Showing posts with label gorkhas in dehradun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gorkhas in dehradun. Show all posts

BATTLE OF NALAPANI:THE ETERNAL REMINDER OF THE BRAVERY OF THE GORKHAS

6:38 PM
The Gorkhas, last year, celebrated  two hundred years of their existence in India. The world- renowned  Gorkha Rifles or Gorkha Regiment  completed 200 years of existence in April 2015. They became the backbone of the British Indian forces  after having joined  British service in 1815.

Dehra  Dun or the Doon valley, as it is popularly known,  has several interesting  landmarks of  the  eventful Anglo-Gorkha Battle(known as the battle of Nalapani or Khalanga)  of  1814-15.The Khalanga Memorial   was built by the British on the banks of the Rispana river,which flows below the Khalanga Hill,  to  commemorate their  brave soldiers as well as the Gorkha gallants whom they defeated.The fort was made of wood, red sand and stones. The new memorial there commemorates the inspiring and indomitable courage of Balbhadra and his men.

The Khalanga Memorial, a nationally protected monument looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India, is located on the road which takes tourists to the Sulphur Springs of  Sahastradhara. It was in this Khalanga-Nalapani area of the valley that a fierce battle  between the British and the Gorkhas was fought as both of  them were  eager to expand their territories.
BATTLE OF NALAPANI:THE ETERNAL REMINDER OF THE BRAVERY OF THE GORKHAS
BATTLE OF NALAPANI
In 1804 the Doon valley came under the control of the Gorkhas.Raja Pradyuman Shah of Tehri was killed by them in the battle of Khurbura in Dehra Dun. Till the battle of Nalapani took place, the valley was under Gorkha rule. After the battle, the  British Government reinstated Sudarshan Shah on the throne of a truncated part of Garhwal.

On October 31, 1814  the third infantry division under Major General, Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie, with a large force, attacked the Khalanga –Nalapani fort defended by Balbhadra Singh Thapa and his soldiers barely 600 in number.The gallant General,who is said to have been among the bravest soldiers of the British army, fell to the bullets of the defenders.

Colonel Mawby succeeded to the command  and the attack was resumed on November 25 and the fort was shelled on November 27.The British also cut off the water supply to the fort. All this forced Balbhadra Singh to decide that the fort could no longer be held. On November30, he, along with 70 of his men, evacuated Khalanga. They  opened the gate, came out of the fort and ran towards a stream nearby. The British troop was surprised to see this. After they had quenched their thirst, the brave Balbhadra said to the Britishers: "Go and occupy the fort. We have deserted it". When the British troops entered the fort they found  nothing but corpses, some dying men and children crying out “Pani,Pani” in their thirst. The Nepalese troops went away, but did not surrender before the British troops.

A Mela is held in the last week of November every year in the area to commemorate the sacrifice made by the Gorkhas during the battle. Balbhadra Singh Thapa was killed by Afghan troops when he was later in the army of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.

 The foundation of the fort, which was razed to the ground by the British, can be seen under the thick carpet of grass on the hill and also some huge black  boulders which were once part of the fort’s walls. The incredible silence tells the story of the exceptional courage of the Gorkha men ,women and children who refused to bow down before the massive British army.

 Downhill, the original memorial of the war which was built by the British is now an enclosed space with some signages put  up by the ASI. There are   twin obelisks which stand there - one is in memory of Major General Gillispie and his officers and men , and the  other, probably the only one of its kind in the world, was dedicated by the     British to the memory of the very men they defeated- Balbhadra and his Gorkhas.

People the world over would also like to know more about the  brave Gorkhas ,who with their Khukris  and their  battle cry of “Ayo Gorkhali”, faced the huge British force at Khalanga  with exceptional valour. Developing a  Gorkha Tourist Circuit in the Doon valley would indeed be a great idea to boost historical and cultural tourism.

Via dailypioneer

Two Indians among 25 killed in Kabul terrorist attack

8:05 PM
“We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun, died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted late on Monday night.

The Taliban and the Islamic State both claimed the first attack, which killed 14 security guards, including the Indians, working for the Canadian embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow minibus spattered with blood.

Two Indians were among 25 people killed in a suicide blast in Kabul Monday. Officials said they worked for a private security company, Sabre International, and were probably deployed at the Canadian embassy. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, which also killed 14 Nepalese guards working for the embassy. A suicide bomber on foot had targeted a mini bus transporting them.

Within hours, a second blast went off inside the vehicle of MP Ataullah Faizani in Chehlsitoon area, injuring him.

The Indian government is working with its Afghan counterpart to repatriate their bodies at the earliest, Swarup said without giving other details. MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died in the blast. The government is in touch with their families and is working to repatriate their mortal remains.”
Two Indians among 25 killed in Kabul terrorist attack
An injured Nepalese security guard in Kabul - Source: AP
Soon after a Taliban spokesman on Twitter claimed the attack, the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan released a competing claim in which it named and pictured the alleged bomber, according to the SITE monitoring group. An Afghan intelligence source said officials were investigating the IS claim, which was denied by the Taliban.

Police said the attack on the security guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot on a key road leading east out of Kabul towards Jalalabad. The interior ministry said in a statement that five Nepali citizens and four Afghans were wounded. The Canadian embassy confirmed the “cowardly” attack in a tweet and said it had employed the guards.

Anirudh Thapa captain of the Indian National Football Team (Under-19)

8:45 AM
After Sunil Chettri, here's our own Anirudh Thapa, born on 15th January 1998 in Uttarakhand, has given us more reason to watch and follow football, the most followed sport by our community, ever closely. The captain of the Indian National Football Team (Under-19) Thapa came into the spotlight when India defeated hosts Nepal to win the U-16 SAFF Championship. Anirudh Thapa is a talented midfielder whose dribbling and passing skills are a treat for the eyes.

