Gurkhas
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Gurkhas have been around in Sgp since early 20thC. Since indepedence, they come under Min Home Affairs, special command to police, duites include guard Changi, MAS, PM and other VVVIP. Brunei also has 2 btn.
I have seen them at training on tekong back in '86, really 'kilat', whole platoon can move pass you noislessly and you won't realize it till they have passed.
Most of the stories being banded around are meant to frighten children; but make no mistake, a Gurkha is loyal to the nth degree.
(aparently true story), During WWII retreat from Rangoon, a heavy MG team (Vickers water cooled MG) was being transported across a river when the raft started to fall apart, the crew tried to lift the heavy gun (unsuccessfully), until it sank.
When a head count was done one naik (private) was missing. The safety team dived into the murky river to find him on the river bottom, still struggling to life the heavy weapon. After being rescured, asked what was he doing (?). "Orders, never to abandon wespon" was his simple reply. -
I am wondering what are they (Singapore Police Gurkha Contingent) training for in the British Woodlands Camouflage fatiques in the jungle with military weapons and load when they are officially part of the police force? This led me to think that they have a wartime role as part of the SAF.
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They have great Nepalese restaurants at Race Course Road.Originally posted by mhcampboy:Out of topic a bit.
Where do this community normally hang out? You know, normally we see filipinos at lucky plaza la. cambodian at peninsula la.
How about the Nepalese in Singapore?
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Seems that you are adding to the confusion:Originally posted by Bhagat:Seems lot of confusion is prevaling here about Gurkhas. Gurkhas are a community found in Nepal and India. They are a majority in Nepal. They are also live in some of the states in India. Gurkas mostly speak the Nepali langauage.
As far as recruitment goes, I don't know much more about how selection is done in Singapore police force or the British forces. In India selection to its military is open to citizens of India, Nepal and Bhutan.
So Gurkhas from India as well as Nepal take part in the selection process. Only the best will get through. There is special Gurkha regiments in the Indian Army.
This website gives a detailed explanation about the Gurkhas and their service with various armies. Also note the Nepali army is full of Gurkhas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurkha#Singapore_Gurkhas_Contingent
Gurkhas originate from Nepal - not India. They may have been descendants of some North Indian race long long ago but they became Gurkhas only after settling up the Ghorka kingdom in Nepal.
The Gurkhas in India are without a doubt children of the Gurkhas serving in the Indian Army. But make no mistake, they originate from Nepal and do not consider themselves Indian.
India use Gurkhas in their units as entire Gurkha units. Just as all their units are area/race specific - Punjabi, Pushtun, Rajputs etc... The Indians also infiltrate into every aspects of Nepali life and are the especially voracious businessmen of Nepal. India also traffic a lot of Nepali girls for prostitution to India as Nepali women are generally much better-looking.
In Nepal I met several middle age to old men whom were Gurkhas serving in Singapore in the 60's. They didn't like Singapore... Didn't speak much English so nothing much else I could learn from them.
All Nepali troops carry the Kukri, and in Nepal they don't classify the soldiers as Gurkha or non-Gurkha. And everyone's surname is Gurung...OK not all, but it is the equivalent of the Tans and Lims in SG.
The biggest irony of Nepal is that though they produce the best fighters in the world, the army of Nepal is one of the weakest in the region. They had been severely trashed by the Maoist rebellion of the peasantry. -
I've been to Nepal 15 years ago when it was still peaceful.Originally posted by LazerLordz:They have great Nepalese restaurants at Race Course Road.
Real Nepali food SU.CKS big time, and the only decent food you'll find in Nepal is when you go a North Indian Restaurant. Nepali people are very poor, so don't expect that they know how to make good food.
What you eat in a Nepali restaurant here is not what you'll find in Nepal. The food even in the capital Kathmandu is really really peasant. And I had the WORSTEST WORSTEST case of food poisoning my entire life in Nepal from a simple bowl of noodle eaten with a Nepali friend. He had no problem - I was out of action for one day and one night.
