Born on 18 th July 1952 in Pulimarang Village of Tanahu district to the late Iman Singh Gurung and Ima Devi Gurung, General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung joined the Nepalese Army in the year 1971 and received his commission from the Indian Military Academy. A graduate of Command and General Staff College, Leavenworth, USA, he is an alumnus of National Defense University, China. He holds a Bachelors degree from Tribhuvan University and is a highly decorated Military Officer.

During his military career, he has undertaken several military professional courses at home and abroad. Besides career courses, he specializes in Mountain Warfare and Para Basic Course from Nepal and Commando, Counter Insurgency, and Jungle Warfare, Junior Command, and Senior Command Course from India. Additionally, he has participated in various security related seminar in Nepal, China, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, United States and New Zealand.

General Gurung has held various Command and Staff responsibilities during his career. He successfully commanded the Gorakh Box Independent Infantry Company, the Shamsher Dal Infantry Battalion, and Sixth Brigade. He has earned himself a reputation as a training strategist, which is reflected by his assignments as instructor of the Army School, High Altitude and Mountain Warfare School and as Commandant of the Recruit Training Center. Upon his promotion as a Brigadier General, he was appointed as the Brigade Commander of the only Special Forces Brigade and then went on to Command an Infantry Brigade. As a Division Commander, General Gurung successfully planned and led the counter insurgency operations in the volatile Mid-Western region of Nepal. His important staff appointments include Director of Research and Development and Director of Military Training in the Army HQ. He also served as Quarter Master General. As a Lt General he served as the Chief of the General Staff and Chief of Staff of the Nepalese Army.

General Gurung has vast experience in the foreign sector working with the United Nations and the diplomatic corps. He served as the Operations Staff Officer, Chief Military Personnel Officer and Chief of Staff in UNIFIL HQ, Lebanon. He also holds the distinction of serving as the Military Attaché of Nepal to the United Kingdom and France.

General Gurung is a known physical fitness enthusiast. He enjoys hiking and plays most sports but he is fond of Martial Arts and is a World Tae Kwan Do Federation black belt himself. He is married to Mrs. Kamala Gurung and is blessed with two sons, Dr Pratik and Prabal.

As part of modernization and meeting the challenges of the 21st century, the Nepalese Army has transformed into an equal opportunities employer and has actively started enrolling women soldiers for different tasks and appointments. Even though the concept of women soldiers is not new in the Nepalese Army, it has never before reached the proportions of today. Nepalese Army has been recruiting women soldiers for the last forty years. Today women soldiers are viewed as equals to their male counterparts in executing any given tasks. The total number of women in the Nepalese Army at present is 1070. The Army aims to maintain a 5 per cent female work force. Listed below are some of the fields in which women soldiers are on active duty:

Nursing Service: Nepalese Army started recruiting women nurses since 2018 BS. Today women constitute about 22 per cent of the total staff at Birendra Military Hospital.
Medical Doctor: The first lady doctor was enrolled in 2026 BS. Today, the Nepalese Army has more than 52 lady doctors including a Brigadier General in active service.
Engineers: Nepalese Army started recruiting women engineers since 2061. Women engineers currently work as Civil and Computer Engineers
Legal Service: The legal service opened up for women in 2055 BS. Since then, there has been a steady influx of lady officers in the Nepalese Army Legal Department.
Parachute Folders in the Parachute Regiment: Women were enrolled as parachute folders since 2022 BS. Parajumping for women para folders commenced in 2026 BS and the practice has been continuing to date.

Since 2060 BS, a number of other services have opened up for women soldiers. They are as follows:

Military Police: Women soldiers have been active in the military police, a service which looks after the maintenance of discipline in the Army.
Signalers: Today more and more women are working as signalers.
Office staffs: No office is complete without the support of the office staffs who play a vital role in the manual transfer of important documents and daily maintenance of the office premises. Today women soldiers are largely responsible for such jobs in the Army.
Army Band: Women soldiers have shouldered their fair share of ceremonial duties through the Army Band.
Military Drivers: Today women soldiers are slowly taking over the job of driving light vehicles.
Military Clerks: Women have been involved in important clerical jobs in the Army since 2026.
Aircraft Technicians: Women soldiers have found employment in the Air Service too.
Combat and Combat Support Arms: 621 women of various ranks are currently employed in various combat and combat support arms.

