Nepalis in Singapore

Nepalese in Singapore

Gurkhas guarding a car park entrance to Raffles City
Total population
(5,000)
Regions with significant populations
Singapore
Languages
English · Nepali
Religion
Hinduism · Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Nepali people

There is a large community of Nepalese in Singapore, consisting mostly of Gurkhas recruited from Nepal and their families.

Overview

Gurkhas

Main article: Gurkha Contingent

The Gurkha Contingent was formed in Singapore on 9 April 1949 in the wake of Indian independence from the British Empire, where Gurkhas battalions from the British Indian Army were divided between the Indian Army and the British Army. Those transferred to the British Army were posted to other remaining British Colonies. In Malaya and Singapore, their presence was badly needed to battle the worsening communist threat, and to replace the Sikh unit in Singapore which reverted to the Indian Army on Indian independence. Just a year after their formation, their presence became an asset when racial riots between the Malay and European communities broke out over the disputed custody of Maria Hertogh. The GC troopers were again activated when major rioting erupted all over the country between the ethnic Malays and Chinese on Prophet Mohammed's birthday from 21 July 1964 till September that same year.

Ultimately, the officers know they are here only on a temporary basis, further enforced by the fact that they are disallowed from integrating too much with local society. Due to their chief purpose as a neutral presence here, they are not allowed to marry Singaporean women, hence the allowance to bring their wives and children from Nepal to their base camp in Mount Vernon. At the end of their contract, they are expected to return to their country and most of them start their own business and get along with their lives. Only a handful have ever been known to have broken this tradition and chosen to stay in the city-state.

Other groups

A small number of Nepalese in Singapore also consists of domestic maids from Nepal. Nepalese maids, along with Sri Lankan and Burmese maids, lack any sort of cohesive organization and are usually exploited both by their employers and the agencies that recruit them compared to Filipino and Indonesian maids.

Notable People

• Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal - Nepalese prince in exile
• Prabal Gurung - Nepalese-American Fashion Designer (born in Singapore)

See also

• Gurkha Contingent
• Indians in Singapore