The first and newly tailored two week-long (22nd July – 2nd August 2019) Foundation Nepali Language and Culture course was held at the Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas, Robertson House, Camberley.
Ten candidates (Officers/Senior Non-Commissioned Officers/Ministry of Defence civilian staff) from various Brigade of Gurkhas (BG) Units attended the course. The course began with an opening address by Colonel BG – Colonel James Robinson CBE.
During the course, the candidates had the opportunity to learn the basic understanding of Nepali language and culture, briefs on introduction to Nepal and Gurkhas, Nepali tradition and Culture, BG Recruitment, BG KAIDA, Religion of Nepal, Life in the Gurkhas Unit and lectures by religious educatio (RE) teachers (Pandit-ji/Lama-ji).
In addition, the students/candidates also visited the Gurkha Museum Winchester where they were briefed on Gurkha history by Mr Doug Henderson (Collections Officer).
Brigade Culture and Language Team extends a huge appreciation to Mr Gavin Edgerly-Harris (The Director of the Gurkha Museum), Major (Maj) Narendra Gurung (Deputy Chief of Staff Headquarters (HQ) BG), Maj Dammar Shahi (SO2 Pers POL, HQBG), Maj Indra Tamang (Gurkha Major Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment), Major Gajendra Angdembe (Officer Commanding, Gurkha Company Sittang (GCS)), Captain Dipakraj Ghale (Second in Command (GCS)), Captain Mahendra Phagami (GCS) and the RE teachers respectively for providing a significant support on the course.