Gorkha Rifles to increase recruitment of Gorkha youth of North East

7:16 PM

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northeast gorkhas

"There has always been a healthy mix of Nepalese and Indian Gorkha troops in our regiments and there has been a trickle of soldiers who have been recruited from the North East, but now we want to increase the numbers that we get from there," said Lt Gen Thodge.

Written by Man Aman Singh Chhina 

In order to boost the number of Indian domiciled Gorkha soldiers in the Army, efforts are being made to tap into the Gorkha youth settled in the north eastern parts of the country even as the Army is raising a new battalion of Gorkha troops.

According to Lt Gen Ravi Thodge, Colonel of the Regiment of the First Gorkha Rifles, the first Gorkha regiment to be raised by the British in 1815 and which is celebrating its 200 years of raising here at this quaint British cantonment town in Himachal Pradesh, the Army is looking to increase the number of Gorkha troops in its rank from the North East.

“There has always been a healthy mix of Nepalese and Indian Gorkha troops in our regiments and there has been a trickle of soldiers who have been recruited from the North East, but now we want to increase the numbers that we get from there,” said Lt Gen Thodge. The General is presently posted as Master General of Ordnance in Army Headquarters and is in Subathu to participate in the re-union of Gorkha troops, serving and retired, here at the regimental centre. This will also mark the 200 years of the service of Gorkha soldiers in the Indian Army.

According to Lt Gen Thodge, there is no problem in getting recruits from Nepal and whatever political issues that might exist have had no effect on the number of young men from that country queuing to join the Indian Army’s Gorkha Regiments. ‘There is a significant population of Gorkhas in the North East, particularly in Sikkim, and this number can be increased,” he said.

The Army has been striving to achieve a ratio of 60:40 (Nepalese and Indian troops respetively) in its Gorkha battalions, but this ratio has been dwindling over the years. An officer associated with the 14 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) in Subathu, home to the First and Fourth Gorkha Rifles, said Indian Gorkha recruits had been joining in large numbers lately. However, there has not been any shortfall in the number of Nepalese youth wanting to join the Indian Army.

Lt Gen Thodge also informed that for the first time in many years a new Gorkha Battalion was being raised and that this new unit is coming up in the First Gorkha Rifles. The 6/1 Gorkha Rifles or Sixth Battalion of First Gorkha Rifles is under raising in Subathu and has already been christened as the ‘Kanchi Paltan’ or the youngest battalion of the regiment.

“The new battalions will be raised in other Gorkha regiments too in a phased manner as has been envisaged in the modernisation plan, particularly in those regiments which have only five battalions each,” Lt Gen Thodge said.

More than 100 Gorkha veterans from Nepal have especially come to participate in the 200th annversary celebrations here. Among the veterans is nearly 90 year old British officer, Lt Col JP Cross (retd) who served in the pre-Independence era and is now settled in Nepal.

The First Gorkha Rifles owns its birth to the British victory over Gorkha soldiers at Maluan Fort near Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. The British were so impressed with the valour of the Gorkhas that they decided to raise a Regiment comprising them and the first such unit came up in Subathu in 1815. Since then the First Gorkha Rifles is known as the ‘Malaun Regiment’.

The bicentenary celebrations of the Gorkhas are also being conducted in the British Army and the year long affair will culminate, in India and in the United Kingdom, in April 2016. The three-day celebrations at Subathu were kicked off today with a special Sainik Sammelan addressed by the Colonel of the Regiment.

Source Indian Express

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Indefinite Hunger Strike Over One Rank One Pay (OROP)

1:06 PM

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OROP

Ex-Servicemen Go On An Indefinie Hunger Strike Over One Rank One Pay

Two of the ex-servicemen agitating at the Jantar Mantar here for over two months now over their demand for non-implementation of One Rank One Pension have gone on a fast unto death. A third Army veteran has now joined an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

Indefinite Hunger Strike Over One Rank One Pay (OROP)

Col Singh and Havildar Major Singh, who began their hunger strike on Monday, have said they were forced to escalate matters after Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to announce OROP in his Independence Day speech on Saturday.

Col Anil Kaul (Retd), media advisor to the United Front of Ex-Servicemen Movement, said the agitation at Jantar Mantar here entered the 64th day on Monday.

The protesters have been on a relay hunger strike so far. Havildar Major had been on relay hunger strike since the agitation started.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech to the nation, had not given a date for implementing OROP, and only said that talks were in the final stages. His statement had upset the ex-servicemen, who vowed to step up their protest.

Close to 22 lakh ex-servicemen and over 600,000 war widows stand to be immediate beneficiaries of the scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for the defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

Soldiers retire at the age of 35, and officers from the age of 50, depending on their rank.

Currently, the pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations of the time when he or she retired. So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws a lower pension than a Lieutenant Colonel who retired after 1996.

Source: Telegraph

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Requirement, eligibility of Gorkhas for Indian Army recruitment

6:36 PM

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indian army

There is no decline in the recruitment of Gorkha youth in the Indian Army. Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF) do not hold separate data relating to recruitment of Gorkha youth.

