Letter from Nepal

Chairman 6 GRRA (Nepal) presenting a donation from the Association to the Headmaster of Shree Kalika Secondary School, Tiplyang

BY CHAIRMAN 6 GRRA (NEPAL)

The coronavirus pandemic has badly affected the economy and lives of many people across the world and Nepal has not been spared. With various travel restrictions in country and globally, many Gurkha ILR holders found it impossible to get to the UK in time to comply with the immigration regulations. Thus, many families have been unable to meet other family members for almost two years. Nepal, with very limited resources, has been struggling to contain the pandemic and vaccinate its population against this dreadful disease. At the onset of the outbreak, the country was severely overwhelmed due to a lack of vaccines, oxygen ventilators, hospital spaces and lifesaving equipment. Gradually, with support from our neighbours, and other friendly countries, a disaster was averted. Large stocks of vaccines and other related paraphernalia have now been received. Today, vaccination drives are ongoing, a large number of Nepalis have received their first and second doses, and some are in the process of getting their booster as well. Unfortunately, there are still many in the remote areas of the country waiting for their first jab. The Omicron variant is also making its presence felt and the government is reintroducing various restrictions on travel and gatherings to stem the spread of this deadly virus.

On Saturday 20 March 2021, the 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held at Gurkha Haven in Pokhara

with a total of 24 members in attendance in person and online. The AGM had to be convened even at this dire time: firstly, to comply with the legal requirements for associations in Nepal and secondly, to elect new committee members. However, with the problems brought about by the pandemic, and a lack of sufficient members present for election, the tenure of the current committee members had to be extended for another year. In anticipation of this likely conundrum, advice and guidance from our ‘advisors’ and our Nepali legal advisor had been sought, discussed and resulted in the extension of the tenure of the current Central Committee members until the next AGM in March 2022.

We also devoted much time and effort this year on the 6 GR Memorial project. Under the leadership of Major Gopalbahadur Gurung MBE numerous meetings and online discussions took place and various points were discussed and finalized. Fund raising for the construction of the memorial will soon take place here in Nepal. This memorial, dedicated to all members of 6th Gurkha Rifles, will be sculpted in Kathmandu by a Nepali sculptor before being transported to and installed at the entrance to the Gurkha Memorial Museum in Pokhara in November 2022. It is a very fitting and worthy place for a memorial to a historic and famous regiment. During the past year, a total of 83 members of 6 GR passed away; most due to old age and ill health and many due to the pandemic. Most notable among the departed were Honorary Major Birkharaj Gurung, Honorary Major Piarelal Thapa, Honorary Major Jaibahadur Gurung, Captain (QGO) Thule Gurung, Captain (QGO) Damberbahadur Shrestha, Captain (QGO) Shibu Gurung and Captain (QGO) Jitbahadur Thapa. All were stalwarts of our regiment. They may have gone but they will never be forgotten.

Finally, having initially served as Secretary in 6 GRRA (Nepal) and later as Chairman, I have been very fortunate to have been part of the team organizing and running two very successful 6 GR regimental events: the 2013 and 2017 Durbars. On both occasions we managed to get many members from all over Nepal and the world together in Pokhara to celebrate and relive the camaraderie of our younger days. I will be stepping down from the Chairmanship at the end of the AGM in March 2022 and would like to thank all 6 GR members for their contributions and wish my successor and future committee members continued success in all their endeavors.

My salaams to you all. Jai Sixth!

Bhuwansing Gurung