Kaida – A Gurkha Fusion of History and Culture

The Brigade of Gurkhas maintains a unique set of traditions and approaches to how it operates. These have been forged over two centuries by events and shared experiences with other troops serving Britain, as well as their experiences within the British Indian Army until 1947. This standard of tradition and of professional excellence is often referred to by the unique term ‘Kaida’. An emphasis on Kaida and its common ethos, with a focus on shared values such as trust, respect and a caring community, has allowed today’s Brigade of Gurkhas to maintain its own cultural identity whilst remaining a key part of the wider family of the British Armed Forces. A concept unique to the Brigade of Gurkhas is that of ‘numberies’ – a special bond between those of the same recruit intake, wherever their careers may take them. Regardless of the regiment they serve in or the rank they attain, numberies remain special to each other and it is to numberies that any Gurkha looks firs in times of hardship or challenge.