Gorkhas for Indian Army

Indian Army does not require community certificate by 'Assam Gorkha Sammelan' and certificate signed by village Sarpanch meets the requirement of enrollment in Gorkha Units. In the case of IAF, Gorkhas (a subject of Nepal) are eligible for recruitment if they meet laid down eligibility criteria. Further, recruitment in IAF is open to all eligible citizens without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, religion, region or community. In the case of Indian Navy, Gorkhas who are citizens of India do not require any certificate of eligibility for recruitment in the Navy. Further, Gorkha subjects of Nepal also do not require a certificate of eligibility.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri B Vinod Kumar in Lok Sabha today.

DM/NAMPI/RAJ

Source- business-standard

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Gorkhas performed khukuri dance in Indo-Pak War golden jubilee

10:12 AM

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khukuri

The soldier displayed their martial arts skills as part of the programme commemorating the golden jubilee of the 1965 Indo-Pak War. A large number of visitors witnessed the performances.

Organised by the Western Command, Sikh soldiers presented gatka while Gorkhas performed khukuri dance during the show “Hamari Army, Hamari Shaan”.

Gorkhas khukuri dance - representational pic 

A military band from the 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu, and pipers and drummers from the Ladakh Scouts were also present on the occasion. A stall disseminating information on the recruitment process in the Army was also set up.

Large hoardings displaying various aspects of the 1965 war, including major campaigns and gallantry award winners, were also put up. A fitness programme, “zumba fitness’, based upon aerobic-like movements was also presented. Weapons and equipment were also displayed.

Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer and Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, was the chief guest on the occasion. A large number of serving and retired officers, including Lt Gen Harbhajan Singh, Lt Gen Depinder Singh and Lt Gen KS Bajwa, all veterans of the 1965 war, were present on the occasion.

Source - Tribune News Service

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Blast at firing range in Gorkha Rifles Headquarters in Dehradun

2:07 PM

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indian army

Dehradun, May 30 : Three jawans were injured in a blast at the firing range at the Gorkha Rifles headquarters in Dehradun on Saturday.

Blast at Gorkha Rifles Headquarters' firing range in
Dehradun - Representational Image

The condition of one of the jawans is said to be critical. All the injured have been admitted to the Military Hospital here.

According to reports, the blast took place when a jawan got down from a truck to pick up a suspicious object lying on the ground. It is still not clear as to what actually caused the blast.
The bomb disposal squad is trying to find out about the nature of the explosive.

Four persons including the jawans and the driver of the truck were on board the vehicle when the explosion took place, a source at the SSP office here said adding details are awaited and all senior officials have rushed to the spot.

The jawans are said to have been on their way to the market to buy vegetables when the explosion took place, the source said.

Though the cause of the explosion is being investigated, it is believed that it took place by accident.
Garhi Cantonment where the explosion took place is a high security area with the official residence of the Chief Minister and Raj Bhawan located there.

Source: Various online sources

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1/3 Gorkha Rifles lead the pack through triumph and tragedy

11:41 AM

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Indo-Nepal

Troops of 1/3 Gorkha Rifles (First Battalion of the Third Regiment, pronounced First of the Third) have again proven why they are considered one of the best in the Army.

Even as news of the devastation in Nepal flowed in, soldiers and
junior commissioned officers of 1/3 GR didn’t flinch. 

Barely a day after the battalion celebrated its bicentenary at Sevoke Military Station in north Bengal, Nepal suffered its worst tragedy in decades. Even as news of the devastation flowed in, soldiers and junior commissioned officers of 1/3 GR didn't flinch. Save for a handful of men who left on emergency leave after news of casualties among relatives came in, the rest answered the call of duty. This wasn't easy as 60% of troops and JCOs are from Nepal.

Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw had once said: "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gorkha."

What the veterans say

Brig (retd) A K Sanyal, who was CO between 1980 and 1983 and became colonel of the regiment, recalls his early days. "My first guru, after I joined the battalion in June 1963, was Babu Ram Thapa, who was assigned as my sahayak (known as a buddy, nowadays). He would always remind me that I was an officer and made sure I was never ticked off by seniors.

"'Wear your uniform pr-operly, Sir. You better impro-ve your game, Sir. You were looking very tired today. Better get into shape'," he would say. When I became a platoon commander, I knew little. The senior JCO, subedar Ran Bahadur Gurung, was the boss. He wore a Burma Star on his chest and knew I was still wet behind the ears. The JCOs of this battalion form a very strong group. They don't hesitate to share their opinion with an officer without sounding impolite. The CO is normally younger to them."

"A Gorkha," Sanyal added, "is tremendously compassionate. He will never misbehave with women or the elderly nor mistreat a child. He isn't trigger-happy and has tremendous patience. A Gorkha improvises and is adaptive. He has a great sense of humour. His commitment and loyalty to the battalion are unflinching," the retired brigadier added.

Probably, this is why the British army decided to keep the best for themselves. Till 1947, Gorkha Rifles didn't have a single Indian officer. Today, 60% of soldiers in GRs are from Nepal, the rest are Indian nationals. Even then, Indians cannot fill the quota. The number of Gorkha officers is gradually increasing.

Lt Col RKP Singh, who was instrumental in giving the Gorkhas their regimental song, said: "I am proud to have led the Gorkhas. In 1971, we fought in Jessore before being ordered to cut off Pakistani troops fleeing towards Chittagong. We carried out combing operations in Cox's Bazaar. Despite hardships, the men never complained."