He did his schooling from St. Stephen's in Chandigarh. This is where he started playing football at the age of 10. The 18-year-old comes from Dehradun in Uttarakhand and is currently plying his trade at the AIFF Elite Academy based in Goa.
Anirudh Thapa captain of the Indian National Football Team (Under-19)
Anirudh Thapa
Thapa joined the AIFF academy in Kalyani in 2012. He was also integrated in the India U15 squad in the same year.

In 2013, Thapa won the SAFF U16 Championship. He also participated in the AFC U16 Championship where he scored once in four appearances.

The attacking midfielder went to Malaysia to compete in the Asia U16 Championship in 2014.

In 2015, Thapa was the youngest member selected to be part of the India U19 squad who were runners-up in SAFF U19 Championship. Thapa scored twice in four matches in the competition.

He won the U19 I-league in 2015-2016 season when he captained the AIFF Elite Academy. He played 14 games and notched up three goals.

Thapa's family backs him to the hilt.

Football is his love, he eventually sees his growth in the world's most followed sport. Aspiring to become one of the best, he continues to dream to play for the national team in the foreseeable future.

Gorkha Brahmins included in OBC, Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha felicitated Ganesh Joshi

Mussoorie Dehradun, June 12 Members of the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha felicitated Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi at a function held at the sabha auditorium in Gadi Cantt for working tirelessly in getting Brahmin and Kshatriya communities again included in the Other Backward Caste (OBC) category of the Gorkhali community in the state.

The Gorkhali community was given the OBC status when Uttarakhand was formed but the state government through an order on May I6 excluded Brahmins and Kshatriyas from the OBC list. Joshi, when informed, immediately wrote a letter to the Governor on May 25, demanding quashing of the order. The Governor in his letter to the government directed officials concerned to remove the clause and include all members of the community in the OBC list. The Social Welfare Department rectified the anomaly without delay. Col BS Kshetri (retd), president of the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha, honoured Joshi with a bouquet and a shawl during the felicitation ceremony yesterday.
Ganesh Joshi
Ganesh Joshi

He said it was due to Joshi’s efforts that injustice done by excluding Brahmins and Kshatriyas from the OBC list was rectified. Joshi also played an active role in collecting relief for Nepalese citizens last year when Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake. Joshi presented six computers and 10 sewing machines to the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha on the occasion.

He lambasted the state government for trying to divide the community on caste lines with an intention to garner votes. He lauded the community members for staying united and countering the nefarious designs of the government.

Vice-president of the sabha Sunil Thapa, president of the women cell of the sabha Sarika Pradhan, Manoj Kshetri and Sunil Gurung Sonam Kshetri were present on the occasion.


Tribune News Service


Gorkha girl scores 10 CGPA in CBSE Board exams

7:40 PM
Congratulations to Ms. Priyanka Panthi a student of DAV Public School, Dehradun for scoring a perfect 10 CGPA in her CBSE Board exams.She had prepared by her own self study at her home, by studying regularly for 5-6 hrs at home.. growing up she wants to pursue a career as a Chartered Accountant and "will prepare for C.P.T (Common Proficiency Test) from class 11 onwards..." she added


Name: Pratigya Panthi
School: D.A.V. Public School, Dehradun
Father's Name: Pt. Govind Prasad Panthi
Mother's Name: Devki Panthi




Ms. Priyanka Panthi Gorkha girl  from Dehradun scores 10 CGPA in CBSE Board exams
Ms. Priyanka Panthi Gorkha girl  from Dehradun scores 10 CGPA in CBSE Board exams
 What gives us hope is that, even though she wants to be a CA, but she also wants to work for our GORKHA samaj in its overall development... and has made education her priority to achieve her goals.

When we asked her if she has any message for our youths, she said, "I want to request our Gorkha Samaj across India, especially youth that Education is the tool for Gorkhaland by which whole world can be conquered and demand of Gorkhaland will become successful... Only youth can bring this change"

We are PROUD of you Priyanka and CONGRATULATIONS to You for upholding the Gorkha name.


Via TheDC

OBC quota for Gorkhas to continue in Uttarakhand / Dehradun

1:07 PM
OBC
Uttarakhand / Dehradun, May 28 2016 Cabinet Minister Dinesh Aggarwal has said the Gorkha community will continue to get reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in the state.

Dinesh Aggarwal, while addressing a press conference here today, said the state government in 2003 had put the Gorkha community in the OBC category.

He said under the Central Government guidelines, Brahmin and Thakur communities among Gorkhas were being excluded from the OBC category. Dinesh Aggarwal said the Uttarakhand Government was not bound to follow the Central guidelines. On May 26, the state government issued notification that sub castes under the Gorkha community would get OBC benefits.

 Gorkha community
 Gorkha community 
Dinesh Aggarwal said the Congress high command would take a call on the vacant RS seat in the state.

He said the country had seen unprecedented rise in inflation ever since the Modi government came to power at the Centre.

TNS

Lt Col Thapa UAV Test pilot who commanded DRDO's R-Day contingent 2012

9:10 AM
Indian Gorkha, Lt Col V S Thapa, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) external Test pilot, hailing from Dehradun, was selected to command Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Republic Day parade contingent in New Delhi in 1012. DRDO sources tell Express that Thapa was selected to lead the R-Day contingent after a vigorous selection process. “There were four other officers in the race and Thapa was selected after scrutinizing various parameters,” sources said. Thapa, was posted on a special assignment to Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) – which is the abode of home-grown UAVs, including Nishant and Rustom.