On 9 September, 2009, President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Nepalese Army, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, conferred the rank of General to Lt Gen Chhatraman Singh Gurung, and appointed him as the Chief of the Army Staff of Nepalese Army as per the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. The President also administered the oath of office to the newly appointed COAS amidst a function at the Presidential Palace, Sital Niwas. Rt Honorable Prime Minister, Chief Secretary, Secretary of Defense, Chiefs of Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and various national dignitaries were present at the function including high ranking Army Officers. Upon his arrival at the Army HQ, a guard of honor was presented to COAS General Chhatraman Singh Gurung and he was also felicitated by the Officers and other ranks at the Army HQ.

Gyanendra Serves His Boss: Chief Of the Aarmy Staff General Rookmangad Katawal being served his lunch by Sipahi Gyanendra Karki and Sipahi Mansing Nepali at the NCO’s Mess (Jawan Bhanchha), Army HQ, last week.

By Dinesh Wagle
Photos and captions provided by Nepali Army DPR

In the last several days, just like at the time of conflict when the army was involved in fighting with the Maoists, we have been receiving press releases from the Directorate of the Public Relations (DPR) of the Nepali Army in our inbox along with many pictures that depict the visit of different barracks around the country by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Rookmangad Katawal. But the pictures are focused on showing only one aspect of the visit: that General Katawal is having lunch with soldiers in the Soldiers’ Mess. These visits have been described as the first of these kinds by the army. On the 5th and 6th of Kartik, General Katawal visited the barracks in Morang, Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Bhojpur, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Terathum, and Sunsari districts. “This is the first time a COAS has visited soldiers in remote army barracks and security base on the occasion of Dipawali,” a release issued by the DPR states.

So far so good. But there are some critical issues that deserve immediate attention from the General. There is an old debate about the not so good situation of lower rank officials and soldiers in Nepali Army. They have been exploited, may say, especially in the earnings they make while participating in the UN peacekeeping missions abroad. The quality of food provided by the Army to the soldiers is always in question. They deserve better food is what many say. We are not told in the releases but anyone can guess that kitchen staffs must have prepared the best food ever in their career when their boss visited barracks and ate in Jawan Bhanchha. Maoists in the past have repeatedly raised the poor situation of the soldiers in Nepali Army to instigate the soldiers against the leadership.

General Katawal is not a foreign ambassador so his visit can’t be questioned but we are eagerly waiting to see what he does to make soldiers happy. And they will be happy only when their situation is uplifted. We are pretty much sure General Katawal konws what makes soldiers happy: Reforming the institution, that was always serving the interest of one man, in the favor of democracy. Is he really serious for that job? Can he do that? And that is slightly difficult than helicopting around the country.

Reporter Khim Ghale reports in today’s Kantipur about the reform efforts initiated within the army. 166 servants out of nearly 600 are being called back, language used by the officers to the soldiers will be made respectable. That is to say an officer will not speak to the soldier in the language that he uses to address a dog, probably. And the food disparity in the Army will be removed which is very important. Ghale reports that General Katawal’s lunch in Soldier’s Mess in Kartik 3 is the inauguration of sort. These things are understandable but there is yet another point in the reform agenda: Including soldier’s wives in the Officers’ Wife Club. Why do we need this Wives’ Club? Why General Katawal doesn’t simply abolish the provision of this Club altogether? There is no point in talking about improving the thing that is not necessary at all.

General Katawal eating with soldiers when he visited barracks outside Kathmandu in Dipawali.

Again, General Katawal must not forget that the most important issue is exercising democracy in the army and making this institution accountable to the parliament and the government of Nepal elected by the people. He should act quickly and efficiently in that direction.

The Gurkha soldiers have been using these khukuries for many years. Many Gurkha soldiers have fought the battle with the help of these khukuries against their enemy and have won the battle many times. These khukuries have created a great history of brave Gurkha soldiers. Because of these magnificent khukuries the brave Gurkha soldiers have become a world renowned warriors for their bravery. The blade of these khukuries are so thin and fine that they give the khukuries an excellent cutting power. Though used by army in warfare these khukuries can be used by any one. Equally beautiful these khukuries can also be used for the decoration purpose. Ceremonial Khukur knife, Jungle Khukuri knife , Nepal Army knife and Service No. 1 are categorized under Army Khukuries.