The Gurung is an ethnic group from the Central region of Nepal. They live primarily in West Nepal’s Gandaki zone, specifically Lamjung, Kaski, Tanahu, Gorkha, Parbat and Syangja districts as well as the Manang district around the Annapurna mountain range. Some live in the Baglung, Okhaldhunga and Taplejung districts and Machhapuchhre as well. Small numbers are believed to be living in Sikkim, Bhutan and India's West Bengal.
As of 2001, there are 543,571 Gurung (Τamu) (2.39% of Nepal's total population) of which 338,925 speak Gurung language.
Contents [hide]
1 Origin
2 Jobs
3 Lifestyle
4 Religion
5 See also
6 Gurung Movies
7 Gurung Music
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
A Gurung hugging a goatThe Gurungs believe that Lamjung, Kaski and Gorkha are the birth places of their community.
Some anthropologists deduced that the Gurung, Tamu (also spelled Temu) are descended from the historical pre-Mongol, Hun people of Central Asia, and spread and settled in Nepal they came to be known as Gurung. Others argued that they are of more recent Mongol migrations.
However,in view of their language which is the most closely linked to Tibetan among Tibeto-Burmese languages,and some Gurungs' presence north of the Himalayan range(Grierson 1909:182),it is most convincing that Gurungs migrated from Tibet.Their religion,Tibetan lamaism and festival,Losar/Lochhar also support this.
"Pye-tan-lhu-tan" is the sacred scripture of the Gurung, which contain oral accounts of their traditional history.
Jobs
Gurkha Soldier Monument at London.Though only about half a million in number, the Gurung people have made distinct and immense contributions to history and culture and have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to world peace and progress. At present, the majority of Gurungs live in Nepal, where they form one of the many ethnic groups in the country. In Nepal, Gurungs have and continue to play significant roles in all spheres of the country’s development. Outside Nepal, many Gurungs, some in their renowned role as Gurkha soldiers, have lived and been exposed to diverse world cultures in areas as different as Bhutan, Europe, Hong-Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and the United States of America. In Nepal, Gurungs can be divided into two categories, highlanders and lowlanders (though Gurungs are predominantly highlanders). Highlanders living on the slopes of Himalayas still rely heavily on a pastoral and agricultural way of life. They grow rice, wheat, maize, millet and potatoes, normally on terraced mountain slopes. They also derive subsistence from sheep breeding for meat and wool, using fierce mastiffs as sheepdogs. The highlanders’ way of life resembles that of Tibetans in terms of religious beliefs and cultural practices. In contrast, lowlanders are more influenced by Hindu religious beliefs and practices. It is not surprising to see Gurungs using a Hindu priest for birth and a Buddhist Lama (priest) for last rites at someone’s death.
A Gurung farmer in his orange orchard, near Kalimpong, West Bengal, IndiaMany Gurung families, however, have another important source of income - the pensions and salaries of family members who are in the army. Among them are the legendary fighters of the British Gurkha Regiment, who were honored with Victoria Crosses for their bravery. Indeed Gurungs are renowned for their role as Gurkha soldiers, making unparalleled contributions in far flung places such as Europe during World Wars I and II, Burma, Malaysia, the Falklands, Africa, and India. Most recently, Gurungs have participated and continue to participate in most United Nations peacekeeping missions throughout the world.
Despite many pushes and pulls of modern day life, Gurungs are increasingly eager to learn, preserve, and celebrate their distinct cultural heritage and practices. This includes not only the various belief systems and cultural practices surrounding festivals, birth, marriage, and death rituals, but also the Gurungs’ own language Tamu Kwei, generally considered a Tibeto-Burman dialect. This focus on Gurung culture continues to provide invaluable insights and inspiration toward the future.