Speaking to Express from Delhi, Thapa had said that it was a very esteemed occasion for him to command the unit. “It is a lifetime opportunity that has come my way and I am working hard to make it a success. The rehearsals have been good and we have fine-tuned everything before the big day,” the 44-year-old Thapa said.
Lt Col Thapa UAV Test pilot who commanded DRDO's R-Day contingent 2012
Lt Col Thapa UAV Test pilot who commanded DRDO's R-Day contingent 2012

Thapa hit the headlines after conventionally flying Rustom-1 UAV for the first time in October 2010, after which he piloted (externally) nine flights of Rustom-1. An officer from the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army, Thapa was certified as an external pilot from Israeli Aerospace Industries, Malat, Israel. He was the part of Army's UAV team since 2000 and had handled Searcher Mk-I Alpha and Searcher Mk-II UAVs.

ADE Director P S Krishnan had said that the lab couldn't have asked for more with a member of his team being chosen to command the DRDO R-Day team. “A double honour for us, with Thapa and Rustom-1 chosen for the parade. The UAV by itself can be used for various reconnaissance purposes, though it is a technology demonstration vehicle for Rustom-2,” Krishnan said.

In addition to Rustom-1, Thapa had in his company missiles Agni-4 and Prahaar, in addition to a tableau depicting gen-next technologies used while handling hazards of snow and avalanches.


Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha merges with Congress

5:07 PM
Dehradun, May 2 The Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha party merged with the state Congress in a programme held at the Congress head office here on Sunday.

State president of the Congress Kishore Upadhyay warmly welcomed JB Karki, national president of the Morcha, and his party workers with garlands and bouquets. Workers of the Gorkha party showed their devotion towards the principles of the Congress and assured to strengthen it in the state.

Upadhyay said “The collaboration with Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha Party will strengthen the Congress in the state. Congress is a democratic and secular party which believes in the development of each and every section of the society.”
Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha merges with Congress
Capt JB Karki (retd), president of the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha Party (second from right),
praises the previous Congress governmentTribune photo

He alleged that the BJP had created an atmosphere of political crisis in the state but Congress would fight back to form a democratic government. The members of the Gorkha party would support Congress in this time of struggle, he added.

Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was the chief guest at the programme and welcomed the members of the Gorkha party. He asked them to support the party during this crisis and slammed the BJP-led Central Government for defaming democracy in the state. The real character of the BJP had got exposed in front of the public and they would not excuse the saffron party in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Jot Singh Bisht, PS Karki, Balram Thapa, Parveen Rana, Kamlesh Chandra and Rakesh Negi also attended the event.


Via Tribune News Service


Gham Chhaya – Golden Times by Lt Gen (Veteran) Shakti Gurung & Mrs Madhu Gurung

11:10 PM
Writes  Lt Gen (Veteran) Shakti Gurung and Mrs. Madhu Gurung

What makes us take different roads at varying points in our lives – the choices we make in pursuance of a dream that starts as a mere idea, to become a journey of possibilities can never be fully answered. So great is the pull of the idea that it excites us to hunt high and low for ways to make it take a form, and then a life of its own.

Living as retirees in Dehradun, our story also started with an idea to unite the Gorkha community to come together in unity and pride. Initially we thought like everywhere else in India, we too should organise a Gorkha fair. But for too many years living away from the community we had had our fair share of competition, so we were more ambitious, more unafraid to trying new things, so our USP as we grew as a group, was to think not just big but bigger, an event that we could pull together on our own steam without the army cover under which we had lived all our lives. What started as possibly a one or two day event snowballed with a life of its own into a four day grand Gorkha Dwi Shatabdi Mahotsav. The website – thegorkha.com that we created after the Mahotsav captures some of its essence. For the first time the Mahotsav brought thousands of Gorkhas living in independent warrens across Uttarakhand together to publicly demonstrate their pride in their “Gorkhaness”.
Gham Chhaya – Golden Times
Gham Chhaya – Golden Times
The immediate fall out of the Mahotsav was the creation of the Gorkha Kalyan Parishad.  It was the first official acknowledgement by the government of Uttarakhand. Headed by Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, who had been appointed on popular concensus, the members of the Parishad however did not enjoy the same support. The result was it fractured the Gorkha community on party lines and made the government effort seem not serious and well meaning. However, the recent upheaval of the Uttarakhand government has caused the dissolution of the Parishad but the processes that Gen Gurung put in place, continue.

It was the formation of the Parishad that gave birth to the website: thegorkha.com that will serve not just as our documentation center but will be an interactive stimulus for intellectual debate. We are happy with the responses of our viewers. We are constantly working on ways to improve the content and incorporating the work that we are doing.

The other equally meaningful endeavour that stemmed for the same felt need for an interactive platform to reach out to the community and continue with the gains of “Gorkhaness” the Mahotsav had created, was a kernel of an idea of starting a community radio.

While the website we had created catered for the technically savvy generation of Gorkhas, the radio on the other hand is aimed to capture the space that was empty as a “binder” embracing the community speaking in Nepali.

The radio allows us the enormous span and platform to project the untapped talent of our young musicians, poets and singers. It allowed us freedom to create, tell stories, showcase our culture, language, history and tap on to our vast plethora of music, and bring together all the local talent we found in the wake of the Mahotsav and showcase it.

The Bible says for everything under the sun there is a season – a time to sow and a time to reap.  The idea of having a Gorkhali radio station started as a small seed with tremendous potential. We realised we had a brilliant idea but little expertise to execute it. But the more we thought of the idea of a community radio we realised it would be the best tool to reach out – to inform, educate and entertain the community. The Gorkhas had never found a voice and never broadcast it. We also did not have the money to the tune of Rs 25 lakhs to get a license to broadcast and have a radio station of our own.