Col (retd) Andrew Das spent 23 years with 1/3 GR. Now settled in the US, he flew in for the celebrations. "The-re has been improvement in infrastructure. The men are better educated and aware. The Gorkhas were always the best. Now they are more potent," he said.

Col (retd) K K Kulcheria, who took a bullet in his shoulder during war and is now settled in Thiruvananthapuram, said: "I still remember the Battle for the Ichhogil Canal in 1965, and the confidence the men had in their officers. I was a young officer and the arm of one of my JCOs was shredded by a shell. He kept on crying he would live only if I remained by his side. This was not possible as the battle was on. When it was over, he was no more."

It runs in the family

It's not only former officers who have a sense of belonging to the regiment. There are at least two Gorkha officers (one in 1/3 GR) whose fathers served in the regiment. Capt Gautam Thapa got promoted to an officer after 14 years as a sepoy.

"On September, 1998, I joined as a sepoy. We belong to Dehradun and my father, too, was in the Army. I had only completed my Class X then. Completing my graduation while serving in the Army was tough but I succeeded. On September 3, 2012, I was finally commissioned as an officer," Thapa said. "Today, I am posted elsewhere but have returned to my old friends in the paltan. They consider me an inspiration"

Captain Aashish Khandka is with 1/3 GR. His father was a JCO in the regiment. "My grandfather, Subedar Lil Bahadur Khandka, was in 1/9 GR. My father, Hon Capt Sant Bahadur Khandka, was in 1/3 GR. He was a subedar major and wanted me to become an officer. I completed a BSc in information technology from Hyderabad before clearing CDS. I got my father's battalion as 'parental claim'. Sons of commanding officers and subedar majors can choose their fathers' battalions. My father wants me to command the battalion some day," said the young officer from Gulmi district of Nepal.

Source: TOI

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153 Gorkha recruits take oath

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khukuri

A fresh batch of 153 recruits of 39 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) took oath at the Parade Ground on Saturday. Gorkha recruits were given 'Khukri', their traditional weapon as per Nepali culture.

Varanasi: Army recruits during their passing out parade at the 39 Gorkha Training Centre in Varanasi on Dec 14, 2014. (Photo: IANS)

Colonel Amrit Pal Singh, deputy commandant of 39 GTC took first salute while the second salute was taken by commandant Brigadier Kunwar Birendra Singh. Major General Anil Kumar Bhatt, AVSM, 9 Gorkha regiment, the chief guest, inspected the parade.

After the oath ceremony he paid tribute at the war memorial and signed on the visitor's book. The programme was attended by all the officers, JCO of 39 GTC, civilians, school children and NCC cadets.

As many as eight rifleman were awarded on the occasion for their outstanding performance during military training.

Source:TOI

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Gorkhas in the Indian Army allowed to take leave

9:30 PM

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Indo-Nepal

Gorkhas in the Indian Army who want to attend to their families in earthquake-hit Nepal will be allowed to take leave, Army officials said on Monday.

Gorkhas in the Indian Army

"If some Gorkha personnel feel they have to take leave, they can. It will not be a problem," an army official said.

There are some 38,000 Gorkhas in the Indian Army, of which 25,000-28,000 are from Nepal.

"Personnel from Gorkha Rifles 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8 are from that area. We will also be reaching out to the immediate families of these personnel in the Indian Army," the official said.

The army will also take help of ex-servicemen in Nepal during relief and rescue work and while rebuilding the earthquake hit areas, he said.

"There are around 130,000 ex-servicemen in Nepal. These ex-servicemen have a respectable position locally and play a key role in decision-making. They are capable of guiding us to places where relief may be needed," the official said.

Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh, who belongs to the Gorkha Regiment and is an honorary general of the Nepalese Army, spoke to his counterpart General S.J.B. Rana after the devastating earthquake.

Officials said there was constant coordination with the Nepalese Army.

"The mantra is whatever Nepal requires, we will help them with that," a senior Army official said.

The official added that while Nepal had a strong Army of over one lakh, they lacked equipment to tackle a crisis of this sort. India would provide such equipment.

Via: zeenews

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Kirti Chakra to Gorkha soldier for tackling terrorists with khukuri in J&K

9:40 AM

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indian army

Naib Subedar Kosh Bahadur Gurung of the 1, Gorkha Rifles, (and 15, Rashtriya Rifles)  has been awarded the Kirti Chakra for his gallantry in tackling a group of heavily-armed terrorists in J&K’s Kupwara on September 10, 2014. After shooting dead one terrorist, the soldier pulled out his ‘Kukri’ and killed a second terrorist in combat.

Gorkha soldier with khukuri

President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday conferred the Kirti Chakra on two Army soldiers — one of them posthumously — at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday.

The Kirti Chakra is the second-highest gallantry award in peace-time. The President also conferred the Shaurya Chakra — the third-highest gallantry award in peace-time on 12 personnel, mostly from the armed forces. The Shaurya Chakra awardees also included a J&K policeman who received the award posthumously and an inspector with the paramilitary ITBP.

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1/1 and 1/3 Gorkha Rifles Celebrate Bicentenary in Style

9:59 AM

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indian army

With officers and other ranks from India and Nepal in attendance, the First Gorkha Rifles (1/1 GR) on Friday marked its 200 years of military service.