In an ever more interdependent world, Gurungs face the challenge of balancing the preservation of their unique cultural heritage with adaptation to the demands of modern life. The majority of Gurungs still struggle for basic opportunities to improve their livelihoods. As in the past, Gurungs need to invest in opportunities that build on their well-known attributes as people who are hard working, trustworthy, adaptable, and quick-learners in meeting the challenges of modern life in Nepal and beyond its boundaries. Gurungs seek support and guidance from individuals, institutions, and governments.
Lifestyle
Their traditional occupation was based on sheep herding and trans-Himalayan trade. In the 19th and early 20th century, many Gurung were recruited to serve in the British and Indian Gurkha regiments. Today, the Singapore Police, Brunei reserve units and the French Foreign Legion incorporate ethnically Gurung members. While serving in the British Army they have earned more than 6 Victoria Cross awards. Gurungs are not only restricted to military occupations, many live in urban areas and are employed in all types of labor, business and professional services.
Gurungs trace their descent patrilineally, organized into two groups, or moieties of patrilineal clans.
A noted Gurung tradition is the institution of Rodhi where teenagers form fictive kinship bonds and become Rodhi members to socialize, perform communal tasks, and find marriage partners. But the institution is rarely in existence because of its notoriusity in the community. 'Rodhi' literally means weaving and making of baskets.
Religion
Gautama BuddhaThe Gurung are followers of Bön shamanism or Pyetañ Lhutañ which is one of the oldest religions in the world using its own Priests; Pachyu, Klehpree and Bönpo Lama. Tibetan Buddhism was later introduced to the Gurung Community after Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 and most of his followers settled in the Northern part of Gandaki Region where the Gurungs are predominantly inhabitants. The Tibetan Lamaism then established the influence of the Tibetan Buddhism in the least educated Gurung community, endangering to the heritage culture, traditions and religion values. Today, some of the Gurungs are followers of Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism). Nowadays, a pocket of Christianity and Muslim follower gurungs can be found. The influence of Bön shamanism is strong among many Gurung.
In Religion categories: Pyetañ Lhutañ is the Bön Religion where the nature and anchesters are worshipped and animism is practised. The animism is the belief in a supernatural power that organises and animates the materials of uniserve.
Hindu influence from the Nepali led to many Gurung practicing Tibetan Buddhism with influences from Hinduism as well as Bön. Pockets of Gurung who live among the Hindus have converted to Buddhism.
According to the 2001 Nepal Census, 69.03% of the ethnic Gurung were Buddhists, 28.75% were Hindus and 0.66% were Christians.
See also
Please wikify this article or section.
Help improve this article by adding relevant internal links. (December 2007)
Gandaki District, Kaski ZoneHistory of Gurungs In 1958, Bernard Pignede, a French student of anthropology came to Nepal to study about Gurungs. He spent seven months in a Gurung village Mohoriya (Kaski, Gandaki) and traveled through many neighboring Gurung villages to do his research. He learned to speak tamu-kuwei (gurung dialect) and documented pretty much everything about the gurungs - their social structure, culture, religion, history, occupations, legends and myths. He translated pae, a ritual and religious practice that one gurung generation has passed down to another for thousands of years. Pae conveys the oral history of gurungs and is considered very sacred. Unfortunately, Pignede died tragically in 1961 at age of 29. After his death, Professor Louis Dumont published Pegnede’s work in 1966. The book was immediately recognized as a major contribution to the anthropology of the Himalayas. Later, two noted anthropoligists - Sarah Harrison and Alan Macfarlane ( www.alanmacfarlane.com ) translated it in English and published the first English version in 1993. Harrison and Macfarlane did further study of gurungs and added more to Pignede's work. The English version of book is called "The Gurungs", which is probably the most acclaimed research on Gurungs so far.
