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]]>Towards this end, the government is investing a sum of GBP 15 million!
With this implementation, the average Gurkha pension will come to around NPR 730,000 per year, along with improving their living standards and pensions over a lifetime compared to their British counterparts in similar service.
In addition, the UK Government has also decided to add GBP 25 million (NPR 3.6 billion) to the Gurkha Welfare Trust in Nepal towards healthcare support to Gurkhas over the next 10 years period.
The British Government has also given relief to veteran Gurkha soldiers. It said that soldiers with more than 4-year service relieved from duties before 1997 can settle in UK while also receiving welfare and medical support.
“It isn’t possible to meet the expectations of everyone. But having listened intently to veterans concerns I believe there is more we can do. So today I announce a significant uplift to Gurkha pension provision,” said March Lancaster, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces in UK in an article titled ‘Announcement for Gurkhas’.
Lancaster denied with media reports saying that ‘every soldier joining the Gurkha Brigade since 2007 followed similar terms and conditions as their British counterparts, including pay and pension.
Whereas, those before 2007 were on different system for some good reasons, the official explains.
“Under the 1947 Tripartite Agreement between the UK, Nepal, and India, Gurkha regiments became part of the British and Indian Armies. This agreement reflected the circumstances of the time and significantly, such terms of service were voluntarily accepted. But the fairness also worked both ways. Before 1975 British personnel serving less than 22 years received no pension,” reads a statement by Lancaster.
He added that the pensions to Gurkha soldiers increased at a rate greater than British Army.
“Most Gurkhas had begun to receive theirs in their 30s. Over the years Gurkha pensions have been steadily increasing, often at a much faster rate than British pensions,” he added.
Meanwhile, the British Army has also agreed to a significant rise in the number of Gurkha recruits. Instead of 320 (initially), considered as the biggest number in 33 years, the Gurkha Company can now recruit over 400.
This decision is coming after a steep decline in the number of recruits by the British Army from within the UK.
Hope the new announcement gives due encouragement to the Gurkha Army and the community as a whole to plan their careers.
The British Army’s openness to allow more Gurkha recruits also lifts the reputation and demand for Gurkha soldiers at the global level! All the Best, the Relentless Fighters!
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]]>The post Gurkhas of Nepal – Fierceness At its Best! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>Yes, we mean it! Despite its size, the country is undoubtedly the ‘savior’ for many world nations because of its unstoppable fighters, the almighty ‘Gurkhas’!
Nepali Gurkhas have been at their best in safeguarding various world governments and their high-level officials including diplomats, special missions and various global-level conferences and meetings, that the nations paid high regard to.
Over the centuries, they have played vital role globally during world wars, cases of insurgency, among many other horrifying situations pertaining to national security.
The Rise of Gurkhas
Undoubtable loyalty, ferocity in fight and attitude in courage are some best words that can describe Nepali Gurkhas. Over the centuries, they have literally marched from local to global level breaking the barriers. Diligent services by Gurkhas to various nations holds a sound historical background that dates back to 1814, the year that speaks of their heroic act!
That was the year when the British declared a war against the Gurkhas of Nepal leading to the Anglo-Nepalese war. The British East India company was expanding its wings beyond India and its neighbors then. That’s where the aggressive expansion of Gurkhas within Nepal worried the British.
By then, Gurkhas were already on success path laid by their annexing act across territories in the early 18th and 19th centuries and were on their way to finally form the Kingdom of Nepal.
Finally, with the help of thousands of Indian soldiers, British devised a strategy to divide Gurkhas and then attack them. In a devastating battle that witnessed ground-breaking revolt, the Gurkhas of Nepal rose to fame in 1814 for their straightforward answer to the British that eventually resulted the British losing out to the Gurkhas.
Following this, the British proposed an offer requesting Gurkhas to fight for them, which the Gurkhas had to accept under the uncompromised peace treaty in 1816. After that, it’s known history that Gurkhas fought for the British in the two world wars, and eventually became key aspect of British Army.
Following Indian independence in 1947, the original ten Gurkha regiments were divided among the British Army and the new Indian Army. However, many of those Gurkhas who served both earlier finally chose their native Indian Army.
Today, Gurkhas serve across various nations such as their home country Nepal, Singapore, Brunei, US, Iraq and Afghanistan, among others. And, it would be really surprising to know that Gurkhas have been serving the British Crown since almost 200 years!
