmother.
64. The name is only used if the person is either a child or very close friend of theirs.
Occasionally, names are used to be intentionally rude to the person or when address them in
anger. In order to avoid such ambiguity and disrespect in the army they use Ranks or Numbers
when addressing soldiers such as Maj Saheb, Cpl Guruji or 55 Guruji.
GURKHA OFFICERS
65.
Addressing senior Gurkha officers: GM Saheb, 2IC/SQGO Saheb
66.
Rest of the Gurkha officers: Use their initials e.g. L.B. Saheb or B.B. Saheb
67. The Gurkha Major is the most senior Gurkha Officer in any Gurkha unit. All Gurkhas and
British treat him with utmost respect. He is the advisor to the Commanding Officer on all Gurkha
matters.
SNCOS
68.
RSM RSM Saheb
69.
CSM/SSM Sgt Major RQMS/CSM/SQMS
RQ/CQ/SQ Guruji CSgt
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
70.
Sgt
Sgt Guruji/Sgt K.B. etc.
71.
Cpl/LCpl
72.
Rfn/Spr/Sig/Pte 4836, Krishna (first name)
Cpl Guruji, Cpl Ram (first name), 3242 Guruji
ADDRESSING GURKHA LADIES:
73. The GM’s wife Didi (the CO saheb may address her as ‘Bahini’ provided the CO is older
than the wife)
74. Addressing the rest of the Gurkha ladies depends on BO/BOR’s age. Normally it is
complementary to address them as ‘Bahini’.
DO’S AND DON’TS
75. In order to avoid embarrassment and offending the Gurkhas the following ‘do’s and don’ts’
must be strictly observed:
a.
Kicking/Touching Someone With Your Feet Or Stepping Over Someone (Particularly
An Older Person) It is a social offence and a sin to step over an older person, or for that
matter, anyone else. Nor should one touch a person with one’s feet. If an offence is
committed inadvertently that person apologies at once by touching the person’s body with his
hand. At the same time one may say “Maph garnus hos” - “Narayan” - “Bishnu” implying that
the person was as sacred as both gods. Do not ignore this simple but important rule.
Gurkhas are usually very sensitive about this. However, stepping/jumping over someone is
perfectly acceptable in the course of military training (but not touching with one’s feet).
b.
Criticizing Nepal Or Its People. Gurkhas get very upset if a British Officer/soldier talks
to other people in their presence about their country in derogatory manner. This must be
avoided.
c.
Stripping Naked. Showing of private parts is very offensive, and must not be done.
d.
Offering ‘Jutho’ (Contaminated) Food/Drink. Any food or drink that has touched the
lips or tongue is considered „JUTHO’ or CONTAMINATED. It would humiliate a person if
such food were offered to him. Nor should the dish containing such food be used again
without it being washed properly. Only the younger members in one’s family may eat the
‘JUTHO’ food. Her husband may offer wives JUTHO food.
e.
Shoes. It is polite to take off one’s shoes before entering a house. It is a MUST if
entering a TEMPLE or a KITCHEN. The reason is that shoes are often made of leather
(cowhide). Not relevant in the Married Quarters. Occupants will not mind one walking even
into their kitchen with shoes on during a Family Lines visit/inspection.
f.
Lighting Cigarettes. Do not light a cigarette directly from an oil (or other) lamp.
g.
Whistling. One must not whistle inside a house, especially at night. Women should
never whistle. It is believed whistling invite ghosts.
h.
Pointing A Finger At Someone. Socially „no’, but quite acceptable during military
training. A mild acceptable form of pointing at someone is to point one’s open palm. Always
beckon with the palm of the hand facing downwards. Never beckon with ones index finger, it
is considered very rude.
i.
Touching The Shoulder Or Head. It is also a taboo to touch a Gurkha’s shoulder or
head especially from behind, during ‘stand to’, because at that time the Gurkhas believe
that God is present on his shoulder or head.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
j.
Beef. Beef is supposed to be PROHIBITED among Hindus except for the SARKI tribe
(cobblers).
k.
Liquor. Prohibited among Brahmans. One need not worry too much on this.
l.
Menstrual Period. Women are regarded as unclean during their menstrual period.
m. Sweeping Floors. Nepali women do not sweep the floors in the evening as it is
considered that such act drives away good fortune from the house.
n.
Mention Of Husband’s Name. It is not considered right, particularly amongst illiterate
hill women, for a woman to mention her husband’s name. The problem of naming is
overcome by other methods. i.e. „HAMRO’ SETE KO BABA (OUR SETE’S DAD) or in the
Bde the husbands number is used „2460’.
o.
Recognition Of A Married Women. A married woman is recognized by the red
powder (Sindhur) on her head. Do not attempt to flirt or tease any woman with this mark
on. A married woman normally wears red glass bangles. She must not intentionally break
them upon her wrists, because that is done only after her husband’s death. She never
wears the colour red or a coloured dress after she has lost her husband.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
BRITISH GURKHAS NEPAL
76. British Gurkhas Nepal (BGN), commanded by a Colonel, is the name given to all military
units in Nepal. The Commander is also the Defence Attaché (DA) and the Director of the Gurkha
Welfare Scheme (GWS) in Nepal.