Besides this document, Bernard Pingde also collected other texts from various sources that tell the origin of Gurungs.
a). One of the texts which was in Nepali came from the east of Nepal where the Rais and Limbus live. It goes as follows: "The Kirati are the oldest inhabitants of Nepal. Soyenbumanu who lived in the land of Hemonta had several children, The second Thoinua, went off towards Japan. The third went towards Thailand, Burma and Cochin-China. The eldest went towards China, then Tibet, and arrived at the northern frontier of India. His name was Munainua. He had ten children: Yoktumba, founder of the Limbus, Yakakowa, founder of the race of Rais, Lunpheba, founder of the Larus, Thanpheba, Suhacepa, founder of the Sunwars (Chepangs, Thamis), Gurupa, founder of the Gurungs, Mankapa, founder of the Magars, Toklokapa, founder of the Thakalis, Tamangs and Sherpas, Thandwas, founder of the Tharus and of the Danwars. For thirty-three generations, the Kirati governed in Kathmandu".
b). C.B Ghotane, a Gurung scholar has the following interpretation of Gurung history:
"The origins of the Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Tharus, Sunwar and Danawar of central Nepal seem to be connected with the ancestors of the Kirats, an ancient Indian tribal group, who occupied the northern area of the Indo-Gangetic plain and the foothills of the whole Himalayan range which extends from the Kashmir valley to Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
The earliest civilization of Kathmandu valley was founded by Kirats. They lived in the foothills and the large inner valleys of Nepal. They appear to have fled to the green mountain tops for safety after the overthrow of the Kirat ruler in the first century A.D. They were pushed further north with the invasion of Indo-Aryans, who infiltrated Nepal in great numbers during the period of Muslim attacks on India from the fifteen century.”
Bernard Pingde also collected a few other "vansavalis" that Brahamin priests had prepared. The accountability of such "vansavalis" is questionable since they contain conflicting facts and are influenced by the Hinduism and it’s castism.
Pingde did his research during 50s when most of the Gurungs were still living in their ancient villages and their rich culture and traditions were well preserved. Today, many Gurungs have migrated to the cities of Nepal and abroad. They are struggling to preserve their language and culture. Pingde's book on Gurungs serves as a great source of knowledge for anyone who would like to know about one of the ancient people of Nepal, the Gurungs.
Gurung Movies
List of Gurung Movies :
Kramu
Cho "Bhauju"(Sister in law)
Herbe Ta
NAANU (Sweet heart)
Rodhi
Ngai Jindagi (My Life)
Deurali
Nhada Nhori
Sai nhorbei mrusyo
Bute Choli Ri (Colourful Choli)
Bholi gaye paap lagla
Gurung Music
The gurung have very rich tradition of music and culture. Gurung have established the system of Rodhi which is little similar to mordern discos,where young people meet and share their views in music and dancing. They have own music and dancing history. Some musical dance like Ghatu, Chudka are still in existence.In many gurung villages they are still performing such type of musical dances. These dance are performed either in a solo or in a groups.
In few gurung villages one can still find such dances or music.The gurung films are also promoting these musical dances.
References
The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) is the only Agricultural institute under Tribhuwan univercity in Nepal for providing higher-level academic training in agriculture and animal sciences. The IAAS traces its origin to a school of agriculture, established in 1957 in Kathmandu to train Junior Technical Assistant (JTAs). In 1968,the school was upgraded with I.Sc. Agriculture program to college of agriculture. In 1972,the college was recognized as the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science under Tribhuvan University and moved to the present location at Rampur, Chitwan in 1974.Presently, the institute has three campuses Rampur Campus at Rampur, Chitwan, Lamjung Campus at Sundarbazar, Lamjung, and Paklihawa Campus at Paklihawa, Rupendehi.
The dean's office is located at the Rampur, Chitwan, within the premise of Rampur Campus. The office includes a Central Management Team to run the institute, headed by Dean.