So the idea began to falter even before it took off, that was the time we began thinking out of the box. The idea of a community radio was too good to be abandoned so we began looking for ways to make it begin. A phone call to the head of Radio Khushi, Arjun Kaintura in Mussoorie for air time for us elicited a response that was not only encouraging but we also got him to come home and talk about how we could go about it. The next step was to introduce him to the small band of people who were sold on the idea of radio. In the hall of Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha where we invited him, he came with his team of RJ – Kiran Thapa, and his production head, Madan. The team read to him, sang for him and asked him endless questions.

The meeting was a turning point as the support of Radio Khushi was whole hearted. Radio Khushi housed in Gurunank Fifth Centenary School in Mussoorie, reaches across most of Uttarakhand and is broadcast on 90.4 FM.

We asked Arjun for a two slots every week as none of us were professionals and we felt that we had to build our capacities. The truth was none of us had any idea of what it entailed but when you take an idea and think of it day in and day out, you can create paths. A music band, “Maya,” that had played for the Mahotsav had two key players Vikas Mukhiya and Finny Joseph, both musicians with expertise in their own fields. While Vikas was the band’s lead singer, composer, Finny was the sound expert.

It was this duo that came to our rescue. Finny Joseph a young man who worked some ten years for a corporate in Delhi came back to Dehradun to pursue the love of his life – music, and raise a family. Vikas Mukhiya, a musician par excellence wrote songs, composed and played in all fancy places across the country and whose passion for life stemmed from his music. He has already got fame doing biblical albums and is the one who composed the most beautiful song for our Mahotsav titled, ‘Bir Gorkhali”. It is on our website and a must listen for all the people who question Gorkha identity.

Together these two young men wrote, composed our promos, recorded them and wowed the community. We hope that our promos in times to come will become an anthem among our people. Finny continues to record for us and his ability to fine tune flagging voices, boost confidence among a team of radio jockeys, who till a few weeks back saw themselves only as students, housewives and retired army men. The excitement of wearing a new garb is hesitant but each episode when recorded gets aired, the instant emotional response fills us with wonder of its possibility and gets us back to the grind to better ourselves.

We are for a professional radio, the most unlikely team to produce radio programmes, but our USP is our heart. We know what makes us tick, we know our stories and together we are learning to say them in a way very much like the last frame of a beautiful movie that stays with you long after the images have faded. We have realised that in a way we are all story tellers as we only have the listeners’ ears so we paint with colours of our past, pride in our present, and hope for our future.

We have been asked why radio – it’s a medium that can reach out across the board to a community, as friend, adviser and a fellow Gorkha. It’s a platform for Gorkhas to interact, put forth their word and find a common solution. The forthcoming elections, 2017 may just get their Gorkha MLA, making history happen through a medium we have only just started.

The possibilities are endless.

Where do we go from here, the roadmap leads us all the way to having our own Gorkha broadcasting radio station. As we learn the ropes as tug boats hooked on to the big armada, Radio Khushi, we know we will find our own patch of land where the sky carries our name very soon.


Via thegorkha

Legendary Indian footballer Amar Bahadur passes away

9:25 PM

Dehradun: Legendary Indian footballer Amar Bahadur Gurung, who scored the bronze medal winning goal for India against Japan at the 1970 Jakarta Asian Games, passed away at Medanta Hospital in Delhi on Wednesday. Fondly called ‘Amar Dai’ by friends, this footballer from the Doon valley brought laurels for the country though his outstanding sporting skills.

Born on 18 April 1942 in Dehradun, Amar Bahadur studied at the Gorkha Military School. He joined the 4/8 Gorkha Rifles in 1960 and quit Army service in 1967 to play for Mafatlal (Mumbai). He holds the distinction of being the only player from Dehradun to be awarded Maharashtra's highest sporting honour, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Award, in 1973.He was a regular member of the Indian football team in the mid-60s and early 70s.

Considered one the greatest left wingers India has ever produced, Amar gladdened the heart of the football lovers through his play, calmness and gentleman behavior on the filed. After leaving Maharashta, Amar Dai permanently settled in Dehradun in 2007 and since then was actively involved in football promotion. With the sole aim of sharing his knowledge and training budding players, Amar Bahadur formed the Doon FC club. 

DehradunFootball.com deeply condoles the death of a great Indian footballer. Indian football will always miss a gentleman and sober sportsman like Amar Bahadur.

Gorkha brothers awarded Youth Icon Award 2015-16 by "Youth Icon India" in Dehradun.

11:40 AM
Indian Gorkha brothers, Mr.Chiranjeev Kumar Sharma and Mr.Rajeev Kumar Sharma were awarded Youth Icon Award 2015-16 by an organization "Youth Icon India" in Dehradun.

According to an official release from the Yi India, Chiranjeev and Rajeev were among entrepreneurs, social workers, doctors and journalists that were the recipients of this year’s award organised. The awards were handed to them by the Uttarakhand C.M Mr.Harish Rawat.

Originally hailing from Kalchini in Doars, Chiranjeev and Rajeev are now settled in Dehradun.

Mr.Chiranjeev Kumar Sharma was also awarded Young Gorkha Entrepreneur award in Delhi a few years back.

We congratulate the Sharma brothers and hope that their hard-work and success will inspires others to take up entrepreneurship as well.

Take a bow Chiranjeev and Rajeev!! You guys have earned it!!

