Rotary club of THE HIMALAYAN GURKHAS is a relatively young club in Rotary world, with its installation in September 2003. According to the Charter President Major Gopal Bahadur Gurung MBE, the first few years were challenging as the club had to learn the norms of Rotary. However, with most of Charter members being former Gurkhas with extensive international experience, “tricks of the Rotary trades” were learnt quickly and implemented in the club. Within a short span of time the club had a calendar full of activities, keeping members busy.
The Himalayan Gurkhas began working with Rotarians from overseas which attracted much needed funds to help needy people of the remote hills. The list projects initiated by the club included, Health camps, drinking water, school classrooms, installation of IT suits in schools, provision of internet in the remote hill schools, poverty alleviation, Micro Loans Schemes to help start, Poultry, Goat farms and piggery, post Nepal earthquake rehabilitation work and so on. The club has no permanent office nor any place to keep historical records.
Because of the situation above club has had to look into an alternative way of preserving the historical records of the club. Thus came the Rotary Monument idea. Rotary Monument (Chautari) is brainchild of Major Lilbahadur GURUNG MBE. It is conveniently located at the main entrance of Nepal’s first home stay tourism village Sirubari in Syangja, where many internal as well as the international visitors come and stay. For Sirubari and the visitors to the home stay village, Rotary Monument has become a “shop window”. It has also attracted many selfie lovers and visitors and visiting Rotarians, who capture it in their devices before leaving.
The monument has the names of the Charter President and the Presidents, Major Donors from various countries, Major individual donors, Donor International clubs and list of all projects including the post Nepal earthquake rehabilitation projects and support given to needy people during the Covid – 19 Pandemic inscribed on marble.
The Rotary Chautari/Monument was officially inaugurated jointly by Charter President Major Gopal Bahadur Gurung MBE and his better half Mrs Hem Kumari Gurung, club President Rtn Satta Bahadur Gurung, Land donor Mrs Bishnu Kumari Gurung and Rotary Chautari/monument initiator and coordinator Major Lilbahadur Gurung MBE on 6th of April 2022. Members of the Himalayan Gurkhas Rotary club, Rotary Community Corp Sirubari, local mothers’ group, Sirubari youth club and many locals witnessed the event. The local band, (Nau Mati Baja) played melodious tunes and entertained the gathering.
The land, worth more than 12 Lakhs was kindly donated by Mrs Bishnu Kumari Gurung in memory of her late husband Lt Guru Prasad Gurung and late son Mr Arjun Kumar Gurung. The Rotary club of the Himalayan Gurkhas thank Mrs Bishnu Kumari didi for her most generous donation.
The finance side of the Rotary Chautari/monument was taken care of by Initiator and coordinator Major Lilbahadur Gurung MBE and Past President Rtn Krishna Prasad Adhikari.
The Himalayan Gurkhas Rotary club intends to return to Sirubari every year to observe Rotary Chautari/monument Anniversary. JAY ROTARY!
