About — and note on topics and contributing sources

The mottos and saying above are as well-known and honoured, as they accurate in terms of describing the martial-spiritual character of the Gurkhas, and the perceptions of the broader British general public, of the Gurkhas serving and retired.  Gurkha reputation for fierceness and implacability on the battlefield can best and accurately be described as a unique psychological warfare asset of the most strategically important level possessed by the British Army from 19th to 21st centuries.

This section of the cultural & social heritage project covers a people of Nepal as famous as emblematic of Nepal itself, as Mt Everest: the Gurkhas, heroic and holding a place of great honour and affection in the collective British heart. 

To date, the fame of the name ‘Gurkha’ has matched disproportionately actual major wont of knowledge about the people themselves and their culture and their special relationship with the UK and the indigenous British people.  Addressing this issue in a thorough thematic way, we have divided this section of the resource into two parts (Part A, and Part B), whose topics are listed below.   Transcending both, we divide the Gurkhas into armed service, enlisting/serving, and retired, and relating to both, families.

The Nepalese Army has a long history even though it was established by King Drabya Shah in 1559 (1616 BS) later modernized and reorganized to the Nepalese Army in 1743 AD (1800 BS) by Prithvi Narayan Shah. In the course of its service to the nation and people, the Nepalese Army’s nomenclature has also been changed time to time such as Tilangas, the Gorkhas, Gorkha Army, Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army and Nepalese Army again. The army has contributed and played an admirable role in every walk of Nepalese life. The Nepalese Army has maintained its respect and honor as a loyal, dedicated and disciplined institution of the state. 

Source Nepalese Army Military Museum:  http://www.museum.mil.np/

Note on topics covered:

The topics cover ‘need to know’ themes on the to date, not covered fully and in one place joined up facts-backed detail in regard to the significance of the Gurkhas in the setting of Britain’s history on the global stage and for furtherance of the 21st century multicultural dynamics of the nation in settings from the army to sport (the latter we include as a separate component, but here it needs be noted that the Gurkha contribution to certain sports such as football, and endurance stamina related sports such as hill racing, is substantial and even fundamental).

These dynamics are as important for the whole nation and society, as they are unique – this uniqueness being particularly linked to challenging and eroding perspectives that are not compatible with a diverse, new 21st Century nation at ease with itself in terms of genuine recognition of the strengths of diversity and diverse communities as major assets at socio-economic equality & inclusion, and global stage/international presentation levels. 

In all of these cultural and societal topics, from food and cookery, to customs, spiritual beliefs, and more, are at various points, found need to know knowledge for any meaningful understanding of the Gurkhas.  Coverage provided gives an overview of the UK Nepali Gurkhas, that is, crucially for all students of multiracial 2020s Britain, wedded to the history of arguably the most embedded and illustrious multicultural dimension of the British Army, we have through the guidance and review of content developed support, included a number of major sections/chapters around specific components of the Brigade of Gurkhas and related topics, including the Gurkha historical and formal relationship with royalty (Nepali as well as British!).

Contributions and contributors to the information resource:

The UKNFS is delighted that so many members of the retired and also in designated relevant areas, British army serving soldiers and officers have contributed their time, experiences and invaluable insights on contributing to the Gurkha component of this UK Nepali cultural & social heritage resource.   Below we list contributing groups:

Blandford Community (Blandford Camp and Blandford Town) and the Royal Signals Museum

Aldershot and Farnborough Nepali Gurkha community

Sgt Hiradhan Rai (Gloucester)

A wide range of retired Gurkha community members nationwide including from Gurkha community representation organisations and groups

The UKNFS also commends relevant resources of the Gurkha Museum, Winchester, and the Gurkha Museum, Pokhara (Nepal).

The UKNFS particularly wishes to thank Captain Robin Rai (QGS, Blandford Camp, Dorset) for his recommendation and loan of his copy of the “A Short History of Queen’s Gurkha Signals1949 to 2009” landmark book written by Major Ben White, former Regimental Historian for the Queens Gurkha Signals (QGS) — Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote, Nuneaton.  An excerpt of the book can be accessed (Pages 35-38)  https://royalsignals.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/RSI-Journal-Spring-2010.pdf

Regarding the Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR), the History of the UK.com, History of Britain, Gurkha Rifles website as a strongly recommended source of RGR history: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Gurkha-Rifles/ 

Comments are closed.