First Gorkha Rifles marks 200 years of service

Hundreds of serving and veteran officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks both from India and Nepal attended the function, an army spokesman said.

The battalion was raised on April 24, 1815 from the remnants of Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa's forces who valiantly fought the British at the Malaun Fort near Shimla.

"The raising of the battalion signalled the birth of present day Gorkha Brigade. Over the last two centuries of the battalion's existence, it has time and again proven its worth by gallant action in various fields of battle across the world, through the two World Wars, the India-Pakistan wars and in the conflicts of the sub-conventional realm," the spokesman said.

Starting with a solemn memorial service in honour of the martyrs, the unit's bicentenary celebrations saw various events, including a guard of honour and cultural programme.

Lt. Gen Ravi Thodge, colonel of the regiment, was present on the occasion.

"The event was a re-union for erstwhile comrades-in-arms who travelled from across the globe to be together at this momentous once-in-a lifetime occasion. Veterans proudly brought their children and grandchildren to show them the oldest Gorkha Battalion," the spokesman added.

The illustrious battalion has been famous for two centuries for warfare skills and bravery.

Similarly, The First Battalion of the Third Gorkha Rifles celebrated its bicentenary in style on Friday at the Sevoke Road Military Station near Siliguri in North Bengal.

3rd Gorkha Regiment celebrates bicentenary at Sevoke

The day's programme started with unveiling of a 'War Memorial' in the presence of veterans of the 1/3 Gorkha Rifles. As many as 38 retired officers of the battalion got together to design a trophy and present it on the occasion of the bicentenary to the unit. This too place on Thursday evening.

After Friday's unveiling of the War Memorial, the figurine of a Gorkha soldier in Shok Shastra pose (rifle pointing downward), the CO said: "This is a moveable memorial that the unit will carry with it to all locations. Wreaths will be laid at this memorial on April 24 every year." The 1/3 Gorkha Rifles is moving out of Sevoke Road later this year and will be deployed along the LOC.

After unveiling of the War Memorial, a Sainik Sammelan as held in which JCOs and soldiers of the battalion were honoured. A first day cover to mark the occasion was also released. Major General Avinash Singh, Colonel of the Gorkha Regiment, said that the foundations of all the battalions are extremely strong. The Gorkhas, indomitable warriors, have created a mark for themselves in the annals of the Indian Army.

"While the First of the Third have been winning trophies of overall excellence every year, the Second of the Third has also created a record. They are the only battalion to have served in Siachen without a single casualty or evacuation. In the third week of October, the Gorkha Regiment will be holding another gathering in Varanasi to mark the bicentenary," Singh said.

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12 Facts About The Gorkha Regiment

12:21 PM

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indian army

Listed below are 12 Facts About The Gorkha Regiment who are one of the most feared soldiers in the world and have won the respects of even their enemies. The Gorkhas were integrated with the Indian Forces on April 24, 1815. Over time they have served in all theatres of war and won many military decorations. Here are some facts about the most respected regiment of the Indian Army.

 Gorkha Regiment Indian Army

1. So impressed were the British by the fighting skills and valour of the Gorkha soldiers in the Anglo Nepal War of 1814-16, that they were quick to integrate them in the British Indian Army.

2. They weren’t raised as the Gorkha Regiment however. Instead it was called the Nasiri Regiment. The regiment was later renamed 1st King George’s Own Gurkha Rifles.

3. After India’s Independence, six regiments, the 1 GR, 3 GR, 4 GR, 5 GR, 8 GR and 9 GR were retained in the Indian Army, while 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th joined the Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army.

4. Another regiment was raised by the Indian Army, the 11 GR, to accommodate the soldiers who refused to be transferred to the British Army.

5. The Gorkha units are some of the most decorated in the Army. They have played an important role in all the wars and have won Battle Honours in Uri sector in 1947-48, Ladakh in 1962, Jammu and Kashmir in 1965 and 1971. They were also a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.

6. The Gorkha Regiments have been awarded 3 Param Vir Chakras, 33 Maha Vir Chakras, and 84 Vir Chakras during operations.

7. The Regimental Insignia of all the Gorkha Rifles Regiments consists of a pair of crossed khukris. The khukri is a curved Nepalese knife which all Gorkha Rifles soldiers carry as a personal weapon.

8. The Gorkha Regiment also has a tradition of sacrificing a male buffalo on the festival of Dusshera. The head of the buffalo has to be severed in one clean sweep of the khukri. Usually the youngest member of the unit gets the privilege.

9. Field Marshal Manekshaw, who’s parent unit was 12th Frontier Force Regiment that moved to the Pakistani Army, became a part of the 8 GR. He would later become the Colonel of the regiment of the unit. He once famously said “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gorkha.”

10. The war cry of the Gorkha Regiments is ‘Jai Maha Kali, Ayo Gorkhali’ which translates to Hail Goddess Kali, The Gorkhas Are Here.

11. Officers in the Gorkha Regiments of the Indian Army have to learn the Gorkhali language to be able to interact with their men in their native tongue.

12. The current Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh Suhag is also from the Gorkha Rifles. He was commissioned in 4/5 GR in 1974. And according to the 5 GR tradition, he wears his head gear with the strap below the lower lip. Other GR units wear the chin strap below the jaw.