The Brigade of Gurkhas
The history of the Brigade of Gurkhas and their services to the world has a long history dating back to 1815, the year it began working with British.
Since then, the Brigade has been at its best in addressing global-level conflicts and peacekeeping operations, among other global-level security operations.
Though their focus was Far East prior to 1997, their base got shifted to the UK following Hong Kong’s annexation.
Some of the key units operating as the Brigade include:
Hill-men from Nepal and those hailing from the families of Gurung, Thapa, Pun or Magar in western Nepal and Rai or Limbus in the eastern part of the country hold high regard as suitable for Gurkha units. Even today, majority of the Gurkhas hail from the aforementioned family groups.
Gurkha selection process of is one of the toughest assignments in the world. If a participant wishes to get through Gurkha selection process, he will be expected to run uphill for 40 minutes with a wicker basket full of rocks weighing 70 lbs on back.
Gurkha ranks are majorly dominated by the aforementioned ethnic families or groups belonging to hilly regions of Nepal.
Nearly 28,000 youths take up the Gurkha selection procedure for just over 200 places, every year.
As of 2017, Gurkhas have their presence across various army departments such as Indian Army (nearly 42,000), British Army (around 3,600), Singapore Gurkha Contingent (around 2,000) and Brunei Gurkha Reserve Unit (nearly 500), among others.
What the World Says About Gurkhas?
Here are some of the world’s famous statements on Gurkhas:
If I had Gurkhas, no armies in the world will defeat me– Adolf Hitler
Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had a country more faithful friends than you – Sir Ralph Turner MC, 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles, 1931.
They are tough, they are brave, they are durable, they are amenable to discipline – Tony Gould, Historian
They [the Gurkhas] are among the best Singapore can offer…They remain very much a substantial and frontline force, and the demands of this kind of event are precisely the sort of special operation that the Gurkhas are trained to handle. – Tim Huxley, Expert, Singapore Armed Forces
Over the centuries, there are many other global personalities who always admired the Tough Gurkhas of Nepal!
Here are some interesting facts about Gurkhas that might surprise you:
Gurkhas in News
Gurkhas have been in news many times for their unique act. Let’s look at some global news Gurkhas were featured in, over the period:
List not exhaustive! There are many success stories that speak of the bravery and loyalty of Gurkhas.
A famous saying about Gurkhas reads, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha.”
Long Live the Bravest of the Bravest!!!
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]]>The post Matter of Pride: Nepal Women to Join Brigade of Gurkhas! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>In a glorious recent update for all female candidates aspiring to serve the British Army, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has decided to recruit female Nepali aspirants for its infantry regiment into the Brigade of Gurkhas.
The decision comes after the British Army planned to increase its 3,000-troop #BrigadeOfGurkhas with an additional 800 recruits which will further address the deficit of 5,500 soldiers in the army.
This is the first time #Gurkhas will open their ranks for women! The regiment will be open to women from 2019 and the first recruits will be in UK for training in 2020.
The #BritishArmy recruits 250 men every year and nearly tens of thousands of aspirants compete their way into the ‘lucky 250’.
The Selection Process
The specialized selection process requires interested candidates to run a three-mile race ‘uphill’, popular with the name ‘Doko’.
Candidates carry 55 lbs of sand in a wicker basket that is strapped across their head and are expected to finish the race within 48 minutes and this is ‘no exception for women’!
The Ministry of Defense website declares, “All role-related fitness standards are the same, and unrelated to gender.”
Additionally, the candidates must be able to do 75 bench-jumps in a record-speed of one minute and 70 sit-ups in two minutes at the selection center in Pokhara city.
The selected candidates will then have to go to Catterick, North Yorkshire for a 10-week course. Alongside the extensive fitness regimen, candidates will take English language and cultural lessons.
The Bravery of the Gurkhas!
“The Gurkhas are renowned as one of the best fighting forces in the world with a proud history of serving Her Majesty, and it is right that women have the opportunity to serve in this elite group,” says Gavin Williamson, British Defense Secretary
The recruitment of #NepalGurkhas into the Britain Army dates back to 1815 when these brave #NepaliSoldiers represented the British in World Wars I and II.
In 2007, the #RoyalGurkhaRifles fought Afghanistan with #PrinceHarry at the forefront.
“When you know you’re with the Gurkhas, there’s no safer place to be,” reads a famous statement by Prince Harry.
Long live the Gurkhas!
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