Gorkha brothers awarded Youth Icon Award 2015-16 by "Youth Icon India" in Dehradun.
Mr.Chiranjeev Kumar Sharma and Mr.Rajeev Kumar Sharma were awarded Youth Icon Award 2015-16 by
an organization Youth Icon India in Dehradun.


Via TheDC


Bhartiya Gorkha Parisangh pay homage and condolence to Shri Suraj Man Rai

8:45 AM
Dehradun : On 24 January Bhartiya Gorkha Parisangh Uttarakhand held a huge congregation of Gorkha community in the Manekshaw Hall of gorkhali sudhar sabha Garhi Cantt, Dehradun to pay homage and condolence on the sad and untimely demise of Shri Suraj Man Rai that took place on the night of 18/19 Jan 16 during the return journey from Siligudi after attending the 4th triannual meeting of BHAGOP . Late Suraj Man Rai was the President of Uttarakhand unit of BHAGOP. He was a great social worker and his contribution for the just cause of Gorkha community began from the very early age of his life. He was a poet, writer and a great lover of music. He was a ever smiling person and always ready to accept any responsibility. His passing away has created a big void in the social field of Gorkha community.
Bhartiya Gorkha Parisangh pay homage and condolence to  Shri Suraj Man Rai
Bhartiya Gorkha Parisangh pay homage and condolence to  Shri Suraj Man Rai
A large number of people of the Gorkhas community paid tribute to the departed soul. Among the prominent who attended the mourning were Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, pvsm,uysm,avsm,vsm (retd), Lt Gen Ram Pradhan avsm,sm,vsm, Lt. Col B S Chhettri, Lt Col D S Khadka, Maj B P Thapa, smt Upasana Thapa, Bhupendra Adhikari, Suryabikram Shahi, Sarika Pradhan,  Prabha Shah, Sama, Durga gurung, Laxmi Thapa, all Gorkha samaj adhyaksh and many more. A central delegation of BHAGOP led by senior vice President Munish Tamang consisted of Joel Rai, and two more members came all the way from Delhi to pay condolence on their own behalf and on behalf of the central leadership. All gathered paid tribute to the departed soul and prayed to Almighty God for the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

Source veergorkha

Gorkha community must reorient its focus towards education and entrepreneurship: CM Pawan Chamling

8:34 AM

(A report on the speech made by Shri Pawan Chamling during Gorkha Mahotav 2015, Dehradun )

Shri Pawan Chamling congratulated the people of Uttarakhand and the Gorkha community across the nation for the Mahotsav to mark the glorious 200 years of the Gorkha history in Dehradun. Highlighting the contribution of the Gorkha community towards nation building of India, the Chief Minister pointed out the role Gorkhas have played in shaping the history of India from the days when Buddha marked his journey seeking and spreading knowledge from Nepal to India. Citing the example of the Khalanga he said that the Gorkha community have been natives of the land for time immemorial and are spread across the country like Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, and across the North Eastern region.

Reading out a list of Gorkha freedom fighters and martyrs, Shri Pawan Chamling added that right from the Independence struggle of the country, to the currently serving Lieutenant Generals from the community Lieutenant General (Retired) Shakti Gurung PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Previously Military Secretary of the Indian Army) and Lieutenant General (Retired) Ram Pradhan AVSM, SM, VSM, the commitment shown by the Gorkhas towards the security and defense of the nation remains unparalleled. The list of people he read out consisted of Gorkha people from different parts of the country driving home the point that the community has been spread across the country, and no matter where we are we have always given our best towards nation building.

People often ask me ‘were you born in India, are you from Nepal, Your family migrated to India’?

I tell them “Yeah, perhaps they came along with Lord Buddha.”

While congratulating the people from Uttarakhand for the glorious 200 years, he also highlighted the fact that the Nepali speaking Gorkha community in India is also an example of peace in the country. Citing the example of the peaceful Sikkim merger, he added that the Gorkha community had been committed to peace in the nation and have worked with the government towards solution of issues facing the community within the constitutional framework of India. He also added that the identity of the Indian Gorkha is pan-India as the community is spread across the country.

While every Gorkha community settled in different states of India must work with their state government seeking the welfare of the community, the Identity of the Indian Gorkhas must be worked in close collaboration with the central government. The community is today facing identity issue due to the similarities of Gorkha ethnic identity of the Nepali speaking population across India and Nepal. We are often mistaken for citizens of Nepal. Thus, he emphasized that we need seek center’s intervention and urge the government to recognize the Gorkhas as an ethnic minority community and seek support under ethnic minority provisions of the central Government. He stated that there is a bigger need for us to work for the welfare of the community as a whole and beyond states and territories in India.

Even in changing times and economy, the Gorkha community continues to bring in innovation and quickly adapting to the changing needs of the nation. Citing the example of Sikkim as the first state in India to introduce and promote 100 percent Organic farming, he urged upon the Gorkha students to wake up to the rising call of the nation. He accentuated the point that India and the Gorkha community needs highly educated students in service oriented professional studies and Information Technology, top Central Government bureaucrats, IAS, Foreign services, and other top decision-making positions.

"We must explore entrepreneurship in different fields and create jobs for the people, encourage students for higher studies, aim for the top level decision-making positions of the government bureaucracy, research on history of the people, culture, and art. The youths need to be ‘producers’ and not just ‘consumers’."

The Chief Minister called upon the youth to acquire and develop entrepreneurship skills and venture into promoting tourism, and become producers and not just consumers. He suggested the youths to venture into business and market tourism, handicrafts, art, culture and create jobs and ideas in the society. While our regions have huge tourism potentials, our youths must excel in service sector and find innovative ideas to market the places.