Via: Indiatimes

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Gorkha Rifles -Vintage photo Gallery

11:27 AM

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photos

Vintage photo Gallery of Gorkha Rifles, one of the bravest soldiers on earth, on the occasion of the completing 200 years of courage, dedication, devotion to duty and martyrdom - Photos says it all. Known for their Khukris and their 'Aayo Gorkhali' battle cry Gorkha Regiment completes 200 years of soldiering. Today Gorkha Rifles will complete 200 years of service to the nation. First Gorkha Rifle was formed on 24 April 1815.

Note: Click on the thumbnails to view large image

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1/1 GR and 1/3 GR completes 200 years of Service

10:07 AM

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indian army

Today the entire Gorkha Community is proud of Gorkha Rifles / Gorkha Regiment for completing 200 years of services. The regiment is known for their courage, valour, dedication, devotion to duty and martyrdom.Formed on  24 April 1815 under British Indian Gorkha Rifles will complete 200 years of service on 24th April 2015.

1st Battalion Gurkha Officers Malakand 1939 - seated centre Honorary Lieutenant
 & Subedar Major Maniraj Gurung OBI Sirdar Bahadur

PAWAN CHAMLING on the ocassion

"It is a great pleasure to know that the first Battalion of 3rd Gorkha Rifles is observing its Bicentenary Celebrations on 24th April, 2015. In the long period of their services, the Battalion has proved their courage, valour, dedication and devotion to duty, which make the entire Gorkha Nepali Community proud of the achievements. Their acts of bravery and martyrdom are written in golden letters not only in the history of the Battalion, but also of the Indian Army. Today, the Gorkha Nepali community is known and recognized in the entire world due to the contribution of these valiant men.
To those who laid down their lives in the service to the call of their duty, I pay my humble obeisance and tribute in their memory. On this auspicious day, I congratulate all the members of the Battalion and also the entire Gorkha Nepali Community and to always maintain the highest standard in the service of the Nation."

BIMAL GURUNG on the occasion

"Today as India celebrates 200 years of glorious service to the nation provided by the brave Gorkhali soldiers, let us all take a moment to remember all those brave soldiers who have laid down their life in defending our great nation. Let us all take a moment to remember and celebrate those soldiers who are currently serving in the army, navy, and air force and their families, without whose service and sacrifice the safety and security of our country would not be possible.
The 1st Gorha Rifles and 1/3rd Gorkha Rifles complete 200 years of service to our motherland today, and I want to thank all our brave Gorkha soldiers past and present, and their families.
We the Gorkhas have always taken pride of our rich and glorious military heritage, and whenever our motherland has been threatened we have always stepped up first to defend her.
However, I cannot help but feel a tad sad when I realize that despite our 200 years of service to our motherland, for the past 108 years we have had to struggle for our right to equality, justice and dignity.
200 years of service to the nation, and yet the dream of every Gorkha, past and present - Gorkhaland remains unfulfilled.
The time has now come to realize all those dreams, the time has now come for the nation to do justice to the hopes and aspirations of all the Indian Gorkhalis by forming the state of Gorkhaland.
I congratulate the 1/1 GR and 1/3 GR on this glorious day and request the Hon'ble Prime Minster to honour our past and present soldiers, their families and all the Indian Gorkhalis by forming the state of Gorkhaland"

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Gorkha Rifles set to complete 200 years of service

1:13 PM

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indian army

The world known Gorkha Rifles or Gorkha Regiment is to complete 200 years of existence who have served India and the British-ruled Indian before independence on April 24 2015.

1st Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifle, Waziristan, 1936 - photo via nam.ac.uk

Known for their bravery Gorkha Rifels was organised under British East India Company at Subathu in Himachal Pradesh on April 24, 1815. The unit still exists and is known as the  First Gorkha rifles (1/1 GR) serves with the Indian army during peace and war.

As part of the commemoration of this historic occasion, there will be regimental celebrations at Pathankot in Punjab where 1/1 GR is presently stationed. The Colonel of the 1st Gorkha Rifles, Lt Gen Ravi Thodge, Master General Ordnance, will preside over the function at Pathankot where other senior officers of the regiment will also be present. A bigger celebration is planned later in the year, in October, at Subathu when the regimental reunion is supposed to take place and the Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh, a Gorkha Rifles officer himself , is likely to attend that.

Invitations for the event have also been extended to former Indian and British soldiers who served in the regiment.

The Gorkha regiment started out as one but now comprises seven regiments. Of those, the Indian army takes services from the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and the 11th regiments and Gorkha troops also serve in the Rashtriya rifles, Artillery and the Territorial Army units.

Commenting on the 200th anniversary, Lt Gen TK Sapru (retd), former GOC-in-C Western Command and a former Gorkha officer described them as the most amazing soldiers. “Tailor made for soldiering, very honest with integrity of highest order. They very quick on their feet and somehow they have been endowed by God with all qualities required for soldiers,” he said.
The 200 years of service of the Gorkhas is also being marked by the British Army where a host of events are kick-starting from April 24 onwards. A formal event is being held on April 30th by the British Brigade of Gorkhas with a march from Wellington Barracks to the Gorkha Statue in Whitehall, where a memorial service will be held.

