The first generation of Gorkha migrants of Mumbai were born & brought up in their respective native environment with knowledge & heavenly experience of ethnic culture and history: the beauty of Nepali language, food, festivals, literature & traditions. In spite of the distance and hectic life of Mumbai most of them have some how managed to be connected to their cultural & historical roots. We Indian Gorkhas in Mumbai have become one of the integrated essences of economically vibrant & culturally cosmopolitan Mumbai but as a community we are facing many problems and challenges. Bharatiya Gorkha Ekta Sangh-Mumbai was constituted to understand & address these problems & challenges effectively.

Objectives of the Sangh:

• To unite all the Indian Gorkhas residing in Mumbai & whole of Maharashtra.
• To preserve and promote the Gorkha Culture and Art.
• To promote Nepali Language and Literature.
• To establish contact with other such organization situated in different parts of India.
• To promote the Education, Medical Relief & Welfare of the Gorkha Community.
• To acquire a land and build “BHAWAN’ for the Sangh and to maintain, alter lease or otherwise use property and equipment as may be necessary for the fulfillment of the objectives of the Sangh.
• To receive and admininster any contribution or endowments given for the Sangh. towards the payment of insurance and repairs, improvements and new construction of their premises and any interest that may from time to time to accrue on the purchase money for the same.

THE ACTION PLAN OF BGES

Social:

• — Celebration of Festivals: “Bhailo, Devshure" events. Food Festival etc. : It will help meeting, interacting & emotional bonding with each other.
• — Organizing Managing Committee Meetings in different parts of Mby & New Mby.: It will help Sangh to be connected with people, and the people will have sense of involvement in the affairs of the Sangh.
• — Celebration of “Swabhiman Diwas” by organizing Indian Gorkha Legends Day: to bring awareness & Highlight about the Gorkha contribution to nation building & world.
• — To compile the list & information of such legends. Also Creating database of Mumbai Gorkhas.
• — To have interaction with other Gorkhas & non-Gorkhas organization.

Welfares:

• Providing residence for Cancer Patients during treatment.
• Free Medical n Blood Donation Camps.
• Aiding underprivileged Gorkha students & talented youths in every field.



Cultural: Literature & traditions:

• Celebration of “Bhanu-Jayanti” with Literature meet.
• Organising Sahitya Academy Seminar with Literature & cultural program.
• Workshop on our Traditions & culture heritage.



GORKHA BHAWAN

• It’s dream of every Gorkha of Mumbai to build a Community Building: “GORKHA BHAWAN” with following facilities:



A community hall.

• Residential facilities for Cancer Patients, Students & visitors.
• Library & Literature Centre.
• Traditional & Cultural Museum.
• Carrier Counselling Centre.
• Auditorium etc.



Problem:

• Identity Crisis, Low self esteem, Lack of Community idols or achievers for motivation.

HERITAGE: To identify and research gorkha achievers in Arts, Music, Sports and any other field & highlight their contribution & try to give recognition to their contribution to Indian culture & society by naming the public places in their honour. To bring awareness in other community with workshops, seminars & press conferences by highlighting Gorkha History, Culture & Contribution to the Nation& the world.. To organize workshop for our community specially our youth to educate and to make them understand that Socially, culturally & Politically Gorkha's are equally progressive Committee.

“INDIAN GORKHAS ARE BONAFIDE CITIZENS OF INDIA” We are Bonafide Citizens of India. Govt. of India recognized our mother tongue Nepali language under 8th scheduled of Indian Constitution as one of the language of Indian society. To qualify to be recognized we have passed many parameters like the numbers of population as Indian citizens, our history to prove us of being the son of soil, our social & cultural depth, broadness & richness, our contribution to nation building etc. As a recognized Indian Language Nepali writers & poets are awarded “Sahitya Academy Purashkar” every year by the Govt. of India. In every Indian currency the Promissory Noting also expressed in Nepali language.

