View Article – Britain’S Gurkha War 64 Book Reviews 69 Obituaries 78 Useful Addresses 79 Notes on the Britain – Nepal Society 80 Officers and Committee of the Society
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G Birch Britain-Nepal Society Journal cover 2016 48396_Layout 1 05/10/2017 13:47 Page 1 THE BRITAIN-NEPAL SOCIETY J o u r n a l Number 40 2016 Printed by HARTS Design & Print T: 01799 510101 www.hartsdirect.co.uk G Birch Britain-Nepal Society 2016 48396_Layout 1 19/06/2017 13:40 Page 1 THE BRITAIN-NEPAL SOCIETY J o u r n a l Number 40 2016 CONTENTS 2 Editorial 4 The Society’s News 8 200 Years of UK – Nepal Relations 19 The Genealogies of the Shah, Rana and related Families 26 Social Mobility of Nepalis in the UK: A Case Study of Fairfax Road, Farnborough 32 ZSL Conservation & Biodiversity Symposium 26 Feb 16 38 The Golden Jubilee of Trekking in Nepal 42 The Gurkha Everest Expedition 45 MCC v Nepal at Lord’s Tuesday 19 July 47 Not Your Average Holiday – WaterAid in Nepal 53 From the Editor’s In-Tray 58 Review Article – Britain’s Gurkha War 64 Book Reviews 69 Obituaries 78 Useful addresses 79 Notes on the Britain – Nepal Society 80 Officers and Committee of the Society 1 G Birch Britain-Nepal Society 2016 48396_Layout 1 19/06/2017 13:40 Page 2 EDITORIAL Firstly I must apologise to members for the their team. The match was very well late publishing of this edition of the journal. supported by Nepalese living in London and close by, as some 5,000 were admitted. I have been more than usually dilatory and This is well above the support normally circumstances beyond my control have also afforded to such events. Robin Marston played some part. I have tried to reflect that recalls the early days of trekking which was 2016 was designated ‘Nepal 200’ in the pioneered by Col Jimmy Roberts in 1965. selection of articles and I thank sincerely The unfortunate earthquake of 2015 put the contributors who have covered this paid to the attempt by the Gurkha Everest aspect. In terms of thanks I also wish to Expedition. The plan had been to have a pass on my thanks to BP Joshi for his Gurkha soldier as a summiteer in 2015. efforts and to the firms that have once again Sadly this was not to be as the earthquake responded to support the journal. I am had a strong effect in the Everest base camp particularly pleased to be able to include area. Luckily most of the team were above as a keynote piece Dr Chalise’s the base camp at Camps 1 & 2. Major Todd comprehensive paper on 200 years of describes events as the Gurkha team were Anglo-Nepal relations.This has been well able to get back to base and help with researched as the footnotes clearly rescue operations. Wildlife conservation has demonstrate, and serves as a good record as also played a good part in recent friendship between two very different Anglo-Nepal co-operation, although from nations developed over time.I have been the time of Brian Houghton Hodgson’s able include the text of Greg Hickman’s residency in the early nineteenth century lecture on the Shahs and Ranas, given to the and before that of Buchanon-Hamilton’s Society in November 2016, which was also botanical studies, there was a strong interest very apposite as it shows many in the natural science of the region. To mark connections, not all of which we were this, the Zoological Society of London held possibly aware. That there is now a well a conservation and biodiversity symposium established Nepali Diaspora in UK in April at their London HQ. I have (a population of some 80,000 - 100,000) is included brief notes on the topics covered. well illustrated by Dr CK Laksamba’s paper I have also included the text of the talk by given at the Britain Nepal Academic Craig Holliday on Wateraid in Nepal. Council study day in Liverpool in April Also to mark both the 2015 and 2016 2016. It reflects considerable research by anniversaries, I have re-published the him and his colleagues. Unsurprisingly review of the in-depth book by John many Nepalese have established themselves Pemble - ‘Britain’s Gurkha War – the in locations where British Gurkha soldiers Invasion of Nepal 1814 – 16. Books have settled following their military service. reviewed include Col Dickenson’s A Yak in Among the events scheduled in 2016 was the Fridge, a biography by our Treasurer, the Nepal v MCC match at Lords. Nepal Rupert Litherland, of the late Major won due to some good spin bowling by General Bunny Burnett and Major General 2 G Birch Britain-Nepal Society 2016 48396_Layout 1 19/06/2017 13:40 Page 3 Chris Lawrence’s The Gurkhas - 200 Years conservationist, who members may well of Service to the Crown. As usual the remember from early visits to Tiger Tops Society has lost a number of members and the academic, Professor David during the year as listed by the Chairman. Snellgrove, whose books resulted from I have included obituaries where possible early studies of remote regions of Nepal and I have also included pieces on Chuck that border Tibet. McDougal the well-known tiger DISCLAIMER Responsibility for opinions expressed in articles and reviews published and the accuracy of statements contained therein rest solely with the individual contributors. 