E-Paper
Tributes paid to Gorkha martyrs
ONE OF the oldest institutions of the Indian Army, Gorkha Recruiting Depot (GRD) celebrated its 121st Establishment Day here on Friday. Terming the Depot as a holy place for the Gorkhas, Commandant Brigadier CB Thapa VSM said here the Gorkha Recruitment Depot not only provided opportunities for jobs but also played a vital role in catering to the needs of retired persons.
ONE OF the oldest institutions of the Indian Army, Gorkha Recruiting Depot (GRD) celebrated its 121st Establishment Day here on Friday. Terming the Depot as a holy place for the Gorkhas, Commandant Brigadier CB Thapa VSM said here the Gorkha Recruitment Depot not only provided opportunities for jobs but also played a vital role in catering to the needs of retired persons.
On the occasion he paid tributes to the martyrs. Besides, several army officials also paid tributes to the Nepalese martyrs in the Indian Army.
It is to be notice that the GRD was established on March 3, 1886. It was the first of its kind to be established in India at Gorakhpur due to its favourable geographical location it was easy to visit central and western Nepal from where most of the recruitment is done. It was GRD’s success that eventually led to similar organisations being raised for recruitment of other classes of the Indian Army.
The GRD has its root in 1815 when the first decision was formally taken to enlist Gorkha from Nepal into the regular British-Indian Army. GRD has recruited more than two lakh Gorkhas during the First World War.
Brigadier Thapa said the GRD had a brilliant history and said around 400 Gorkha jawans had sacrificed their lives for the country. He further said the GRD was established here in 1886 and earlier, recruitment of Gorkhas continued in Nepal and now it has become an important landmark of Gorakhpur.
Thapa further said Gorkhas first served for the British Army and after independence Gorkha jawans were serving for Indian Army and GRD was the oldest regiment.
Thapa said the GRD had started various schemes for catering to the need of retired army men including education, health for their wards.
A scheme of rehabilitation for the retired persons was also started by the judgement. He further said Defence Department of the Central Government Government had allocated Rs 7 crore for Army School and boys hostel new building.
Colonel HGV Singh, Colonel Pradeep Rana, Colonel Dipak Bist and others also expressed their views on this occasion.
They said the Gorkhas had a history of presenting a brave facade that was why the Gorkhas were being included in the Army even after 121 years of its establishment.
