Gurung People

Gurung (exonym; ) or Tamu (endonym; Gurung: ) are a Tibetan ethnic group living in the hills and mountains of Gandaki Province of Nepal. Gurungs speak Tamu kyi which is a Sino-Tibetan language derived from the Tibeto-Burman language family. The written form of Gurung is heavily dependent on the Tibetan script and history and details related to their culture and tradition is passed on from one generation to the other usually by word-of-mouth.

The Gurungs have historically lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle, herding sheep and yaks in the Himalayan foothills, but many have diversified into other professions while retaining strong ties to their cultural heritage.

Etymology

The term ''Tamu'' (Gurung: ) is used by the Gurungs to refer to themselves. According to oral traditions, the name Gurung is derived from the Tibetan word "Gru-gu", meaning "to bring down," reflecting their migration from the Tibetan plateau to the southern slopes of the Himalayas.

History

The origin of the Gurung people can be traced back to Qiang people located in Qinghai, China.

After the end of the Anglo-Nepalese War and the signing of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816, the British started recruiting soldiers into the British Army from the northern villages of Nepal. The majority of these soldiers come from four ethnic tribes, one of which is the Gurung tribe. Their distinguished service in various military campaigns has earned them numerous prestigious accolades, including highly decorated medals and Victoria Crosses. Their contributions have been recognized for their exceptional bravery, discipline, and commitment on the battlefield, solidifying their reputation as formidable soldiers within the British and Indian armed forces.

Gurungs continue to be recruited in the British, Indian and Bruneian armies and the Singapore Police Force (under British supervision) as regular soldiers and police officers who retire after serving for anywhere from 15 to 35 years. Upon retiring, with the exception of India, the soldiers and police officers serving in the Bruneian army and Singapore Police Force have to return to Nepal. In 1999, the British government updated its policy under the original 1816 Treaty of Sugauli and allowed Gurkha British Army retirees to settle with their families in the United Kingdom.

Geographical distribution

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 798,658 people (2.97% of the population of Nepal) identified as Gurung. The proportions of Gurung people by province was as follows:
* Gandaki Province (11.4%)
* Bagmati Province (2.2%)
* Koshi Province (1.4%)
* Lumbini Province (0.9%)
* Karnali Province (0.7%)
* Sudurpashchim Province (0.2%)
* Madhesh Province (0.2%)

The proportions of Gurung people were higher than national average in the following districts:

* Manang (57.1%)
* Lamjung (31.4%)
* Mustang (20.1%)
* Gorkha (19.8%)
* Kaski (29.3%)
* Tanahun (11.6%)
* Syangja (9.0%)
* Dolpa (7.1%)
* Chitwan (6.8%)
* Dhading (5.6%)
* Sankhuwasabha (5.4%)
* Taplejung (4.6%)
* Parbat (3.7%)
* Rasuwa (3.1%)
* Tehrathum (2.9%)
* Ilam (2.9%)
* Nawalpur (2.9%)
* Kathmandu (2.6%)
* Rupandehi (2.0%)

Military Contributions

Gurungs have a long-standing tradition of serving in the Gorkha regiments of the British Army, Indian Army, and Singapore Police Force. Gurungs played a prominent role in both World War I and World War II, earning a reputation for their courage and valor. Gurungs continue to serve in elite regiments and contribute to maintaining security and peace.

Culture and religion

Gurung people can be organised into different sub-clans:

Festivals

Tamu Lhosar is the main festival of the Gurungs and is celebrated every year on the 15th of Poush (December/January) to celebrate the new year.

Religion

Gurung Dharma include Ghyabri (Ghyabring) and Pachyu (Paju). Lamas perform Buddhist rituals as needed, such as in birth, funeral, other family rituals (such as in Domang, Tharchang) and in Lhosar. Lamas perform Buddhist ceremonies primarily in Lamjung, Parbat, Kaski, Manang, Mustang, and elsewhere. Some Gurung villages have kept remnants of a pre-Buddhist form of the Bon religion, which flourished over two thousand years ago across much of Tibet and Western China. They have also kept aspects of an even older shamanic belief system that served as a counter to the Bon religion.''Macfarlane, A. 1976. Resources and Population: A Study of the Gurungs of Nepa1. New York, and Melbourne: Cambridge University Press Cambridge, London''.

Famous Gurung people

* Gaje Ghale – Recipient of the Victoria Cross for his bravery in World War II.
* Kulbir Thapa – The first Gurkha recipient of the Victoria Cross.

* Prabal Gurung – Internationally renowned fashion designer based in New York City.

See also

* Gurung language
* Gurung (surname), a surname of many Gurung people

References

Further reading

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurung
Buddhist communities of Nepal
Ethnic groups in Northeast India
Surnames of Nepalese origin
Gurkhas
Indigenous peoples of Nepal
Buddhist communities of India