3 G Birch Britain-Nepal Society 2016 48396_Layout 1 19/06/2017 13:40 Page 4 THE SOCIETY’S NEWS (This is an edited version of the Chairman’s report delivered at the AGM on 2nd December 2016) The Chairman opened the meeting by about and supportive of the activities of the formally welcoming the new Nepalese Britain-Nepal Society. The Society very Ambassador, His Excellency Dr Durga much looks forward to working closely Bahadur Subedi to the UK and to the with him. Before asking Dr Subedi to say a Society. Since his arrival Dr Subedi had a few words, the Chairman presented Dr busy schedule culminating on 1st Subedi with the Society’s tie and wished December in the magnificent occasion of him and his wife a very happy and the presentation of his letters of Credence to rewarding stay in London. The Queen at Buckingham Palace followed Quite apart from Dr Subedi’s appointment by a splendid celebration here at the there has been much change at the Embassy Embassy. The Chairman pointed out that during the year. Other new arrivals include this meeting was Dr Subedi’s first official Mr Sharad Raj Aran as Deputy Chief of event as Ambassador and thanked him for Mission, Mr Bhupendra Prasad Ghimire, permitting the Society to hold the AGM in Third Secretary and Mr Tejendra Regmi, such impressive surroundings. Dr Subedi Attaché and the new Secretary, Urmila. He comes to London with a glittering CV. Prior hoped all would have happy and successful to his appointment to London he has held a stays in London. The Society bade farewell number of senior positions at the Ministry to Mr Tej Bahadur Chhetri, who had been of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu and has both DCM and Chargé d’Affaires during also held diplomatic appointments in his time in London and who had done so Bahrain, Japan, the United Nations and much to support the Society during the Myanmar. He has participated in numerous interregnum, and to Mr Babukaji Dongol, official visits and international conferences Third Secretary. notably in the USA, Europe and India. He The Chairman pointed out that in his last is also a distinguished academic and poet two reports he had had cause to refer to with numerous publications and awards to tragic events in Nepal – the mountaineering his name. Amongst other things he has disasters on Everest and the Thorung La in published collections of essays and verse 2014 and the dreadful earthquakes in 2015. and has edited The Journal of Nepalese Art, Thankfully this year there have been no Culture and Literature and the International disasters on this scale. The work of Journal of Nepalese Literature. I know that restoration has gone on in Nepal though he is planning to add to this impressive list inevitably it has tended to slip from the of publications during his time in London. public gaze. It is really important that we It will be evident from all this that His continue to keep the suffering of the people Excellency is a man of very considerable of Nepal at the forefront of our minds and distinction and we are lucky to have him in to help in whatever way we can. In this London for the next few years. I have context it was inspiring to hear from already had the opportunity to meet with his Professor Robin Coningham of his work Excellency on a number of occasions and I with UNESCO’s restoration programme in know that he will be most enthusiastic Kathmandu at a recent evening lecture. 4 G Birch Britain-Nepal Society 2016 48396_Layout 1 19/06/2017 13:40 Page 5 Last year also saw the adoption of the new We hope to re-schedule it as soon as constitution and it is hoped that progress possible. Exciting firsts (or firsts for some will continue to be made towards an ever time) included a showing of Mahout, a film more settled polity. We are privileged, once describing Tim Edwards’s relocation of four again, to have with us tonight the elephants from Chitwan to Bardia. In July a Ambassador’s namesake Professor Surya small group of members went to Lords for Subedi, who will talk to us at the end of the first ever Nepal-UK test match won by official business about political and the visitors to the delight of the estimated constitutional developments in Nepal.