After the speech, the Chief Minister humbly placed himself in the service of the community. He said “Malai Kaam Araunu hous, ke garnu parney bhannu hous, mo jailey pani taiyar chhu.”

Footnote:
Gorkha Youth and Students' Association of India - GYASA (represented by Rajen Chhetry and Dinesh Sharma) and Run with Roshni , VK Kunwor (6th Generation descendant of Capt. Balbhadra Kunwor along with other Gorkhas being honoured during Gorkha DWI Shatapdi Mahotsav 2015 and felicitated by Honourable Shri Pawan Chamling , Chief Minister of Sikkim.

By, Dinesh Sharma
Source GYASA

Gorkha Bicentennary Mahotsav ends with Pawan Chamling's pep talk

2:02 PM
Dehradun: The four-day Gorkha Bicentennary Mahotsav culminated on Sunday with a glittering evening programme in which Sikkim chief minister, Pawan Chamling, was the chief guest. Speaking at the occasion, Chamling congratulated the community for its achievement. He also gave a pep talk especially targeted at the youth. "Wake up early and give more time to school and education. That is the only way our community can grow and achieve great heights." He also had a piece of advise for parents: "Make sure your daughters are encouraged to study and do not get them married till they are 25 years old."

Earlier, the Sikkim CM reached the venue, Mahender ground in Garhi Cantt to a rousing reception by the over 6000-strong crowd. Addressing the audience, he spoke about the identity crisis that Gorkhas had been facing. "I have been CM for five times but still face this line: he is from Nepal. To this I reply that we Gorkhas have been here since the time of Gautam Buddha. We have a centuries-old connection with India where the community has contributed in all spheres. The only way to beat the identity crisis is through education," he said.
Chief Minister of sikkim Mr. Pawan Chamling
Chief Minister of sikkim Mr. Pawan Chamling - a file photo
Chamling also gave emphasis on the need for promoting entrepreneurship in the community. "Youngsters must skill themselves to become entrepreneurs rather than joining the service industry."

The rapturous crowd lapped up every piece of advice that the CM doled out, loudly clapping and cheering his speech. The CM, too, was all praise for Dehradun and the historical significance of the Khalanga battle fought here. "After watching the laser show depicting the cultural history of the Gorkha community and the great Khalanga battle, I feel that the young generation should be made aware about it. This episode in our history also shows the centuries-old connection we have with India."

Visitors also enjoyed cultural performances including the Khukri dance performed by Gorkha soldiers, a stimulating laser show as well as delicacies available at the ongoing Gorkha mela.

Source: Timesofindia

Why Khalanga is important for the Gorkhas

8:45 AM
DEHRADUN: For the Gorkha community, the nippy November air marks the turning point of their 200-year-old history in Dehradun. In 1814, it was during this time that a fierce battle for the Nalapani fort which took place around the Nalapani fort, near Dehradun, turned out to be the first battle of the Anglo-Gorkhas war, was fought between British forces and the Gorkhas on the eastern fringes of the city.

The imperial army was under the command of Major general Robert Rollo Gillespie who had come from Meerut to take over the fort but was killed on the very first day of the battle, giving the British a massive jolt and making them aware of the valour and fierce fighting spirit of the Gorkhas.

Historical accounts say that the battle of Nalapani began on Monday, October 31, 1814 when British troops started the assault on the fort which held by the Gorkhas. Armed with khukris, bows, guns and muskets under the command of their general, Balbhadra Kunwar, the Gorkha army fought ferociously but the British, who as per an old field order of that time, had sophisticated weapons like howitzers, guns, mortar etc that was ferried up the hill on elephants.
Khalanga War Memorial
Khalanga War Memorial
The Gorkhas made full use of their vintage position on the hill top as was evidenced by their fiery retaliation to the British advance which killed Gillespie. Using alternative tactics, the British army cut off the water supply of the region. The Gorkhas put a valiant month-long resistance but the British eventually took over the fort, reducing it to concrete debris. Even though the British won the battle, they recognized the valour of the Gorkhas by erecting a memorial for them - the only instance where a victor had thus honoured the vanquished. The Khalanga war memorial stands on what is Sahastradhara road today.

Khalanga War Memorial - A Salute to Gorkha Regiment by Britishers

Famous Gorkha War or Anglo-Nepalese or Anglo-Gorkha War was fought between Britishers and Gorkha regiment of Nepal. In Battel of Nalapani, 600 Gorkhas fought bravely against 3000 odd soldiers in Khalanga Fort near Nalapani, Dehradun. For six weeks, Gorkhas were protecting the fort without food and water. Impressed by the unmatched bravery, Britishers erected the Khalanga War Memorial to honor Gorkhas. After that Britishers recruits Gorkhas in their army too. This memorial is under conservation of ASI.

Legacy
The fighting around Nalapani, more than any other battle, established the reputation of the Gorkhas as warriors, and won the admiration of the British. Gillespie had been killed and Balbhadra and his 600 men had held the might of the British and their native Indian troops for a month. Even with only 70 remaining survivors after his water source had been cut off, Balbhadra had refused to surrender, and instead had charged out and successfully fought his way through the siege. It set the tone for the rest of the campaign.

The battle also had significant political repercussions, shaking the British Army's confidence. The fact that the siege had taken so long exposed the British forces' vulnerabilities and encouraged the native Indian states – in particular the old Maratha Confederacy in central India – to continue their resistance against British imperialism in the hope that they could still be defeated.