Nepali people and their art and culture are wonderful, though.
I rate Nepal a much better backpacking destination than TIbet. -
India use Gurkhas in their units as entire Gurkha units. Just as all their units are area/race specific - Punjabi, Pushtun, Rajputs etc... The Indians also infiltrate into every aspects of Nepali life and are the especially voracious businessmen of Nepal. India also traffic a lot of Nepali girls for prostitution to India as Nepali women are generally much better-looking.
You are quoting from post-Independent history of India and Nepal. There is no Pushtun regiment in the Indian army. Gurkhas are a community. They are present in India also. India has recognised Gurkahs as a community in India and Nepali is also an official language of India. Gurkahs(in Nepal) relationship with India exists even today. As the article says that the ancestral home of Gurkhas is India. Not all Gurkhas are in Nepal. There are a large number of them in India too. The Royal's of Nepal still marry from the Rajput Royals from India.
And regarding certain comments that you made are unwanted and wrong.
Regarding beauty of Nepali women or girls, I will not like to comment since I don't have any specialisation in this specific field and I wish what you said about beauty is correct. -
i wonder what dilip kumar has to say about all this...
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I prefer another one "If you train hard enough, you never fear anyone"Originally posted by baer:Gurkhas have been around in Sgp since early 20thC. Since indepedence, they come under Min Home Affairs, special command to police, duites include guard Changi, MAS, PM and other VVVIP. Brunei also has 2 btn.
I have seen them at training on tekong back in '86, really 'kilat', whole platoon can move pass you noislessly and you won't realize it till they have passed.
Most of the stories being banded around are meant to frighten children; but make no mistake, a Gurkha is loyal to the nth degree.
(aparently true story), During WWII retreat from Rangoon, a heavy MG team (Vickers water cooled MG) was being transported across a river when the raft started to fall apart, the crew tried to lift the heavy gun (unsuccessfully), until it sank.
When a head count was done one naik (private) was missing. The safety team dived into the murky river to find him on the river bottom, still struggling to life the heavy weapon. After being rescured, asked what was he doing (?). "Orders, never to abandon wespon" was his simple reply.
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Sorry dude, if I caused any offence to anypne. Indian women are terrific beauties, too - just look at all the Miss World contests they have won. My slip of tongue. What I should mean is that a lot of Nepali girls are good-looking but with a slight difference in appearance. Some look oriental.Originally posted by Bhagat:You are quoting from post-Independent history of India and Nepal. There is no Pushtun regiment in the Indian army. Gurkhas are a community. They are present in India also. India has recognised Gurkahs as a community in India and Nepali is also an official language of India. Gurkahs(in Nepal) relationship with India exists even today. As the article says that the ancestral home of Gurkhas is India. Not all Gurkhas are in Nepal. There are a large number of them in India too. The Royal's of Nepal still marry from the Rajput Royals from India.
And regarding certain comments that you made are unwanted and wrong.
Regarding beauty of Nepali women or girls, I will not like to comment since I don't have any specialisation in this specific field and I wish what you said about beauty is correct.
And the comment about Indian business men it was my personal experience that the Nepali themselves are over-shadowed as a business community by Indians and Tibetans in their own home tuft.
The Gurkha are indeed long ago descendants/related to the Rajputs as I had also read. But it is generally accepted that the Gurkhas are from Nepal - as people of the original Ghorka kingdom.
In that region there are a lot of migration back and forth. For example there is a large Tibetan community in Nepal and they have a lot of very ancient Tibetan stupas in Nepal. And Bhuddism is a recognised main religion of Nepal along with Hinduism. And there are now young generations of Tibetans in Nepal whom have never ever seen Tibet.
But you wouldn't say Tibetans are from Nepal, any more than you would say Ghurkhas come from India. A lot of Ghurkas in India have been born and bred there and never seen Nepal but that is because of the long service record of Ghurka soldiers in the Indian Army. But the originality of Ghurka is still Nepal.
