Burmese Gurkha
Encyclopedia
Gurkha People are a group of people of Gurkha
ethnic origin living in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar
(formerly Burma). While the Gurkhas have lived in Burma for many centuries, it was during the British rule in Burma
that the majority of the Gurkha migrated to Burma.
The majority of Gurkha now reside in Yangon
(Rangoon), Mandalay
, Pyin U Lwin
, Mogok, Mandalay Division
, Kachin State
and Shan State
.
, the majority of Gurkha came along with the British administration. Many Gurkhas served during the Second World War in the Burma Campaign, especially especially as rear guard units for the British retreat from Burma.
After Burma's independence in 1948, the Gurkhas joined the infant Burma Army. Many Gurkhas served with great distinction in the new republic's various campaigns against ethnic insurgents and the Kuomintang
invasions.
The Gurkha were considered key assets of the Burmese Army in the 1950s.
and English.
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
ethnic origin living in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(formerly Burma). While the Gurkhas have lived in Burma for many centuries, it was during the British rule in Burma
British rule in Burma
British rule in Burma lasted from 1824 to 1948, from the Anglo-Burmese Wars through the creation of Burma as a province of British India to the establishment of an independently administered colony, and finally independence...
that the majority of the Gurkha migrated to Burma.
The majority of Gurkha now reside in Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
(Rangoon), Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
, Pyin U Lwin
Pyin U Lwin
Pyin U Lwin or Pyin Oo Lwin , formerly Maymyo , is a scenic hill town in Mandalay Division, Myanmar, located in the Shan Highland, some east of Mandalay, and at an altitude of 1070 meters .-History:...
, Mogok, Mandalay Division
Mandalay Division
Mandalay Region is an administrative division of Myanmar. It is located in the center of the country, bordering Sagaing Region and Magway Region to the west, Shan State to the east, and Bago Region and Kayin State to the south. The regional capital is Mandalay. In the south of the division lies...
, Kachin State
Kachin State
Kachin State , is the northernmost state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east; Shan State to the south; and Sagaing Division and India to the west. It lies between north latitude 23° 27' and 28° 25' longitude 96° 0' and 98° 44'. The area of Kachin State is . The capital of the...
and Shan State
Shan State
Shan State is a state of Burma . Shan State borders China to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south, and five administrative divisions of Burma in the west. Largest of the 14 administrative divisions by land area, Shan State covers 155,800 km², almost a quarter of the total...
.
History and demography
Like many other people who reside in Myanmar and who have their origin in the Indian subcontinentIndian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, the majority of Gurkha came along with the British administration. Many Gurkhas served during the Second World War in the Burma Campaign, especially especially as rear guard units for the British retreat from Burma.
After Burma's independence in 1948, the Gurkhas joined the infant Burma Army. Many Gurkhas served with great distinction in the new republic's various campaigns against ethnic insurgents and the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
invasions.
The Gurkha were considered key assets of the Burmese Army in the 1950s.
Culture
Many Gurkha in Myanmar practice Hinduism and Buddhism. There are a few Gurkha Buddhist and Hindu temples in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay. Gurkha form a large minority in the hill station of Pyin U Lwin. Gurkhas still serve in all branches of the modern Myanmar Armed Forces.Language
Most Gurkha typically speak Burmese as their mother tongue. Those with higher education also speak GurkhaliNepali language
Nepali or Nepalese is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...
and English.
Education
The Gurkha place high importance on education, and they represent a disproportionately high share of those with advanced (medical, engineering or doctorate) degrees in Burma.Notable Gurkha People in Burma
- Private Aung San Thuriya Suk Bahadur RaiSuk Bahadur RaiPrivate Aung San Thuriya Suk Bahdur Rai was the only Gurkha to have received Aung San Thuriya medal. He was awarded this highest and most prestigious award for gallantry and bravery in the face of enemy that can be awarded to members of the Myanmar Armed Forces in 1951...
- No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha) Myanmar Army. - recipient of the Aung San Thuriya award, the highest award in the Myanmar army - Corporal Thiha ThuraOrders, decorations, and medals of BurmaThis article considers the military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Burma.- Order of the Star of the Revolution :This award was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence...
Man Bahadur Thapa - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha) Myanmar Army - Lance Corporal Thiha Thura Bhim Bahadur Limbu - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha) Myanmar Army
- Lance Corporal Thiha Thura Kishan Bahadur Chettry - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha) Myanmar Army
- Lt. Colonel Zeya KyawhtinOrders, decorations, and medals of BurmaThis article considers the military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Burma.- Order of the Star of the Revolution :This award was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence...
ThuraOrders, decorations, and medals of BurmaThis article considers the military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Burma.- Order of the Star of the Revolution :This award was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence...
Lachhuman Rai- No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army - Lieutenant Thura Dhan Bahadur Gurung- No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Regimental Sergeant Major Thura Bar Bahadur Lama - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Sergeant Thura Bir Bahadur Limbu - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Sergeant Thura Lal Bahadur Rai - No. 60 Infantry Battalion, Myanmar Army
- Corporal Thura K.B. Chettery - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Corporal Thura Charbilal - UAF, Myanmar Army
- Corporal Thura Dil Bahadur - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Corporal Thura Ram Bahadur Chettry - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Private Thura Bhim Bahadur Chettry - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Corporal Thura Ram Bahadur Limbu - No. 33 Infantry Battalion, Myanmar Army
- Private Thura Ram Bahadur Lama - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army
- Major Suk Bahadur - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army; Also Myanmar football captain (1952-1970)
- Colonel Zeya KyawhtinOrders, decorations, and medals of BurmaThis article considers the military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Burma.- Order of the Star of the Revolution :This award was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence...
Tanka Dhoj -Director General of Hotel and Tourism Department under Ne Win's government - Major ZeyakyawhtinOrders, decorations, and medals of BurmaThis article considers the military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Burma.- Order of the Star of the Revolution :This award was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence...
Bhagiman Subba - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army - Professor of Chemistry Attar Singh Chettry (M.Sc.), Mandalay University, Myanmar
- Lecturer of Chemistry Chandra Prasad Dhulal (M.Sc.), Pathein University, Myanmar
- Dr. Bharati Limbu, Assumption University, Thailand
- Rokey Bahadur, Excellent Performance in Industrial Field (Third Classes)
- Laxminarai (Cherry Myae Maung Tin Tun) (Writer)
- U Nanda (Donor of Nanda NayUparnay Dhammasala building)http://myanmargeneva.org/08nlm/n080214.htm
- Bahadur (Myanmar Football Club)
- Soe Moe Kyaw (Football)
- Zamann (Football)
- Shwe Baw (Football)
- C.B. Lama (Football)
- Captain R.D. Lama - No.4 Infantry Battalion (4th Gurkha), Myanmar Army; Shan State Level football player (1953)
- Jay Bahadur (Football)
- Thein Win (Marathon)
- Dhan Bahadur (Marathon)
- Daw San San Saint (Athletics)
- Padam Bahadur (Boxing)
- Chandra Bahadur (Boxing)
- Kumar Rai (Boxing)
- Nyein Thazin (Taekwando) two gold, three silver and two bronze medals
- Prem Bahadur Katwal (100 times blood donor)
- Kumar (40 times blood donor)
- Suku Kunwar (44 times blood donor)
- Ms. Lily Limbu (UN Second Secretory of Burma)
- Ms. Batty Limbu (ILBC school of Head Officer)