As per the British Gorkha Welfare Trust, there will be a service at the Gorkha Statue to re-dedicate the ‘Campaign Service’ and ‘Gurkha Units’ plates, to reflect 200 years of rich Gorkha history and to commemorate those killed in service to the British Crown.

With inputs from indianexpress

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Army chief Dalbir Singh commemorate 200 years of the Gorkha Regiment.

9:17 AM

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indian army

New Delhi, Feb. 14 : Army Chief General Dalbir Singh on Saturday paid his tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti in India Gate to commemorate 200 years of the Gorkha Regiment.

Army chief marks bicentenary of Gorkha regiment

The Army Chief, who also hails from the Gorkha Regiment, laid a wreath at the memorial and offered his salute in memory of the departed soldiers.

Recruitment of Gorkhas, first into the East India Company and later into British Army, began during the 1814-16 war when impressed with their bravery the East India Company started enlisting them. In 1815 the first Gorkha regiment, Nausiri Battalion, was formed. (ANI)

Source: news.yahoo

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Stir in Indian army as Kathmandu mulls Gorkha ban

8:36 AM

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Indo-Nepal

The blood-curdling “Ayo Gorkhali” battle-cry, backed by the sharp-edged khukris, may soon lose its long-standing welcome resonance in the Indian Army, with the Nepalese government once again moving strongly towards banning the recruitment of Gorkhas in Indian army after strong public reaction to the constant discretion of the dead bodies of Gorkha soldiers in Indian army by Indians, reveal the investigations of The Daily Mail.

Kathmandu mulls Gorkha ban

According to The Daily Mail’s investigations a strong ire erupted amongst different units of Indian army after Greater Nepal Nationalist Front posted a video on social media in Kathmandu a few days back, exposing the height of discrimination of Gorkha Soldiers in the Indian army despite highly acknowledged contributions of Gorkha soldiers of Nepal, serving in Indian army. The discriminations mount to the throwing away and even desecration of the dead bodies of Indian army’s Gorkha soldiers by the Indians in battle fields and even during certain drills.

The GNNF’s video, narrating the plight of Gorkha soldiers in Indian army, focuses on a recent incident of one Ran Bahadur Gurung, a very brave and celebrated Gorkha soldier of Indian army. The GNNF video elaborates that Ran Bahadur Gurung sacrificed his life in the honorable tradition of his proud race. In a far away land of Kupwara District in Occupied Kashmir, the Indian Army performed his cremation. What was handed over of him to his loved ones waiting back home in Nepal was not his body, but a compact disk with the recording of his last rites and no none knows what happened to Gurrung’s dead body eventually. The video highlights that this was not an isolated incident but in fact this was a routine matter in India.

The GNNF’s social media video further explains that while Indian Army takes utmost pains to bring back bodies of fallen soldiers of Indian origin, Gorkhas are not considered privileged enough, laying lives for a country they had been looking up to. It further elaborates that despite employing Gorkha Battalions on the front lines of toughest terrains to fight India’s neighbors, Indian Army provides no opportunity for Gorkha soldiers to make it to officers’ cadre. Gorkha soldiers in the PBOR cadre are also employed only in general duty roles and not considered worthy of technical and specialized roles due to a severe trust deficit.

The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that where this video sparked a huge row within the Indian army, there it also gave birth to a great controversy across Nepal and general people came out with immense anti-India sentiments, forcing government of Nepal to strongly consider a move to bring an end to any further recruitment of any Nepali in Indian army.

Very well placed and highly reliable sources say that Indian defense establishment is watching with a great concern the Nepali government’s reaction and move to eventually halt the recruitment of Gorkhas in Indian army in a fresh bid in line with the earlier recommendations of its parliament’s report “Nepal’s Foreign policy in the Changed Context, 2012″.

On the other side, a number of social circles, human rights organizations and media bodies including Nepal Journalists Association (NJA) and Human Rights Journalists Association ( HURJA),Nepal have paid rich tributes to the chivalry and bravery of the Gorkha soldiers in Indian army and elsewhere and have strongly condemned the discrimination of Gorkha soldiers by anyone, anywhere under any circumstances.

President of Nepal Journalists Association Dr. Manju Ratna Sakya, talking to The Daily Mail said that Gorkhas were symbol of chivalry and pride for the entire Nepali nation and their historic contributions of chivalry in the battlefields were globally acknowledged and recognized and any discrimination and insult of any Gorkha soldier was deemed to be the insult and discrimination of the entire Nepali nation.
“But this is not the case of Gorkha soldiers only. It’s a case of the fate of Nepal. While a large part of Nepal is under occupation from India, voices are now gaining momentum which call for breaking the shackles of Indian hegemony in Nepal”, said Raj Bahadur, a veteran journalist and senior member of NJA, the neutral and highly active med body of Nepali journalists.

The Daily Mail’s investigations further indicate that over 25,000 Nepalese are currently serving in the Indian Army’s seven Gorkha Rifles (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th), each of which has five to six battalions (800 to 1,000 soldiers each), drawing basically from Rais and Limbus of Eastern Nepal and Gurungs and Magars from the West.