With inputs from TOI, Wiki

Gorkha Bi-Centenary Mahotsav kicks off

8:32 AM

DEHRADUN 18 Nov 2015: The much awaited bicentenary celebrationa of the Gorkha community in Uttarakhand, are all set to start today with the Khalanga run, a running event that is spearheaded by international runner Roshni Rai. Speaking to TOI, Rai, a Mumbai-based lawyer turned marathon runner, said that the 8.7 km run will take the runners through a challenging terrain to the actual site of the Khalanga battle where 200 years ago, the Gorkhas and the British East India Company fought a decisive battle. 

According to Madhu Gurung, one of the organizers of the celebrations, the run, which will have teenagers as well as 50-year-olds, may go on to become an annual feature, with the distance being increased to 10 km so that it becomes a half marathon. Elaborating about the significance of Khalanga for the Gorkhas, she said," The British, after the Khalanga battle, went on to build the Khalanga War Memorial in honour of their valiant enemy, the Gorkhas. It is the only memorial built by the British for their enemy anywhere in the world. For the Gorkhas celebrating their bi-centenary, it is a proud history and legacy they are determined to preserve." 

The Gorkha community has planned a series of activities spanning the next four days, which includes a laser show depicting Gorkha history, a community parade, mela, musical concert and a lot of other activities. Brig PS Gurung, president of the Gorkha Bi-Centenary Mahotsav Committee, said that the cultural parade which will be held on Friday morning from Bindal bridge to Parade Ground will "give people an idea of who we really are, our clothes, dances and our history." For the first time, people of Dehradun will witness Gorkhas dressed in traditional clothes, doing traditional dances and showing tableaus of their heroes and legends," he said. 

In the evening on Friday, chief minister Harish Rawat will inaugurate the Gorkha Mahotsav with a band concert at the Mahender Ground in Garhi Cantt. Besides Gorkha bands putting up what the organizers term the ''Battle of the Bands', the other attraction at the concert would be Kapil Thapa, runner up of a popular TV singing reality show. A light and sound show showcasing the 200 years of Gorkhas will round off the evening. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can sample Gorkha delicacies and buy souvenirs at the Gorkha mela at Mahender Ground.

Source: TOI

Gorkhas of Uttarakhand to celebrate a Bicentenary Mahotsav

11:49 AM
Dehradun, October 13 For the 10 million Gorkhas in India, 2015 marks their 200 years in the country. While the Gorkha population dots different states across the country, the maximum numbers live in Uttarakhand, where they now make up some 12 lakh, roughly 12 per cent of the state's population.

As the Gorkha Regiments of the Army celebrate their commemoration and various battle honours won fighting in different theatres of war across the world, the Gorkhas of Uttarakhand have come together for the first time in Dehradun to celebrate a Bicentenary Mahotsav.

“Planned to span over four days, from 19-22 November, 2015, the events will showcase their history, language, culture, music, dance and food,” said Mamata Gurung, a spokeperson of the GHorkha Bicentenary Mahotsav Committee.

The Gorkha Bicentenary Mahotsav Committee (GBMC) is an umbrella organisation under which all Gorkha organisations in Uttarakhand have come together to host this cultural extravaganza.
It was in Dehradun that Gorkhas came 200 years ago after they had become rulers of Kumaon, Garhwal and Himachal, to set up a battlement in the hills of Nalapani, calling it Khalanga. It was here that 600 Gorkha men, women and children took on the might of 30,000 British East India Company shocking them as they had never encountered a foe like them.
Gorkhas of Uttarakhand to celebrate a Bicentenary Mahotsav
Uttarakhand map
The British never forgot the encounter. Today, two obelisks stand testimony on the road to Sahastradhara, one for the British Commander, Sir Rollo Gillispie and his men, and the other to the “Valiant foe, the Gorkhas, Bal Bhuddur and his men.” This is the only war memorial that the British have ever dedicated to their enemy anywhere in the world. The British went on sign the Treaty of Sagauli allowing them to recruit the Gorkhas. It is estimated that there are over a lakh of Gorkhas serving in the Indian Army and roughly 1.5 lakh living as ex-servicemen.

Uttrakhand has an estimated population of 1 lakh of which approximately half are Gorkhas. The 200 years celebrations is seen as a landmark event by Gorkhas as it brings to the fore their history and heritage.

The “Khalanga Run” will be the forerunner that starts the four-day Gorkha Mahotsav event on November 19. This is being planned under Roshni Rai, a long distance marathon runner who has participated in some of the most difficult marathon events like the Commarade Marathon in South Africa of 87 km, besides ones in the UK and Germany. She has also organised several such events for Gorkha unity and solidarity. She is an author of recently released book “From Mountains to the Ocean.”

The “Khalanga Run” will be open for all citizens of the city and will be conducted from the Khalanga Gate to the top of the hill and back.

A 'Cultural Parade' through the main market area from the Parade Ground to Clock Tower and back would be held on November 20. During this procession, the Gorkha culture in its various forms will be showcased as tableaus. The route of this cultural parade is the Bindal Bridge to the Clock Tower to culminate at the Parade Ground.

In the evening, there will be a band concert on the Mahender Grounds, Garhi Cantt, in which a number of Gorkha orchestra groups will perform. This is being called “The Battle of the Bands.” The jazz band contest will play popular songs and will be chosen by popular vote consensus from the public to be declared the Winner of the Gorkha Bicentenary Band Concert.

On November 21 and 22, a Gorkha Bicentenary Mahotsav would be held having stalls from across the country along with game and food stalls. The mela will be conducted on the Mahender Ground in the Garhi Cantt. In the evening of both days there will be a cultural and laser light and sound show.

