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.