There are many generations of Chinese in Singapore and Chinese is one of the main language here but if you tell someone Chinese people come from Singapore it would be very confusing. -
And the comment about Nepali girls being sold into prostitution in India is unfortunately all too true. Just google: Nepal protitution India.
Here are some excerpts:
"The BBC's Martha Kearney travelled to Nepal to investigate the growing trade in child sex. There, it's believed that something like 100,000 young girls have been sold, often by their parents, to the appalling brothels of Bombay in India."
"The trafficking of girls from Nepal into India for the purpose of prostitution is probably the busiest 'slave traffic' of its kind anywhere in the world. (Tim McGirk, "Nepal's Lost Daughters, 'India's soiled goods," Nepal/India: News, 27 January 1997)"
"Every year, thousands of Nepalese girls, some as young as 11 are sent to or procured for brothels in the big Indian cities, like Bombay or Calcutta." (http://www.plan-uk.org/wherewework/asia/india/childprostitution/) -
ANd the 2nd best seems to get the best benefits. From Wiki (assuming it is accurate), Mt Veron Camp is like a self-contained town, although Gurkhas are seen hanging out in nearby areas ...Originally posted by lwflee:From what I read, selection is in Nepal. The best go to the British Army. 2nd Best go to SPF. The rest go to the Indian Army. -
Apparently the Gurkhas in the Brit army get paid damn low salary. From what I heard, after a Gurkha retires from SPF, he has enuf $$ to last him thru old age. A Gurkha retiring from Brit army still has to work when old to support himself.Originally posted by gd4u:ANd the 2nd best seems to get the best benefits. From Wiki (assuming it is accurate), Mt Veron Camp is like a self-contained town, although Gurkhas are seen hanging out in nearby areas ... -
Some do hangout at Area-G.Originally posted by mhcampboy:Out of topic a bit.
Where do this community normally hang out? You know, normally we see filipinos at lucky plaza la. cambodian at peninsula la.
How about the Nepalese in Singapore? -
So any one here know where to buy the British Camo that the Gurkhas are wearing in Singapore?
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thought u have friends overseas who help u test the camo uniforms?
get them to buy 4 u then. easier that way too. -
I think they are in tekong for security reasons.
Btw, they are rich. My sec sch classmate, a son of a gurkha here.. is in the USA studying now.
Fine men. Always see them jogging in my neighbourhood. They like to jog in the former bidadari cemetry too. -
Hey saline, my friends in the UK could get it for me, but the rate from Pounds to SGD is quite high, so I thought of the Gurkhas. Since they have it in Singapore, might as well ask around to see if they do sell. Maybe some of you here can give me an answer as to where I can get the Authentic British Camo from.
Any one from Gurkhas? -
Not true. Their salary is roughly that of a British soldiers. However, you are right that there was inequality - but that is in pension, etc. The problem is that there is some kind of agreement between Nepal, the UK and India that Gurkhas in the British Army should not be paid too much. The worry is that they might bring their huge pensions back to their homeland.Originally posted by sgf:Apparently the Gurkhas in the Brit army get paid damn low salary. From what I heard, after a Gurkha retires from SPF, he has enuf $$ to last him thru old age. A Gurkha retiring from Brit army still has to work when old to support himself.
Anyway, that seems to have been resolved already. Now Gurkhas in the UK IIRC serve under the same conditions as BRitish Soldiers.
IIRC a British Soldier who serves out his 22 year contract and attains WO rank will get about 10 000 GBP/year pension. Not too shabby. -
Originally posted by moca:
Sorry dude, if I caused any offence to anypne. Indian women are terrific beauties, too - just look at all the Miss World contests they have won. My slip of tongue. What I should mean is that a lot of Nepali girls are good-looking but with a slight difference in appearance. Some look oriental.
No comments. I had mentioned that I did not want to comment on an issue that I did not know much. I only believe in beauty of the heart and not the external beauty.
And the comment about Indian business men it was my personal experience that the Nepali themselves are over-shadowed as a business community by Indians and Tibetans in their own home tuft.
Don't know about this whether benificial or not. Hence no comments.
