| Here Come the Gurkhinis, 200 Years Later
Reuters' Gopal Sharma reports that more than 1,500 Nepali women have signed up with private firms to train for a possible career with the British army after UK Defense Department allowed them to join the Brigade of Gurkhas for the first time in nearly two centuries. It is not clear how many will be recruited, and the first batch of women Gurkhas (Gurkhinis?) may start work only in about 2 years.
The Guardian's Dan McDougall reports that "many of the women hoping to join the British army are hardened members of Nepal's Maoist rebels." The British embassy does not have anything to say (in fact, nothing) on this new initiative. There are currently 3,400 Gurkha men serving in the British army. Britain began recruiting Gurkhas in 1815. More: Here is the famous monument in London. Here is the inscription.
• After two centuries, Nepal women train for Gurkhas, Reuters, June 26/07
• Women set to join the Gurkhas, Guardian, June 24/07
• Gurkha women being recruited, Strategy, June 24/07
• British Gurkhas to recruit women, Gulf Times, June 11/07