77. As Defence Attaché the Commander maintains an office in the British Embassy in Kathmandu.
The Assistant Military Attaché carries out the day to day work on his behalf in the Embassy
Defence Section. The day to day running of the Gurkha Welfare Scheme is the responsibility of the
Field Director who is based, in Pokhara.
78. The Commander exercises command of British Gurkhas Nepal through Headquarters British
Gurkhas Nepal. The total strength of British Gurkhas Nepal is 12 British Officers, 8 British SNCOs, 8
Gurkha Officers, 33 Gurkha Other Ranks and 312 locally employed civilians (LEC).
Commander British Gurkhas Nepal
Gurkha Welfare Scheme
DEOD(N)
NST
HQ BGN
BG Kathmandu
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Defence Section British Embassy
BG Pokhara
BG Dharan
Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
79.
British Gurkhas Nepal is located in the following places:
Kathmandu
80. All units in Kathmandu, less the Embassy Defence Section and a movements
detachment, are within the Kathmandu camp. The camp is located in the Jawalakhel area of
Patan, which is south of the Bagmati River. The British Embassy is located in the north of
Kathmandu in the Lazimpat area.
East Nepal
81. There is a small movement detachment located in BG Dharan and a Pension Paying office
in the Standard Chartered Bank in Dharan.
Pokhara.
82. Although at the geographical centre of Nepal, Pokhara is in what is termed West Nepal.
There is one camp in Pokhara which houses all units based in Pokhara.
ROLE AND TASKS OF BRITISH GURKHAS NEPAL
83. British Gurkhas Nepal is responsible to Headquarters Land Command for operating a
line of communications to support the Brigade of Gurkhas worldwide. This involves 9 specific
tasks shown below:
a.
Recruitment for the Brigade of Gurkhas and Gurkha Contingent Singapore Police
Force.
b.
The trooping and transit of Gurkha servicemen, their dependants and school children.
c.
The payment of pensions to ex-servicemen and the maintenance of their records.
d.
The welfare of serving soldiers and entitled dependants and the welfare of exservicemen through the auspices of GWS.
e.
Language training for British officers joining the Brigade of Gurkhas and Gurkha units.
f.
Assist with discharge of any ex-Serviceman wishing to be discharged in Nepal.
g.
Employment after discharge.
h.
Support to adventure training exercises in Nepal.
i.
Advice and support to the British Embassy through the Defence Section.
HEADQUARTERS BRITISH GURKHAS NEPAL (HQ BGN)
84. The headquarters, based in Kathmandu, has a small number of staff appointments
(including a member of the CIVSEC) working under the Chief of Staff. As with all other units of
British Gurkhas Nepal, it also has a large number of locally employed civilian staff. The
movements detachments in Kathmandu, East Nepal and Calcutta are controlled directly by the
headquarters.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
DEFENCE SECTION, BRITISH EMBASSY
85. To assist the Commander in his role as Defence Attaché he has a small number of
military and civilian staff at the embassy. They provide an important liaison function between
British Gurkhas Nepal and departments of the Nepalese government to allow the operation to
function relatively unhindered.
THE GURKHA WELFARE SCHEME (GWS)
86. The Gurkha Welfare Scheme is a registered charity, which receives some support from the
MOD. The Scheme aims to alleviate hardship and distress amongst Gurkha ex-servicemen
many of whom have not qualified for a service pension. In Nepal there is no welfare state or
infrastructure to support it so the scheme provides welfare aid for needy ex-servicemen. The
Gurkha Welfare Scheme has 24 Area Welfare Centres (AWC) in the hills of Nepal and one in
the Darjeeling district of India.
The centres are staffed by ex- servicemen employed by the
scheme, which has a total staff of 3 British officers, and over 200 civilians.
BRITISH GURKHAS KATHMANDU (BGK)
87. British Gurkhas Kathmandu is commanded by a Major and located within the camp in
Kathmandu. It is responsible for the routine functioning of the camp and running the transit
accommodation in Kathmandu which is provided for Gurkha servicemen and their families in
transit to/from their units and home. Personnel attending re- orientation training in Kathmandu
also use the accommodation.BGK is also the focus of serving soldier welfare.
NEPAL SIGNAL TROOP (NST)
88. Nepal Signal Troop is a small detachment of Queen's Gurkha Signallers who provide in
country communications and a rear link to UK. It is collocated with BGK.
DEFENCE ESTATES OVERSEAS DETACHMENT (NEPAL) (DEOD(N)
89. DEOD(N) is commanded by a Royal Engineers Captain, assisted by Clerk of Works (E)
and Clerk of Works (C) and is responsible for maintaining the fabric and infrastructure of the
military buildings in Nepal. It is collocated with BGK.