The Gurkha are indeed long ago descendants/related to the Rajputs as I had also read. But it is generally accepted that the Gurkhas are from Nepal - as people of the original Ghorka kingdom.
Do you think that India is just a nation that was formed 50 years ago. It is a civilisation that originated thousand and thousand years before. India is a mix of all cultures. You can see all religions, creed and people here in India.
In that region there are a lot of migration back and forth. For example there is a large Tibetan community in Nepal and they have a lot of very ancient Tibetan stupas in Nepal. And Bhuddism is a recognised main religion of Nepal along with Hinduism. And there are now young generations of Tibetans in Nepal whom have never ever seen Tibet.
Do you think that India means hinduism. It's not. Hindusim is just a part of India like Bhuddism, Islam, Christianity, etc.
But you wouldn't say Tibetans are from Nepal, any more than you would say Ghurkhas come from India. A lot of Ghurkas in India have been born and bred there and never seen Nepal but that is because of the long service record of Ghurka soldiers in the Indian Army. But the originality of Ghurka is still Nepal.
Tibetans in Nepal may be or may not be considered Nepalis. But in India we consider them as Indians since our relation is not a few year relation but a historic one. There are many Tibeteans in India, those who fled the communist China and their children who are citizens of India.
There are many generations of Chinese in Singapore and Chinese is one of the main language here but if you tell someone Chinese people come from Singapore it would be very confusing.
Chinese civilisation is an age old civilisation like the Indian civilisation. If you say the reverse as in your quote it will not work, like you said Chinese people came from Singapore is similar to saying Indians came from Nepal.
It must be Nepalis(Gurkhas) came from India or Singaporeans came from China. -
And the comment about Nepali girls being sold into prostitution in India is unfortunately all too true. Just google: Nepal protitution India.
Prostitution is a global phenomenon and in some states it is legal
Here are some excerpts:
"The BBC's Martha Kearney travelled to Nepal to investigate the growing trade in child sex. There, it's believed that something like 100,000 young girls have been sold, often by their parents, to the appalling brothels of Bombay in India."
"The trafficking of girls from Nepal into India for the purpose of prostitution is probably the busiest 'slave traffic' of its kind anywhere in the world. (Tim McGirk, "Nepal's Lost Daughters, 'India's soiled goods," Nepal/India: News, 27 January 1997)"
"Every year, thousands of Nepalese girls, some as young as 11 are sent to or procured for brothels in the big Indian cities, like Bombay or Calcutta." (http://www.plan-uk.org/wherewework/asia/india/childprostitution/)
Prostitution: Should it be legalised?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/1271865.stm
Chinese prostitute book sparks outrage
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1475842.stm -
well... think that way is easier. doubt if the gurkhas will sell u or give u their uniform.Originally posted by acwire_2125:Hey saline, my friends in the UK could get it for me, but the rate from Pounds to SGD is quite high, so I thought of the Gurkhas. Since they have it in Singapore, might as well ask around to see if they do sell. Maybe some of you here can give me an answer as to where I can get the Authentic British Camo from.
Any one from Gurkhas?
u think about it, how is the sentry at mt vernon gonna reply when somebody walks up to them and ask if they can buy their DPMs?
although u can try asking them. no harm rite?
anyway, if u are really keen, u can try trading with ur friends in the uk. that way, it'll be cheaper perhaps? try trading SAF's badges with one set of their DPMs. -
Good idea!
Hey, BTW, Tomorrow National DAy, you think Mt Vernon camp open? I thought of emailing the Commander of the Gurkha Contingent and ask them. You guys think can?
Thought of going to the camp tomorrow to see if I can buy their uniform. -
the gurkhas presence showed how confident the SG government is with their local force.
they're good dogs nonetheless. -
No no. A Gurkha standing outside LKY's house instead of someone from Security Command speaks volumes.Originally posted by ferryman2393:the gurkhas presence showed how confident the SG government is with their local force.
they're good dogs nonetheless. -
haha! It just means that he is actually using it for his own security!