Blandford Camp QGS soldiery questionnaire responses:
QUESTIONS:
1. Please tell us a little about the training in Nepal to qualify to become a Gurkha? Do you have any particular stories/experiences you would like to share on that training?
2. What do you feel makes the unique and distinctive character of serving as a Gurkha in the British Army, compared with non-Gurkha soldiers and officers? This could be on expectations placed upon Gurkhas by themselves, the different situation for families, etc.
3. Do you have any stories or experiences you would like to share on exemplary Gurkhas that inspire you?
4. Where do you feel celebration of Nepali-Gurkha cultural heritage can be further recognised within the army and by general society? This seeing the Gurkha regiments as a unique multicultural strength to the broader army community and general society.
5. Any other cultural or social heritage stories and experiences you would like to share
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Lance Corporal Laxman Gurung responses
1. The selection to become a British Gurkha Soldier in Nepal occurs in three phases. There are many army training institutions which helps to carry out the trainings successfully. But it might be an expensive option for some but if you decide to do it on your own then you should be more proactive. The training itself is physically and mentally challenging. You have to be dedicated and diligent. As of my experience when I first attempted to join, I was studying +2 in Science and it was a little difficult to manage time for the training because of my education.
2. All Gurkhas in the British Army come from Nepal, a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, tradition and religions. We are very proud to be Nepalese and we are also proud on whatever we do. Our family background is different, values and ethos are different. Gurkhas Kaida(ethos) make us unique from non-Gurkhas soldiers and officers. Being selected ones we all are well-educated, disciplined, brave and have strong unity and high potentials which are distinctive character of every Gurkha soldier.
3. A story of Sgt Dipprasad Pun, from 1 RGR is very exemplary which I think not only inspires me but every Gurkha Soldiers. He is a brave man who single-handedly defeated more than 30 Taliban fighters during his tour to Afghanistan and saved his team members from them.
4. We have full privilege of celebrating the Nepalese culture in Brigade of Gurkhas and we try to play a part wherever we can. The most important ones are Dashain, Tihar and Nepalese New Year. We have a big function in every unit on these occasions and we celebrate as a big family. Some of the non-Gurkha officers and some key personal are also invited. This kind of function promotes our mutual bonding and strengthens our unity. Our culture is unique and liked by most of them which makes us feel proud.
5. We have an organised an Educational visit to Gurkha Museum for the troop members to enhance the Gurkha culture and also to understand the conceptual history of the British and Gurkha Soldiers.
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Signalman Amit Rai Responses
Dear sir, these are the answers of the questions you had sent to me:
Q.1) My training in Nepal to qualify to become a Gurkha was pretty rigorous and arduous. I would train two times a day for about five days a week. My training was mainly focused on endurance and strength conditioning. I would equally focus on my upper body and lower body throughout the week. The core workout being my favourite. Rather than sharing story I would like to give advice for those who have been training in Nepal, have a good knowledge of running attire so that they can prevent serious injuries.
Q.2) I feel that there are numbers of characters that make a Gurkha unique and distinctive compared with non-Gurkha counter parts. The high competition being the most vital one. There is high sense of competition amongst each other within Gurkhas from day 1 of their recruitment and each at every stage is equally challenging and gruellingly testing. Apart from that the Gurkhas are keen and enthusiastic towards their duty. The culture they come from, teaches them to respect elders and love younger due to which they always remain loyal to the chain of command.
Q.3) Each and every Gurkha inspires me on a day to day basis, however there is a Gurkha that is exemplary and his name is Csgt Dip Prasad Pun (1RGR). He was decorated with the conspicuous gallantry cross for an act of bravery during the war in Afghanistan on the night of 17 September 2010. He single handedly defeated 12 to 30 Taliban insurgents who were storming his control post near Babiji in Helmand province.
Q.4) well, I think the celebration of Nepali Gurkha cultural heritage is well recognised. I have experienced the celebrations of major Nepalese festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Teej, widely throughout the Gurkha contingent. I would like this process to carry on in future as well.
Q.5) Currently there are not any cultural or social heritage stories or experiences that I oiled like to share.
Regards,
Sig Amit Rai
30293614
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Signalman Bibek Gurung responses
Below are my responses:
1.Well everybody has to go through a year long selection process followed by doko race at the end .I had my bachelor study running side by side. I used to catch up my remaining two subjects after finishing my morning training .
2.Bond. That’s all I would like to say. We see ourselves as brothers.
3.Lieutenant Colonel Yam Rana. He is the first to reach late Entry Gurkha officer to reach the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
4.Online platform maybe.
5.Culture of joining the army. It’s an honour or pride to join the army.
Regards,
Signalman Bibek ji
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Signalman Iman Singh Gurung Responses:
1.Training is quite hard however a practice in every morning and evening makes a daily routine and courage within us let it go easy. When I joined the training centre to become a Gurkha , fire of passion and dedication burnt within me to achieve my dream.
I failed once but I couldn’t think of others except being a Gurkha, so I kept on trying and finally succeeded. In overall, it’s a addiction trend among youngsters like me to secure a good career.