BRITISH GURKHAS POKHARA (BGP)
90. BGP is the recruiting depot for Gurkha soldiers and is run by a Maj. As well as carrying
out recruiting Pokhara also contains the main records office for Gurkha pensioners' records and
a Pension Paying Office for pensioners in the West of Nepal. The headquarters of the Gurkha
Welfare Scheme is also in Pokhara.
BRITISH GURKHAS DHARAN (BGD)
91. In the east there is a small movements detachment in Dharan and recruiting for
Regional Selection (East) takes place there, a Pension Paying Office is located in the Standard
Chartered Bank in Dharan for those in the East of Nepal.
RANK STRUCTURE
92. Some of the ranks and titles in use in British Gurkhas Nepal can be confusing to people
who have not previously served with Gurkhas. The Brigade of Gurkhas retains some of the
rank structure and commissions of the Indian Army. Each of the terms is explained below:
British Officer (BO)
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
93. British Officers, who carry out the main command duties of Brigade units are the same as
their fellow officers in the rest of the British Army.
Sandhurst Commissioned Gurkha Officers
94. Although not an official term, "Sandhurst Commissioned Gurkha Officers" is used to
describe those officers of the Brigade who have attended Sandhurst. They are equal in every
respect to other officers of the British Army and will have been commissioned as Second
Lieutenants.
Gurkha Officer (GO)
95. Gurkha Officers fill command and specialist appointments at Regimental Duty. They have
all progressed through the ranks and are entitled to the same respect and compliments as British
Officers with whom they share equal status and seniority according to rank. The senior rank is
Major and in major units the senior Gurkha Officer is referred to as the Gurkha Major (GM). He
is the commander's right hand man and adviser on Gurkha religious and cultural matters. There
is no equivalent to these ranks in the remainder of the army and they stem from the old Viceroy's
commission of the Indian Army. Gurkha Officers are referred to by all ranks as "Saheb".
Area Welfare Officers (AWO)
96. Area Welfare Officers are employed in the Welfare Centres of the Gurkha Welfare
Scheme throughout Nepal. They look after the welfare of ex-servicemen in their area and pay
pensions. All are retired Gurkha Officers and whilst employed by the Gurkha Welfare Scheme,
they are salaried by a contribution from the MOD.
Honorary Rank
97. On retirement, exemplary service was rewarded with the grant of honorary rank but has
ceased with the introduction of GTACOS. Warrant Officers could retire as Honorary Queen's
Gurkha Officers. Queen's Gurkha Officers could be awarded Honorary Major or Honorary
Captain, according to their service rank on retirement.
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Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
This glossary contains a list of many of the abbreviations common to the Brigade of Gurkhas
and British Gurkhas Nepal in particular. Not all of the abbreviations are used in this guide but
they are in common use in British Gurkhas Nepal.
ABWO
AMA
ARO
AWC
AWO
BGK
BGD
BGP
BO
BOR
BUWO
CMP
CNP
Col BG
CPN
CRO
CW
DA
DCW
DDT
DEOD(N)
DFID
DRO
FPO
GCO
GCSPF
GE
GM
GOR
GRU
GWS
GWT
HQ BGN
HMA
HQBG
KAAA
LEC
MCC
MLO
MOVDET
NA
NCP
NGO
NST
NTC
PPIO
PPO
QG SIGNALS
Assistant Brigade Welfare Officer
Assistant Military Attaché
Area Recruiting Officer
Area Welfare Centre
Area Welfare Officer
British Gurkhas Kathmandu
British Gurkhas Dharan
British Gurkhas Pokhara
British Officer
British Other Rank
Brigade and Unit Welfare Officer
Civilian Medical Practitioner
Civilian Nursing Practitioner
Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas
Communist Party of Nepal
Chief Recruiting Officer
Clerk of Works
Defence Attaché
Deputy Clerk of Works
Directed Duty Trek
Defence Estates Overseas Detachment (Nepal)
Department for International Development
Deputy Recruiting Officer
Forces Post Office
Gurkha Commissioned Officer
Gurkha Contingent Singapore Police Force
Garrison Engineer
Gurkha Major
Gurkha Other Rank
Gurkha Reserve Unit
Gurkha Welfare Scheme
Gurkha Welfare Trust
Headquarters British Gurkhas Nepal
Her Majesty's Ambassador
Headquarters the Brigade of Gurkhas
Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association
Locally Engaged Civilian
Movement Control Centre
Military Liaison Officer
Movement Detachment
Nepalese Army
Nepali Congress Party
Non-Governmental Organisation
Nepal Signal Troop
Nepal Telecommunications Corporation
Pension Payment Information Officer
Pension Paying Office
Queen's Gurkha Signals
24
Booklet 2 – Nepal and the Gurkhas
QGE
QGO
QOGLR
RGR
RWO (E)
SARO
SDO
UML
Queen's Gurkha Engineers
Queen's Gurkha Officer
Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment
Royal Gurkha Rifles
Regional Welfare Officer (East) RWO (W) Regional Welfare Officer (West)
Senior Area Recruiting Officer
Staff Duty Officer
United Marxist Leninist Party
25