They make up almost 70% of the Gorkha Regiment, while “Indian domiciled Gorkhas” from places like Dehradun, Darjeeling and Dharamshala constitute the rest. There are roughly another 20,000 Gorkhas in Indian paramilitary and police forces like Assam Rifles while India is supposed to look after over 80,000 ex-servicemen, 17,000 retired Assam Rifles personnel and 11,000 widows in Nepal but no welfare plan has ever been introduced in this direction by successive Indian governments and military leaderships, other than routine pensions.

The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that British Indian Army’s Gorkha regiments won a dozen Victoria Crosses and other top laurels in World War I and II, before they were divided between the British and Indian armies in 1947.
The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that a couple of years back, taking exceptional notice of discrimination of Gorkha soldiers in Indian army, Nepal’s Maoist Chief, Prachanda had very strongly objected to further recruitment of Gorkhas in Indian army and called for a comprehensive ban by Kathmandu in this direction. He told reporters that Nepali Gorkhas should not be allowed to join Indian defense forces.
“Nepali Gorkhas have been part of the Indian Army for a very long time. If they are stopped from joining the army then the association between the armies and also the countries will be affected,” says former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ved Prakash Malik.

“Besides the large number of Nepali Gorkha soldiers, we also have a large number of pensioners in the country. We have opened hospitals and other facilities at Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal,” Malik told The Daily Mail to a query in this direction. “In some villages in eastern Nepal, about half of the families have one or more pensioners from the Indian Army”, he added. However Malik had no befitting reply to the issue of the plight of 11000 widows of Gorkha soldiers back in Nepal and to the issues like the Ran Bahadur Gurung episode.

“The Indian Army and the British Army, which also has a Gorkha regiments are a major source of employment for Nepali youth. There can be unrest in the Himalayan kingdom, leading to a big problem if Nepal introduces such a ban. At the same time, such a move by Kathmandu would earn it a huge unemployment crisis,” former Indian Army Chief asserted further.

A senior serving 3-star General of the Indian army, who wished not to be quoted, told The Daily Mail the Nepali Gorkha soldiers send a lot of money back home, contributing in a big way to the Nepali economy. “If such a move is ever materialized by Nepal under any public or political pressure, it would give birth to huge financial losses to average Nepalese while the Indian Army would not be affected operationally as the army has already reduced considerably the number of Gorkhas”, he said
Besides impacting the age-old ties between the two nations, Nepali people’s demand, if acceded to, can lead to anarchy in Nepal due to large-scale unemployment, threaten military experts here in Delhi.


How strongly Nepalese hate India by dailymailnews

The formation of  Nepal’s Gorkha soldiers in Indian army is as under:
1 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 1st King George V’s Own Gurkha Rifles [The Malaun Regiment]).
3 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles).
4 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 4th Prince of Wales’s Own Gurkha Rifles).
5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) 6 battalions (previously 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles [Frontier Force]).
8 Gorkha Rifles 6 battalions.
9 Gorkha Rifles 6 battalions.
11 Gorkha Rifles 7 battalions and one TA battalion (107 Infantry Battalion (11GR) (raised after the independence of India).

Source: dailymailnews

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New Batch of Soldiers Pass Out from 39 Gorkha Training Centre, Varanasi

2:38 AM

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indian army

A fresh batch R-207 of 225 recruits of 39 GTC, took oath during an impressive attestation and passing out parade on 17 Jan 2015 at 39 Gorkha Training Centre, Varanasi.  The Gorkha recruits were given their traditional weapon as per Nepali culture. Maj Ranjit HS, Officiating Training Battalion Commander took first salute of the attestation parade, while the second salute was taken by Col Amrit Pal Singh, Dy Comdt 39 GTC.

The Chief Guest of this parade was Brig K Birendra Singh, Commandant, 39 Gorkha Training Centre reviewed the parade after taking salute and praise for the magnificent parade. In his address he emphasised on discipline, physical fitness, Goal and educational progress in life. After the oath ceremony the chief guest paid the tribute on war memorial and signed in visitor book. On this occasion all Offrs, JCOs of 39 GTC, large number of civil and service dignitaries, school children and NCC cadets were present. The parade was commanded by Recruit Upen Kshetri.

The following riflemen were awarded different prizes for their outstanding performance during military training:-
1. Best in Firing                                                              - Rifleman William Devaan
2. Best in BPET, Best in COC & Lt Kapadia Trophy     – Rifleman Prabal Kshetri
3. Best in Tactic                                                              – Rifleman Ankit Kshetri
4. Best in Bayonet Fighting                                            – Rifleman Vinod Bhattarai
5. Second All round Best Gen Lahiri Medal                   – Rifleman Mohan Chandra Rai
6. Best in Drill                                                                  - Rifleman Sudhan Pradhan
7. All Round Best                                                           – Gaurav Talwar

Source: indiandefencereview

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6th battalion of 11th Gorkha Rifles celebrate golden jubilee in Khasa

10:22 AM

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Sikkim

The golden jubilee celebrations of the 6th battalion of the 11th Gorkha Rifles culminated with a special ‘sainik sammelan’ at the Khasa Cantonment here on Sunday.

Gorkha Rifles 

The battalion was founded on October 1, 1963 at Clement Town in Dehradun.

During 50 years of its glorious service to the nation, be it war or peace, the battalion always rose to the occasion. Besides it has also excelled in various fields such as sports and brought laurels of the battalion.

