Nepali Indian

Indian citizens of Nepali origin
Total population
Estimated at up to 4,100,000[1]
0.40% of the India's population
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Religion
Related ethnic groups
Nepali people

Nepali Indians (also Indian Nepalese, Indian Nepali or Nepalese Indians Nepali: भारतीय नेपाली) are people who are citizens or full-time residents of India whose ethnic ancestry lie fully or partially in Nepal. They speak many languages and dialects, but Nepali language, also included as one of the official languages of India, is understood and spoken by all.

History

Much of present-day Northern India were under the kingdom of Nepal before becoming a part of East-India during the British Raj. For example, the Darjeeling District of West Bengal was a part of Sikkim and for some time a part of Nepal. Sikkim, the only state in India with ethnic Nepali majority, became part of India in 1975. Other areas with significant Nepali population include Uttrakhand, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya. The Nepali population is also scattered throughout India in all major cities, especially Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam.


Gurkhas

The 1st Battalion of 1 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army. Currently there are 7 Gorkha regiments in the Indian Army.

Since the formation of India in 1947, as per the terms of the Britain–India–Nepal_Tripartite_Agreement, six Gorkha regiments, formerly part of the British Indian Army, became part of the Indian Army and have served ever since. The troops are Gorkhas, residents of Nepal and ethnic Gorkha(Nepali) citizens of India . They have a history of courage in battle, evident from the gallantry awards won by Gorkha soldiers and battle honours awarded to Gorkha battalions, both before and after joining the Indian Army. A seventh Gorkha Rifles regiment was re-raised in the Indian Army after Independence to accommodate Gorkha soldiers of 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles who refused to transfer to the British Army. Many Nepalese origin Gorkha soldiers settled in India.

Notable Indians of Nepali origin

References

  1. ↑ Soldiers, Migrants and Citizens Archived 13 February 2011 at WebCite