Famous Gurung Figures Around the World

Born: 1922 | Place: Bhatphedi, Nepal

Military

Known for: Victoria Cross recipient for bravery in World War II.

Image: The wounded Havildar who defied death- Gaje Ghale VC

Family background: Born into a Gurung household and served in the Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Born: 1917 | Place: Tanahun, Nepal

Military

Known for: Victoria Cross recipient; renowned for battlefield bravery in Burma campaign.

Image: Lachhiman Gurung VC (Nepali: लाछिमान गुरुङ; 30 December 1917 – 12 December 2010)

Family background: Gurung veteran from central Nepal who served in the British Indian Army.

Born: 1921 | Place: Nepal

Military

Known for: Victoria Cross recipient in World War II.

Image: Havildar Bhanbhagta Gurung, VC (Nepali: भनभक्त गुरुङ; September 1921 – 1 March 2008)

Family background: From a Gurung military family tradition and served with Gurkha regiments.

Born: 1979 | Place: Singapore (raised in Nepal)

Culture

Known for: International fashion designer based in New York.

Image: Prabal Gurung (Nepali: प्रवल गुरुङ) (born 1974) is a Nepalese American fashion designer based in New York City.

Family background: Nepali Gurung family; known for bringing South Asian identity into global fashion discourse.

Born: 1938 | Place: Darjeeling

Culture

Known for: Composer and singer; one of the composers of Nepal’s national anthem.

Image: Shree Amber Gurung (Nepali: अम्बर गुरुङ) (26 February 1938 – 7 June 2016)

Family background: Respected Gurung musician family background with deep cultural roots in Nepali music.

Born: 1939 | Place: Lamjung, Nepal

Scholarship

Known for: Geographer, anthropologist, planner, and public intellectual.

Family background: From a Gurung family in Lamjung; became a major scholar of Nepal’s social geography.

Born: 1949 | Place: Kalimpong

Social Impact

Known for: Founder of Maiti Nepal and anti-trafficking social activist.

Image: Anuradha Koirala (born Anuradha Gurung on 14 April 1949)

Family background: Born into a Gurung family; dedicated her career to social justice and women’s rights.

Born: 1953 | Place: Nepal

Scholarship

Known for: Sociologist and former academic leader at Tribhuvan University.

Family background: From a Gurung family and known for work on ethnicity, inclusion, and social research.

Born: 1980 | Place: Gorkha, Nepal

Culture

Known for: Prominent Nepali filmmaker and director.

Family background: From a Gurung family in Gorkha; active in contemporary Nepali cinema.

Born: 1986 | Place: Nepal

Sports

Known for: Former captain of Nepal women’s national football team.

Family background: Represents Gurung participation and leadership in women’s football.

Born: 1997 | Place: Nepal

Culture

Known for: Actress and performer in modern Nepali entertainment.

Family background: Known publicly as part of newer Gurung representation in media and film.

Born: Unknown | Place: India

Sports

Known for: Member of India’s 1952 Olympic gold-medal hockey team.

Family background: Noted Gurung sports figure from the Himalayan region.