The occasion was graced by retired and serving officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks of the battalion. A number of families of serving jawans and retired personnel came from Nepal to attend the golden jubilee celebrations.

The battalion remembered the valour of their comrades who laid down their lives in the line of duty. On the occasion, ‘veer naris’ were also felicitated.

The highlight of the celebrations was a yak dance by a troupe of the Sikkim government and a ‘kukree’ dance by soldiers of the battalion. A pipe band and a brass band also enthralled the guests.

A special day cover and a postage stamp of the battalion were released by Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma, Adjutant General and Colonel of 11 Gorkha Rifles, on the occasion.

Source: HT

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Indian Army Recruitment 10+2 (TES) Technical Entry Scheme Course-33 2014

10:46 AM

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Sarkari Naukri (Government Jobs)

Indian Army Recruitment of 10+2 (TES) Technical Entry Scheme Course-33 Vacancy Notification Online application form 2014.

Applications are invited from unmarried Male Candidates who have passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (Hereinafter referred to as PCM) subjects and fulfill the eligibility conditions prescribed in the subsequent paragraphs, for the grant of Permanent Commission in the Army after 4 years of Basic Military Training and Technical Training thereafter with the terms and conditions given in the succeeding paragraphs.

Indian Army Invites Applications from Unmarried Male Candidates for 10 + 2 Technical Entry Scheme Course – 33 Permanent Commission commencing from July 2015.

Name of the Vacancy:
10 + 2 Technical Entry Scheme Course
Total Vacancies: 90
Vacancies are provisional and can be changed depending on the training capacity at the training Academy for this course. The vacancies are subject to increase/decrease keeping the organizational requirement at the point of time

Education Qualification: Only those candidates who have passed 10 + 2 Examination or its equivalent with a minimum aggregate of 70% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from a recognized education boards are eligible to apply for this entry.

How to Apply: Application will only be accepted on line. To do so the candidates need to click on the “online application” button on website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in
(a) Detailed instructions for filling up online application form are available once the candidates click “Online Application Link”
(b) After submitting online application, candidates are required to obtain two copies of the application printout and the Roll Number generated by the system. One copy of the print out application duly Signed by he candidate will be carried to the selection centre for the SSB interview along with affixed photograph attested by a gazatted officer of Central/State Govt, photocopies of Class 10th Certificate/Mark sheet showing date of birth and 12th Class Certificate alongwith mark sheets duly attested by Gazetted officer and all the above certificates in original. Any candidate who does not carry all these document for the SSB interview, his candidature will be cancelled.
(c) The second copy of the printout of online application is to retained by the candidate for his reference. No need to send any hard copy to DG Rtg / Rtg Dte.
(d) Candidates must submit only one application, Receipt of multipl applications from the same candidate will result in cancellation of candidature

Important Dates:
Starting date of online application: 21-Oct-2014
Last date of online registration: 30-Nov-2014

Click here for Official Notification

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Gurkhas / Gorkhas in indian army

2:12 PM

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indian army

Indian Gorkhas or Bharatiya Gorkhas (Nepali: भारतीय गोर्खा) have history of courage in the battle field, evident from the gallantry awards won by Gorkha soldiers and battle honours awarded to Gorkha both before and after joining the Indian Army. Infact India has the third largest army in the whole world and Gorkhas play an eminent part on this.

Gorkhas in indian army

India has a lot of Gurkha Regiments seven Gorkha Rifles (Ist, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th). Mostly Gurkhas in India join the Indian army. The Gurkhas are crazy and fearless fighters

History of origin
the independence of India in 1947, six (1 GR, 3 GR, 4 GR, 5 GR, 8 GR and 9 GR) regiments of the Royal Gurkha Rifles joined the Indian Army.  After India became a republic, the Royal titles were dropped from the regiments that joined the Indian Army in 1950. Indian Army made the decision to raise the 11 Gorkha Rifles. Since independence, the Gorkhas have fought in every major campaign involving the Indian Army being awarded numerous battle and theatre honours.

Besides  fighting in the major wars, the Gorkhas have served in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, at the Siachen Glacier and in the UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Sierra Leone . In October 2011, the 4/9 GR won the gold medal in the annual Cambrian Patrol Competition held in Wales, UK.

Composition:
Currently there are 39 battalions serving in 7 Gorkha regiments in the Indian Army. Six regiments were transferred from the British Indian Army, while one was formed after independence;
1 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 1st King George V's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)).
3 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles).
4 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles).
5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) 6 battalions (previously 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)).
8 Gorkha Rifles 6 battalions.
9 Gorkha Rifles 6 battalions.
11 Gorkha Rifles 7 battalions and one TA battalion (107 Inf Bn (11GR) (raised after the independence of India).

Awards and Gallantry:
Gorkha regiments have won many gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra . The 8 Gorkha Rifles, has the unique distinction of producing one of the two Field Marshals of the Indian Army, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and is still revered as one of its finest officers.

Gorkhas still carry 'Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali' in battle field with their traditional weapon —an 18-inch long wickedly curved, broadbladed heavy knife known as the khukri. It is said once a khukri was drawn in battle , it had to 'taste blood' . If it did not, its owner had to cut himself before returning it to its sheath. 

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