ResearchThe Directorate of Research and Publication (DOR) has been established at Rampur under the office of the Dean. The DOR encourages to promote interdisciplinary research studies focusing on the priority areas as emphasized by Nepal Agriculture perspective Plan (APP), a 20 years agriculture development plan, which is in effect since 1995.Basically, the DOR helps to develop proposals and to carry out research on both basic and applied biological as well as social science related research to the field of agriculture. The knowledge/information generated from research are disseminated through teaching, seminars, conferences, symposia, extension activities and scientific publications. IAAS does publish ‘Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science’ an annual publication, for the scientific information on plant, animal and social science. The DOR also publishes ”IAAS Research Reports” based on research carried out under the internal as well as external funding scheme, and recently, M.Sc. Thesis Abstract covering theses of postgraduate students at IAAS.
To encourage faculties and students, IAAS DOR approves small research grants on a regular basis. DOR encourages all facility members to develop research proposals and seek, funds from any other institutions. IAAS also welcomes interested donor institutions or collaborative institutions for funding, or to conduct collaborative research that are related to the agriculture. At present, there are about 16 externally funded research projects covering plant science, animal science and plant protection measures. These projects are managed by the DOR, and have been brought to the institute as per individual faculties efforts on the competitive basis
More recently, research on client based problems are undertaken through MS and PhD thesis research in partnership with local line agencies and industries.
Crop Science Research
IAAS has different research in different crops which include cereal crops, fruits, vegetables, commercial crops and forest products.
Wheat breeding program in collaboration with , South Asia is one of the example of strong program. Currently known wheat pathologist Dr. Sundar Man Shrestha, Agronoist N. K. Chaudhary and wheat breeder Umesh R. Rosyara are involved in the program. The major objective of the program is to develop stress resistance and tolerance genotypes for wheat stressed environments. Foliar leaf blight or spot blotch is major biotic stress whereas other stresses include heat and drought.
CIMMYT wheat pathologist Dr. Duveiller and Rosyara at a spot blotch screening nursery at Rampur Photo: Rosyara.
Wheat management study team is involved in development of wheat for minimum or low tillage technology. Prof. Khem R. Dhahal and Prof. K.B. Basnet are leading.
Loading gels:biotechnology laboratory activity Photo: Rosyara.
Using wild rice and novel rice genotypes for Nepalese future is Prof. L.P. Subedi's dream. He has a good collection of genotypes. Hybrid rice development is major area of interest. He has maintained an interesting rice kitchen garden.
Upland rice research program is located at Lamjung Campus Sundarbazaar. The site is located in mid-hills of Nepal. Currently participatory projects are underway in collaboration with IRRI.
Participatory Upland Rice Research at Lamjung Campus, Sundarbazaar
Among fruits major research is carried out in lemon and lime. The research group is in the leadership of Prof. Durga D. Dhakal. The group focuses on perennial production of lemon and lime.
First Biotechnology Laboratory in Nepal
IAAS features first biotechnology laboratory in Nepal facility of DNA and protein based molecular analysis. The laboratory was established with support of world bank with initiative of Prof. R. C. Sharma. Currently Sundarman Shrestha, U. R. Rosyara, S.K. Ghimire and M. Pandey are involved in management of the facility.
Livestock and Fish Research
The IAAS has good facility in fisheries and livestock research. The Fisheries research is leaded by Dr. M.K. Shrestha. Similarly livestock and veterinary research is lead by Associate Prof. Dr Naba Raj Devkota and faculties at Department of Animal Nutrition and Fodder production. Research works are prioritized on developing technology for fattening of male buffalo calves; improving productivity of male goats, agroforestry model establishment, and carrying capacity estimation of pasture and ranges at high altitude region of Nepal. Animal science research are also undertaken at department of Livestock Production Managament under the leadership of Prof. D.B. Nepali, and at the department of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology under the leadership of Associate Professor,Dr Mana Raj Kolachhapati.
