Nepal used to be the
safest place in the world. It gave birth to the Gurkhas who would stay forever
loyal, and literally die for their nation if they had to. Gurkhas are still born
in this nation, protecting not only our beloved Nation but also many other
nations where their presence is felt required.
The gallantry of
Gurkhas has been acknowledged by the world for their display of courage and
loyalty ever since human evoked war. Any commander would sweat against the
Gurkhas. And any commander would kiss victory if they have Gurkhas on their
site. Their story is incredible!
The Gurkhas are soldiers
from district of Gorkha, Nepal from which the Kingdom of Nepal expanded.The
name may be traced to the medieval Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath who has
a historic shrine in Gorkha.The word itself derived from Go-Raksha, raksha
becoming rakha. Rakhawala means protector and is derived from raksha as well.
The place name called Gorkha from where the battle originated in the making of
unified Nepal in leadership of The Great King Prithivi Narayan shah.
In 1815, the
British Army tried to conquer Nepal. But it was easily defeated by Nepal's
warriors: the Gurkhas. So the British officers decided that, if they couldn't
beat them, they'd get the Gurkhas to join them. A peace agreement ceased all
British conquest in Nepal, and the Gurkhas agreed to be recruited into the Crown's
military. The Gurkhas have fought in several wars, including both world wars
and the Falklands War.The Gurkhas have loyally fought for the British all over
the world, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses between them.Known as some of the most
skilled and fiercest warriors in the world, the Gurkhas have impressed (and
terrified) everyone around them."Better to die than be a coward" is
the motto of the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers who are an integral part
of the British Army.They still carry into battle their traditional weapon - an
18-inch long curved knife known as the kukri.In times past, it was said that
once a kukri was drawn in battle, it had to "taste blood" - if not,
its owner had to cut himself before returning it to its sheath.
Here are some of
the bravest soldiers and stories to ever come out of the Gurkha ranks.
1. Dip prasad Pun
In Afghanistan in
2010, Acting Sergeant Dipprasad Pun single-handedly fought off 30 Taliban
soldiers. As Pun was keeping guard on the roof of a checkpoint, the attackers
came at the complex from all sides with rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s.
It took less than
an hour for Pun to kill them all. He went through all of his ammo—400 rounds
and 17 grenades, as well as a mine that detonated—to defeat each attacker. When
he ran out of ammo, a Taliban soldier climbed up to the roof, only to be hit
with a machine-gun tripod that Pun threw at him.
Pun's valor was
rewarded with a Victoria Cross, the highest British military decoration awarded
for bravery.
2. Lachhman Gurung
Lachhiman Gurung is
one of the most famous Gurkhas of WWII, winning a battle against 200 Japanese
soldiers (with at least 31 confirmed kills by Gurung himself) despite Gurung
losing his right hand to a grenade and having all members of his squad killed. As
grenades flew in one after another, Gurung tried to throw each one back.
He was successful
with the first two, but the third exploded in his right hand. His fingers were
blown off and his face, body, and right arm and leg were badly wounded.
Gurung survived,
and was awarded with a Victoria Cross later that year.
3.Bhanubhakta Gurung
Bhanubhakta Gurung,
who fought against the Japanese in Burma in World War II, was awarded with a
Victoria Cross for capturing a bunker almost all by himself.
Starting in a platoon
of only 10 troops, Gurung came under heavy fire from machine guns, grenades,
mortars, and a sniper. Gurung shot the sniper out of a tree, and then charged
uphill alone. He threw grenades into a foxhole where enemies were shooting from
and took another three foxholes with his bayonet.
Far ahead of his
comrades, Gurung then charged the bunker with two smoke grenades and his kukri
knife, the famed curved blade of the Gurkhas. He defeated two Japanese soldiers
with the knife, and another one with a rock.
Gurung then held
off a counterattack with three other men at the bunker, this time using a
rifle.
4. Agansing Rai
In 1944, Agansing
Rai led a platoon of Gurkhas up a Burmese ridge in an open field against
machine guns and two anti-tank 37 mm guns. Despite suffering heavy casualties,
Rai and his men eliminated all the men at each 37 mm gun emplacement, one of
which was hidden in a nearby jungle. Rai was later awarded the Victoria Cross.
5. Ganju Lama
As gunfire flew
above his head in Burma, Rifleman Ganju Lama withstood a broken left wrist and
wounds to his right hand and leg to take on three Japanese tanks in World War
II. He crawled in the middle of the battlefield, destroyed each tank one-by-one
with anti-tank guns, and defeated the men fleeing from the tanks, allowing none
of them to escape. Lama was then taken to a hospital on a stretcher and would
earn a Victoria Cross.
6. Bishnu Shrestha
In 2011,
35-year-old retired Gurkha Bishnu Shrestha was riding a train in India when 40
robbers stopped the train and began stealing passengers' belongings. Still
carrying his kukri knife, the Gurkha took on the robbers, themselves armed with
knives, swords and pistols. Shrestha managed to kill three robbers and injure
eight others, which persuaded the other robbers to flee. The retired soldier
also saved another passenger from rape.
7. Gaje Ghale
In another battle
against the Japanese on the Burmese front in 1943, Sergeant Gaje Ghale was
assigned to take a position that the Gurkhas had twice failed to capture. He
led his platoon through heavy fire and suffered injuries in his leg, arm, and
torso. But disregarding the injuries, Ghale engaged in hand-to-hand combat with
his adversaries, taking the position. He then held off a counterattack with his
men before letting his wounds get cared for. Ghale was later awarded the
Victoria Cross.
Not everyone gets
to be one’s enemy’s favourite – but with Gorakha/Gurkha regiment, things were
different. On one hand they gave a tough fight to Germans during World War II
and on the other, won Adolf Hitler’s admiration for their fighting spirit.
"If I had
gurkhas, no armies in the world will defeat me. " -Adolf Hitler.
Famous Quotes about
Gurkhas Army
1. Professor Sir
Ralph Lilley Turner, MC, who served with the 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha
Rifles in the First World War, wrote of Gurkhas:
"As I write
these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn
and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you
greeted every hardship. Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your
fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now
scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and
thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the
smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave most generous of the generous,
never had country more faithful friends than you."
2. Marshal Sam
Manekshaw "If man says he is not afraid of dying, He is either lying or he
is a Gurkha."
3." If I had
gurkhas, no armies in the world will defeat me. " -Adolf Hitler.
4."If I had
gurkhas, I will eat americans alive." -Osama Bin Laden.
5. "In the
world there is only one place is secured that's when you are between the
Gurkhas." - Prince Charles.
6. One Pakistani
General said "If I had gurkhas on my side, I will have my dinner in New
Delhi".
7. Defeat is not a
word in their vocabulary."-John Conlin, Former Gurkha Commander
No comments:
Post a Comment