2.Gurkhas itself is a unique brand in the world so I’m proud of myself being a Gurkha soldier. Our ancestors and generations had created a specific image in the British Army along with good reputation, so everyone know who are we and how we operate in different situations. Everyone praise us for our teamwork and fantastic chain of command within Brigade of Gurkhas. Wherever we go, never need to feel alone cause Gurkhas association itself is a family and their is always unity and support. Of course, I’m away from home but my family is happy and proud of me. Every celebrations of festivals and events bring a family environment and care from seniors create a homely environment.
3.Yes, I was inspired by many exemplary Gurkha personalities and their stories but I don’t have any experiences and proper stories. However I learn to be brave and courageous from them.
4. Celebrations of Nepali-Gurkhas cultural heritages can be recognised wherever we are either in camp, exercise , operation or war. These are our source of moral and identity to survive. We have faith in our culture and traditions so, time and again we organise worship ceremony and celebrate the festivals as like in Nepal. Gurkha Temples are in every camp and we make a visit in every events. Gurkhas utensils and equipments are used in every festival celebrations; designed according to respective celebrations in order to bring the actual vibes and reflect our Nepali festival. Nepali dance and music are performed in there. Band of brigade and khukhuri dance are famous in general society.
We present our cultural food and show on different charity events in the society along with the maximum participation of non-gurkhas. Everyone love it. To widen our culture we need to realise the importance of celebrations to generations and make maximum invitation of non-gurkhas with its purpose.
5.when I became a member of brigade of Gurkhas, I knew more festivals and celebrations in army than I used to in Nepal so, I don’t have much to share any experiences as being a young Gurkha.
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Signalman Nirmal Lawati Responses:
1. There are lots of training centre which gives a proper training to become a Gurkha. Those training centre start training young people before 4 to 5 months of Regional Selection. From my experience I knew that, we had done a lots of training to become a Gurkha.
We had to do two times training per day, in the early morning and evening but I did just once a day i.e in the evening, because I had to continue my study as well.
2. As a result of bravery shown by our forefathers, Queen honoured us our own cap badge. Cap badge with two cross “Khukuri” which represents the bravest of the brave. By wearing that cap badge makes us the unique and distinctive than others.
3. The story of all the Gurkhas who received the Victoria cross and mostly the story of the living Gurkha Victoria Cross “ Rambahadur Limbu” inspired me to join the British Army as Gurkha soldier.
4. Gurkha Regiment is culturally rich. To celebrate Nepalese Gurkha culture does not mean just of joy and enjoyment. It builds up brotherhood and teamwork between us and we could know each other if we weren’t met before so I think it should be further recognised within the army and general society.
5. We have different culture among Nepalese people. We celebrate and respect every culture though thats not our culture. I am a Limbu by caste that doesn’t mean just to celebrate and follow the Limbu culture. I celebrate every culture of Nepal without separating the other culture.
Regards,
Sig Nirmal Lawati
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Signalman Sanjok Gurung Responses:
question 1
Before joining the army, I had worked hard for about a year. I sacrificed a lot of things. I used to walk about an hour to reach my training centre. I had never been so committed before. I used to skip my college just to train for the gruelling selection process. I went from 4 pull ups to 24.
question 2
Kaida is the thing that bound the gurkhas within the boundaries. CDRILLS are followed by every gurkhas. The best thing about gurkhas is our cultural that we sill celebrate even though we are far from Nepal. Other thing is team work. And love and affection towards our numbaries and respect and love for our saheb, gurujis and bhai haru. Thats why I think it we are quite different.
Question 3
My saheb and gurujis are my inspiration but particularly I am most inspired by the living legend Ram bahadur limbu. He was awarded the VC for his bravery in the theatre. I want to show my courage and bravery like he did.
Question 4
I believe that our culture has already been recognised but i believe it can be further recognised if we involved native british army during our cultural programme.
Question 5
I don’t have that much but i have couple of stories and experiences. During dashain me along with fellow numbaries performed the event which was very successful and in tihar more other people were attracted and the joined and learned our culture.
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Signalman Vijon Rana responses
I am Sig Vijon Rana from Blandford,Royal School of Signals as a phase-2 trainee QGS. Firstly I am very thankful to have my words with you. I would like to define my answers in points as follows:
1- The training phase in Nepal to get into the British army was the long and hard process if I have to define it, we train like there is no other options left we just feel like army is all. The safety and management isn’t that good to be compared but we get through as we go cause we have seen the struggle and we know what people get to live with.
2- Serving as the Gurkha in the army with the cross Khukuri gives us the motivation that we are aspected to be better then other, they see us as the elites body of the army. The fair that comes while working with that cross Khukuri on to not to let the pride down pushes us further more to achieve and show them its not only the flash we wear.
3- In my view every person as something to inspire other, I look at our senior and just think having different way of approach they all have succesful carrier in professional and personal life, all i can say looking at them is be humble , drive for chance and stay hungry.
4- Nepali culture within the smaller units would be more effective to get recognise in the army.
At last I would like to thank your entire team for this opportunity and hope to hear you soon thank you.
Yours sincerely
Vijon