“ALL GORKHAS ARE NOT MIGRANTS” India & Nepal not only share closest religious & Traditional links and intimacy but also share longest range of land boundary. Before British, these boundaries or border lands used to be controlled by different local Raja’s : under different rulers in different times. The Anglo-Nepalese War was fought between the Gorkha Kingdom of Nepal and the British East India Company as a result of border disputes and ambitious expansionism. The war ended with the signing of the “Treaty of Sugauli of 1816“ resulting merger of almost 30% of Land under control of Nepal Into British Indian territory. When British Indian took control of these lands after Treaty of Sugauli in 1816 the inhabitants of these lands also became the subject of British India with their land. Before British India, most part of the Indian states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand were under Nepal control. In fact once the expansion of Nepal rulers were extended up to Jhelam River. Parts of Bihar & Nepali populated Bengal also had same problem. Chunk of Bihari speaking people are citizens ofNepal, due to same geo-historical reasons. Lately Sikkim, once independent nation became part of India by merging with land.This was possible only due to pro India voting by Sikkim population in the referendum, majority of them being Gorkhas.

CONTRIBUTION OF GORKHAS IN FREEDOM STRUGGLE Thousands of Indian Gorkha fought against British Government, actively participated in Freedom Movement of India led by Mahatma Gandhi. Gorkhas were the real force behind Azad Hind Fauj (INA) led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Saheed Captain Durga Malla, Brave Gorkha from Dehradun was first Azad Hind Fauj member to be captured & hanged by British. His Statue in the premises of Indian Parliament, New Delhi is testimony of recognition & respect to his contribution and sacrifice for freedom of our beloved motherland.

CONTRIBUTION OF INDIAN GORKHA IN NATION BUILDING ECONOMIC:Gorkhas are active participants of overall development & economic progress of India. Thousands of Gorkhas are putting their blood & sweat in contribution of nation building by working hard in Tea gardens, quinine plantation, coalmines & other industrial sectors from generations. Famous Darjeeling tea was a major source of earning foreign currency before globalization. We will find Gorkhas in every industry, town, and city of India working hard, and positively contributing to economy of the nation. It is a proven fact that Gorkhas are never a financial burden to any nation or society.

SOCIAL & CULTURE: Socially Gorkhas are blessed with liberal, generous, amicable simple way of life. Now the Indian society is trying to be more civilized & humane by propagating the overdue demand for justice & respect to women. But for Gorkhas: love, care & respect for women is very natural and a way of life practiced from centuries. We are the only community may be in the world where a father & brother touch the feet of daughter & sister. The girl is married & sent off by cleaning the feet (Goda dhuear bidai garnu) by full family : father, mother & brother. The girl in the family is always compared to Maa Lakshmi. Gorkhas has never been a social or economical liability to where ever they go or settle.

“Padmashree Awradee” and torch bearer of Indian classical dance, Sitaradevi & Gopikirshna are also Gorkhas.

DEFENSE : "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gorkha”.-Former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshal

“THE GURKHASOLDIER:………Bravest of the brave,most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you.”--- "Professor Sir Ralph Lilley Turner MC, Gurkha Rifles in the First World War.

Protecting Mother India by joining Indian Army is like a way of life for Gorkhas. Thousand of Gorkhas are at service in various Defense forces. Hundred of Gorkhas have sacrificed their life protecting the sovereignty of India. The Gorkha sense of duty, fearlessness, courage,loyalty, dedication & sacrifice has no parallel in the world. Theworld salutes Brave, Fierce Gorkha warriors. Khukri, the signature of Gorkha weapon is respected, feared and adored by friends & foes equally.

“GORKHAS ARE NOT COMMUNITY OF WATCHMEN” Like any other progressive community of the world, the Gorkhas are hard working, God fearing, sincere & honest citizen of the world. The Ethnology website counts more than 42 million (2012) Gorkha speakers worldwide, only 17 million within Nepal (from the 2001 census).

There are millions of Gorkha professionals, Doctors, engineers, scientist all over the world. The contribution of Gorkhas to the world in every field is immense. There used to be Gorkha King till recently, there been many Gorkha Prime Ministers, Ministers & bureaucrats running a country and being active participant in world affairs as UN Member Country. Gorkha Soldiers are the backbone of UN Peace Keeping Force responsible for Peace in the world. The State of Sikkim one of the most progressive & developed State of India has won many awards for developments & other achievements. The State is mostly headed by able Gorkha ministers & Chief Ministers.

