Who Are Nepal’s Gurkhas?

भिडियो हेर्न तलको चित्रलाई हटाउनुहोस

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.Now, the Gurkhas say, it is used mainly for cooking.
The potential of these warriors was first realised by the British at the height of their empire-building in the last century.The Victorians identified them as a “martial race”, perceiving in them particularly masculine qualities of toughness.
Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had a country more faithful friends than you
Sir Ralph Turner MC, 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles, 1931After suffering heavy casualties in the invasion of Nepal, the British East India Company signed a hasty peace deal in 1815, which also allowed it to recruit from the ranks of the former enemy.
Following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India and Britain meant four Gurkha regiments from the Indian army were transferred to the British Army, eventually becoming the Gurkha Brigade.
Since then, the Gurkhas have loyally fought for the British all over the world, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses between them.More than 200,000 fought in the two world wars, and in the past 50 years they have served in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo and now in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They serve in a variety of roles, mainly in the infantry but with significant numbers of engineers, logisticians and signals specialists.The name “Gurkha” comes from the hill town of Gorkha from which the Nepalese kingdom had expanded.