Links with other Institutions
IAAS has been making continuous efforts in designing and upgrading its academic activities through national or international linkages. Attempts have been made to establish academic relationship and to exchange/share scientific information for the mutual benefits of both institutions. To this effect, MOU has been signed between IAAS and several national/international institutions. Those included: CIMMYT, Agro Enterprise Centre (AEC), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Livestock (DLS), Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), ICIMOD, IMMI, Cornell University USA, University of Graz Austria, Hirosima University Japan, Writtle College England, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Thailand, and Tufts University USA.
Lamjung Campus
The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Lamjung Campus is located at Sundarbazar VDC of Lamjung district Nepal. This institute was established as a branch of IAAS Rampur, Chitwan (Central campus) under Tribhuvan University in 1976 (2032 B.S.) with following main objectives:
- To produce middle level agricultural technicians
- To conduct farmers’ problem solving researches in agriculture and animal science suitable to mid hills of Nepal
- To provide technical assistance to the farmers in the field of agriculture and animal science
Lamjung Campus, Sundarbazaar
Land holding
The campus has altogether 338 ropani (282 ropani upland and 56 ropani lowland) of land which are scattered in six places. It has one horticulture, one agronomy and one livestock farm extended in 252 ropani in and around the office area. These farms are meant for production of fruits, vegetables, cereals, animals and birds and for doing practical. In about 50 ropani of upland area (including mango orchard and wastage land around the office and residential area) about 4200 coffee plants were planted during August, 2005.
The panoramic view from Lamjung, Sundar Bazaar,Nepal
Administration and Manpower
Campus chief is the head of the institute and the general administration, academic administration, account, store, library, farms, hostels and dispensary work under chief office. In each of the above sections, there is one branch head and one to few workers, as per the requirement. Internal management is the responsibility of the section head. Major decisions related to rules and regulations in each section are made by the meeting of section heads and related personnel headed by campus chief.
There are altogether 15 teaching staffs,56 administrative staffs in the campus. Two teachers have PhD degree while others hold master’s degree in respective subjects. Existing number of teachers in the campus is not sufficient to run the program. Therefore, at least four teachers have been brought form Rampur in contract basis, each year. The campus also lacks workers, watchmen and lab boys.
Buildings
The institute has
- 2 administrative buildings
- 1 library
- 6 classrooms
- 5 laboratories
There are other facilities like 24 quarters (1 chief, 9 senior staff, 10 junior staff and 4 lower staff quarters), 1 guest house,1 boys' hostel, 1 girls' hostel and 2 messes. Similarly, there is 1 poultry house, 1 goat shed, 2 cattle/buffalo shed, 1 swine shed, 1farm store, 1 auditorium hall, 1 garage and 1 dispensary.
Academic activities
During its establishment the institute used to teach one year course of I. Sc. Ag. and produced 947 middle level agricultural technicians during the period of 2032 to 2040. The institute had started non academic JTA training program in 2041 644 JTAs were trained during the period of 2041 to 2047.Institute also started two years I. Sc. Ag. program in the year 2048 and produced 313 JTs up to 2058. In the year 2059, the institute introduced an eight semester B. Sc. Ag. program. Entrance exam is taken by dean office, Rampur and teaching is started from Ashad (June).
Besides teaching, the institute has trained a large number of farmers about modern agricultural practices. Therefore the campus has directly and indirectly boosted up the economy of the farmers residing near to the campus. In addition to this, farmers are also benefited by different types of agricultural projects at the campus. However, the research and extension activities has not been efficient and effective due to the lack of money.
Departments and Laboratories
- Department of Plant Science
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture
- Department of Social Sciences
These three departments have diverse manpower in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Genetics, Soil Science, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Animal Science, Aquaculature, Animal Breeding, Environmental Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, Plant Pathology and Sociology.
Research and Development Office
Research and development office is responsible for promoting research activities in the campus. The research principally focuses on mid-hill ecosystem. Upland rice research program is located at Lamjung Campus Sundarbazaar. The site is located at mid-hills of Nepal. Currently participatory projects are underway in collaboration with IRRI.
