The Gurkhas

“Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous.’’

                                                                                    -Professor Sir Ralph Lilley Turner, MC

Professor Sir Ralph Lilley Turner wrote of Gurkhas and he said the above words for Gurkhas. Gurkhas are military people from Nepal. ‘Bahadur” a weighty Nepali word meaning “Brave” is popularly used to describe them. These days most of Nepalese are called as Gurkhas. Now they serve in Nepalese Army, Indian Army, British Army, Singapore Army and American Army too. They are most recognized in the whole world for their utmost bravery. They are well-recognized with their master weapon, Khukuri. Khukuri is a Nepalese knife with an inwardly curved edge.

The actual word 'Gurkha' comes from a Nepalese word Gorkha, now a district of Nepal. Gorkha, before being a district of Nepal was a separate kingdom inside Nepalese territory. People of Gorkha were called as Gorkhali. King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the brave king of Gorkha united all small kingdoms in to a big kingdom, Nepal. Gorkhalis started invading some parts of India, the then colony of British Government. Britain could not tolerate it and the battle between British and Gorkhalis started.

It was 1814, the beginning of British-Nepal war, called as Anglo-Nepal war. British army was equipped with advanced weapons of that time whereas Nepalese were fighting only with Khukuris. The war lasted for two years. The British could not take over Nepal. The Gurkhas fought with bravery. Not only men, even women and children willingly participated in the war, Leaving British government anything, than a huge loss of pride, life and economy. In-spite of great loss, British government was prodigiously impressed by Nepalese’s bravery and battle skill.

These unknown people to the otherworld fought the most powerful country of that time remaining invincible.  They were able to save their pride and honor. Some of them like Balabhadra Kunwar, while left with only 70 armies of his troops did not surrender, instead walked with proud chest and handful khukuri in front of 3,000 British troops. Bhakti Thapa, a 60 years old warrior killed more than six British military even after being hit by a bullet in his left chest. British remained speechless in front of their courage and battle skill. So, at the time of world war-I, they wanted Gurkhas to be part of their army. For world war, I and II, Gurkhas’ bravery and battle skill thrived and made them popular among the whole world.

 Recently I read an article posted in an Indian newspaper that a Gurkha soldier saved girl from being raped and took on 40 train robbers with only a Khukuri killing 3 of them. Also, a Gurkha Corporal, Dipprasad Pun fought off 30 Talibani militants single-handed and with an empty gun-tripod. Later on he received a Gallantry Award, second only to the Victoria Cross - the highest honour for bravery in the face of the enemy from Queen Elizabeth. Kulbir Thapa, Karna Bahadur Rana, Gaje Ghale, Tulbahadur Punn, Netrabahadur thapa are few of many Gurkhas who are awarded with the most prestigious Victoria Cross. Agansing Rai auctioned his Victoria Cross for the welfare of poor children in Nepal.

These stories proves how brave and generous are the Gurkhas really are. They gave their life for their pride and somebody’s protection and now they are giving up their recognition for others welfare. This is what a Gurkha is, never backing up, never giving up, always brave, always kind, always “The Bahadur”. So they are said to be “Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous.” My grandmother once told me, “You are a Gurkha, you are born to protect and help. Never do wrong to the innocents but never forgive a criminal too. Respect elders and adore youngers”. Her words imply how a Gurkha should be: Courageous, Caring, Kind, Merciful, Fierce, Confident and Disciplined.

From that time to this time everyone envies them. Everyone wants to be like them. German Chancellor Hitler said, “If I had Gurkhas, no armies in the world would defeat me.” Also, Indian Marshal Sam Manekshaw said, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha.” Osama Bin Laden quoted, “If i had Gurkhas I would eat Americans alive.” Prince Charles told, “In the world there is only one place is secured that's when you are between the Gurkhas”. One Pakistani General said, “If Gurkhas were on my side, I would have my dinner in New Delhi". Even soccer superstar Diego Maradona said that if only he had 100,000 Gurkha soldiers, he could conquer the whole world. He also cited, “We lost Falkland to British as they were equipped with the Gurkhas. We defeated England in the World Cup 1986 football finals because they did not have Gurkhas in their team”.

Everyone praises them and wants to be like them but they have their own story too. In the Himalayan foothills village of Dahakhani of a man sent out his son to buy some cigarettes at the village shop one morning in 1941. The son returned five years later, blind in one eye, minus his right hand and wearing the Victoria Cross but without the cigarettes. Gurkhas have their own story; they have to be apart from their family, their friend and their life too. Families of Gurkhas over there in that country are living unsatisfied life. These families have wealth, recognition and pride but they don’t have their son, their father, their brother. These families wait for their beloved ones whole lifetime to see them, meet them, talk with them, walk with them but imagine how it would feel to see your own son or father or brother inside a coffin in place of your arms.

Well, life is not easy. Everyone has their story. Although Gurkhas and their families have their own story, these brave-hearts have given me, and all the Nepalese reasons to live with pride and honor. Once I heard: only an army lives his life, he fights every day, he protects every day, he cries every day and he smiles every day. He lives every day. That’s what life is “live it to the fullest”. Gurkhas, they are living it and they have inspired me and thousands of their children to live life. Thanks to them.