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"If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha."
- Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (1914-2008)
The Gorkha regiments, formerly part of the British Indian Army, have since Independence served with exemplary courage under the Indian tricolour. April 24 marks 200 years of the raising of the first battalion of the Third Gorkha regiment, better known as 1/3 GR.
Gorkha soldiers are known to be one of the fiercest soldiers in battle. Known for their selfless courage and loyalty, the khukri-wielding Gorkhas are one of the finest in the Indian Army.
History of the Gorkhas
The British first encountered the Gorkhas during the Gurkha war of 1814 – 1816, which ended with an abiding sense of mutual respect between the two sides. They fought valiantly for the British during the mutiny of 1857, proving to be fierce allies of the British.
"The Gorkhas were always kept as an exclusive unit, as the British hailed them as their most loyal friends, the King of Nepal also had a special relation with the crown. They would have special access to the British canteens etc. To this day they celebrate the 'Delhi Day' to mark their victory during the siege of Delhi", says LT (retd) General HC Dutta who was commissioned in the fourth battalion of 2 Gorkha Rifles.
After the 1857 mutiny, the British restructured the army into 50% Muslim officers and soldiers and 50% non-Muslim officers and soldiers to avoid a repeat of the uprising.
After India gained independence, the British assured the King of Nepal Prithvi Narayan Shah that they would take some Gorkha battalions with them. A tripartite agreement treaty was signed between England, Nepal and India in 1947 to settle the future of the Gurkhas in military service. The British took with them four regiments of the Gorkha Rifles while the other six remained with the Indian Army.
"From my course onwards in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), the first Indian Officers were posted in the Gorkha Regiments, We were posted to the 4th Battalion of the 2 Gorkha rifles, which was considered the main Gorkha Regiment," Lt Gen (retd) Dutta added.
Since their deployment under the Indian Flag the Gorkhas have fought valiantly in numerous battles and missions earning accolades that took the infantry to the zeniths of the Indian Army's hall of fame.
The regiments have won many gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra. One of India's finest and most revered officers, Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw hails from 8 Gorkha Rifles.
'Indianising' the Gorkha Regiments
"The process of Indianising the Gorkhas was very smooth. In fact, they were very welcoming. Soon, the anti-India propaganda spread by the British fizzled out. We learnt their langauge and their customs. Even to this day I can speak Gorkhali", Lt Gen. (retd) Dutta claimed proudly.
The Grokhas were deployed in Calcutta in early 1948 for 'counter insurgency duties'. Independence had just been declared and Muslim leaders in Bengal had called for ' direct action' just before independence. Soon riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out.
"Calcutta was burning," Lt Gen. (retd) Dutta recalls. "Around 5-6 battalions were deployed in different places to control the riots.”
Since then, the Gorkhas have excelled wherever they have been deployed, whether in Kashmir, the north East, the Rann of Kutch, Kargil, or even peacekeeping missions as far afield as Rwanda, Lebanon and Sierra Leone, writes Group Captain T K Singha in an article for oneindia.com.
The Gorkhas have served in Bangladesh , Sri Lanka , Siachen , and in the UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Sierra Leone as well.
Symbolism
The Khukri knife is the most sacred symbol of the Gorkhali, and is used both at home and in war, when it becomes the symbol of their ferocious martial qualities.
The Gorkha war cry – Jai Maha Kali, Ayo Gorkhali (Hail, Goddess Kali, the Gorkhas are here) is another quintessential symbol of the Gorkha regiment. Each Gorkha regiment also has its own war cry.
As the first battalion of the third Gorkha Rifles celebrate their 200th anniversary today, they etch the glorious history of the Gorkha soldiers in the annals of Indian Army.