Source The Tribune‎

Gorkha Boys defeat Khalanga Club 2-1

1:33 PM
Dehradun : Gorkha Boys beat Khalanga Football Club 2-1 in the 12th Lala Nemi Das District Football League played at Pavilion Ground here today. In the first half, Aman scored goal for the Gorkha Boys in the 11th minute of the game and gave his team an important lead. In the second half, Mahipal of Khalanga equalised the score by scoring a goal in the 40th minute but soon after Albert scored another goal for the Gorkha Boys and led his team to an exciting victory.

In another match of the day, Doon Football Club beat Sports Hostel team with score of 1-0. Robin scored the winning goal of the match in the 30th minute.
Gorkha Boys defeat Khalanga Club 2-1
A player of Doon FC (white) tries to dribble the ball past a player of Sports Hostel in a match in the 12th Lala Nemi Das District Football League in Dehradun on Sunday. Tribune photo: Abhyudaya Kotnala

Praveen Farasi, Pushkar Gusain, SP Joshi, CM Bhatt and Rakesh Baloni were referees.

Via Tribune News Service

1/11 Gorkha Rifles celebrates raising day on September 1st

2:21 PM
Every year 1/11 Gorkha Rifles celebrates their raising day on 1st September as the regiment  1/11 Gorkha Rifles was raised on 01 Sep 1960 at Clement Town, Dehradun. he troops of the battalion are essentially RAIS and LIMBUS, a famous and dreaded Khukri wielding stock.
1/11 Gorkha Rifles celebrates  raising day on 01 September
1/11 Gorkha Rifles celebrates  raising day on 01 September 
They are known for never having been subjugated by any king or invader and their warrior qualities are very much in evidence to date. Since its raising, "The First" has taken part in almost all operations, which the Indian Army has participated be it in East, West, North or even abroad. The battalion was awarded the first coveted unit CITATION for operations in the North-East in 1993 and the crowning CITATION for its glorious action in capturing KHALUBAR at 17,000ft in Batalik Sector, during OP VIJAY in 1999. The FIRST has got the singular privilege of being conferred with the title of BRAVEST OF BRAVE for Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey being awarded PARAM VIR CHAKRA (Posthumous) and Lieutenant Puneet Nath Datt being awarded ASHOK CHAKRA (Posthumous).

The Martyrs of the Regiment are: -

OP VIJAY
Rfn Sunil Jung Mahat - 15 May 99 LNk Ram Kr
Pradhan - 26 May 99
Rfn Lichon Pradhan - 08 Jun 99 Capt M K
Pandey - 03 Jul 99
Hav Ganga Ram Rai - 03 Jul 99 Rfn Karna Bdr
Limbu - 03 Jul 99
Rfn Kalu Ram Rai - 03 Jul 99 Rfn Arun
Kumar Rai - 04 Jul 99
CHM Jhanak Bdr Rai - 04 Jul 99 LNk Tika Dhwoj
Lawati - 06 Jul 99
Rfn Jit Bdr Limbu - 11 Jul 99 Rfn
Raj Kumar Rai - 11 Jul 99
LNk DN Shrestha - 11 May 99

OP MEGHDOOT
Rfn Shamsher Tamang - 13 Aug 98 Rfn Passang
Shrestha - 03 Sep 98
Rfn Mana Hang Subba - 07 Dec 98 Rfn Arun
Kumar Rai - 04 Jul 99

OP RAKSHAK
Lt Puneet Nath Datt - 20 Jul 97 LNk Debi
Kumar Limbu - 04 Aug 97

NAGA HILL
Capt B Subramaniam - 09 Sep 68 Nb/Sub
Chhabi Lal Limbu - 09 Sep 68
Maj MMS Bajaj, SC - 09 Jan 69 LNk
Bom Bahadur Limbu - 04 Aug 69
Rfn Parsu Ram Rai - 04 Aug 69

MIZO HILLS
Rfn Maita Bdr Rai - 17 Jun 69
WEST BENGAL (RADHIKAPUR)
Rfn Bir Bahadur Limbu - 18 Jun 71

OP CACTUSLILY
Rfn Jai Prasad Limbu - 08 Dec 71 LNk Kul
Bahadur Rai - 08 Dec 71
LNk Bir Bdr Gurung - 11 Dec 71 Rfn
Chandra Bdr Limbu - 08 Dec 71

OP PAWAN (Sri Lanka)
2Lt Ramesh Rawat - 06 Jun 89 Nb Sub
H C Sawan - 18 Aug 89
Hav Amir Rai - 18 Aug 89 Rfn
Suk Bir imbu - 18 Aug 89

Via - pib.nic.in

Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha concerned at exclusion of Bahuns, Chettris from OBC list

11:12 AM
OBC
Capt JB Karki (retd), national president of the (ABRGM) Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha Party, today said the Gorkha Kalyan Parishad would be constituted for the uplift of the Gorkha community. He told media-persons that the party was concerned at the dropping of Bahun and Chettri castes from the list of OBC list issued by the Union government.
National president of the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha Capt JB Karki
National president of the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Gorkha Morcha Capt JB Karki speaks about the
 plan to form a party, in Dheradun on Friday. Tribune photo: Abhyduaya Kotnala
Karki said the state government would request the Union government to give OBC benefits to all castes of the Gorkha community. He said unemployed youths of the Gorkha community would be trained and prepared for Army recruitment rallies at the Gorkha Training Centre in Dehradun.

He added a memorandum would be submitted to officials of the State Election Commission demanding inclusion of names and other particulars of Gorkha residents in the voter list.

He said a drive would be launched to create awareness among the community members about the beneficiary schemes of the state government. Subhan Verma, Atul Singh, Yajveer Singh, Anooj Singh and Kamlesh were present.

Via - tribuneindia
 
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