Lakshman Shrestha,the world-renowned& highly acclaimed Artist is from Nepal but settled inMumbai. Tenzing Norgay Sherpa made a world history by conquering thepeak of Mt. Everst along with Hillary for the first time. Rajmata Scindia a National Level BJP leader & Patron of Hinduism was Daughter of Nepal Royal family. “Padmashree Awradee” and torch bearer of Indian classical dance, Sitaradevi & Gopikirshna are also Gorkhas. Gopi Krishna also established the Nateshwar Bhavan Dance Academy and the Nateshwar Nritya Kala Mandir. He set a world record for the longest continuous Kathak dance at 9 hours and 20 minutes.Sitara Devi was also conferred with the Legends of India Lifetime Achievement Award 2011 atSilver Oak, India Habitat Centre, in Delhi, for her contribution to the development of Kathak. Former attorney general, Soli J Sorabjee, who chaired the committee, said, "Sitara Devi has enthralled generations with her unique dance style. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore rightly described her as the “Nritya Samragini,”(When she was just 16 years) and the epithet continues."Gorkhas sports person specially in football, Hockey & boxing have earned laurels for India. The list of Contribution of Gorkhas in every field is too long to be put in one space. There is Monument to the Gurkha Soldier outside the Ministry of Defence, City of Westminster, London. There have been twenty-six Victoria Crosses awarded to members of the Gurkha regiments. The first was awarded in 1858 and the last in 1965. In addition, since Indian independence in 1947, Gurkhas serving in the Indian Army have also been awarded three “Param Vir Chakras”. Also, there have been two George Cross medals awarded to Gurkha soldiers, for acts of bravery in situations that have not involved combat. There are so far 2,730 gallant awards to Gorkhas in world history. The Gorkha soldiers are the backbone of UN Peacekeeping force responsible for maintaining peace anywhere in the world.It is believed that Capt. Ramsing Thakuri had composed the tune of our National Anthem.

LORD GAUTAM BUDHA “THE ENLIGHTENED” or “AWAKENED ONE”, son of Sakyavanshi King of Lumbini, Nepal was born in 544 BC at Kapilvastu, Nepal. His teaching of “Ahinsha & Nirvana” in form of Buddhism is followed throughout the world.

The Memorial of Birth Place of “Buddha” in Lumbini Nepal.

There is poor section of citizens are in every community. Our gorkhas from financially weak back ground has migrated to different town & cities of India for livelihood like any other community. Gorkhas are blessed with agile body & brain, simple & clean heart; speed of cheetah, Strong Character of honesty, loyalty & faithfulness, enjoys the unquestionable trust & confidence of the world. Because of trustworthiness & honesty, Gorkhas are employed as safety & security personnel all over the world including high profile security of high profiled people like Indian VVIP’s & Royal family of Brunei. Patronizing Gorkha as watchman community is big injustice meted to Gorkha, due to lack of knowledge about our Gallant History, rich tradition & culture by other communities. But the brave heart gorkhas must not loose their heart. Due to lack of in depth knowledge, till recently Indian were regarded as just a nation of Snake charmers by Western countries. But today India has earned the respect of world community as one of the developing nation with the potential to be leader of the world.

Fund Raising Activities:

New membership drive, Donation Collection through receipt Books, Publishing Souvenir, Food festivals, approaching individuals & Corporates etc for financial aids.

Youth: GYOM: To rope in Gorkha Youth into mainstream of Sangh, Creating awareness amongst youth by Involving youth in the activities of BGES through Workshop, Sports & Musical Meets.

Creation of Carrier Counseling Cell: Academic (to spread awareness about the importance of education. To make task force to understand the causes & prevention of school drop out.) , sports, Creative field.

The Sangh can achieve it’s objective only with support & active participation of all our Gorkha brothers & sisters. We appeal all to come forward & be part of our to mission to improve our vision & actions in a mission for Gorkha Community’s unity & Progress.

Let’s make Bharatiya Gorkha Ekta Sangh strong & full of action for the benefit of our Gorkha Community.