Major (Retired) Manikumar Rai MBE, DL
Mani Rai, son of Major (Gurkha Commissioned Officer) Padam Jung Rai late 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles (7GR), was educated in Mount Hermon School in Darjeeling, India. Mani followed his father’s footsteps and undertook his basic recruit training, Intake 1/1972, at Training Depot Brigade of Gurkhas (TDBG) Sek Kong, joining the British Army in April 1972.
21160255 Rifleman Mani Kumar Rai was posted to B Company, 7GR, before being transferred to the Intelligence Section. Mani was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst into the 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles in November 1974.
During his service Mani served in a number of regimental and staff appointments, including the Ministry of Defence, Defence Procurement, 7 Armoured Brigade and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Mani qualified as a Defence Procurement Manager in 1990 and became a Certified Management Consultant in 2005. He deployed on operations in Iraq and was made an MBE in 1991.
In 2009 he retired from the Regular Army but continued as a Full Time Reservist with the Military Stabilisation Group (MSSG). During his time with MSSG he led training teams to Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Burundi, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Belize and Chile. He finally retired from the military, after 42 years of service, in April 2014.
He and his wife Sudha opened their restaurant The Gurkha Durbar in 2005, which sadly closed in 2023. Post Army between 2014 and 2017, Mani worked as Business Development Manager (Major Projects) for Highways England and as Operations Director Aureole Inspecs India (Pvt) Limited. He took up his current appointment as Secretary, Gurkha Brigade Association in December 2017.
Mani was an advocate for and active Friend of The Gurkha Museum. He was involved with several other charities. He was Trustee of the Gurkha Brigade Association, Trustee of Citizen’s Advice Bureau, (Camberley), Chairman of the Commonwealth Memorial Gates, a Committee Member of the Britain Nepal Society, Advisor to the Gurkha Memorial Project in Aldershot and Camberley Nepali (Gurkha) Society. Mani was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire in October 2020.
Mani passed away at home with his family present on Wednesday 28 May 2025 after a long and difficult battle with cancer.
“Major Mani proudly served the United Kingdom with honour, courage and dignity, and those of us who had the huge privilege of knowing him will remember unwavering sense of duty, strength of character, deep sense of humour and generous spirit. Mani was an inspirational soldier during his service (being awarded the MBE), an exceptional and engaging Brigade of Gurkhas Secretary and had the honour of being appointed the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire; he always set a high bar to follow. Most importantly, he was a steadfast friend and source of inspiration to many. As we mourn this loss, we also celebrate a life well lived — a life of service, loyalty, and camaraderie. His was a light of excellence that will shine for many years to come.”
Ian Rigden, Chairman of Gurkha Brigade Association
Mani at the Brigade of Gurkhas’ Headquarters.
Sudha and Mani at The Gurkha Durbar (Credit: Sudha Rai)
Mani, facing forward, with the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother