Gurkhas

The Gurkhas are members of the clan Rajput Khasi of the India of North who emigrated of the the Rajasthan towards the current territory of the Nepal, at the 16th century, driven out by the Moslems. Their language, the gurkhalî , an Indo-European dialect near to the Hindi , became the common language of the Nepal under the name of népalî or Nepalese.

Caption and history

Genesis of Gurkhas

According to the legend, during the 8th century, young prince Bappa Rawal, born prince Kalbhoj, founder of the dynasty of Mewar, would have discovered the warlike saint Gurû Gorkhanath - makes of it the philosopher Goraknâth or Gorakshanâtha (unspecified date between 10th and 14th centuries) - into deep Méditation, whereas it drove out with friends in the jungles of the the Rajasthan.

He then decides to remain near the saint and to protect it during his meditation. When this one returns in the world, it is touched by the devotion of the prince. It offers the scraping-knife Kukri to him, tells him that, henceforth, him and its men will be known in the whole world for their bravery and names them Gurkhas, i.e. disciples of Gorkhanath. It gives then as mission to Gurkhas of stopping the advance of the Moslem invaders who are seizing white India, i.e. of the Afghanistan (called Qandahār at that time) which is then a Hindu and Buddhist kingdom. They will fulfill this mission until the 8th century.

Certain legends claim that Bappa Rawal continued its campaigns until conquering then the Iran and the Iraq before withdrawing itself for a life of Ascèse to the foot of the Mont Meru.

In 1559, some of Gurkhas, descendants of Bappa Rawal, and led by their chief Dravya Shâh emigrate towards the east and cut out a small kingdom on the territory of current Nepal, to 80 km in the North-West of Katmandou, territory to which they give the name of Gorkha in the honor of their patron saint. In 1769, under the control of the mahârâja Prithivî Nârâyan Shâh, which reigns until in 1775, they seize the majority of the current territory of the Nepal, then directed by the Malla, and settle with Katmandou where they make Hindouisme the Religion of State.

In 1788, then in 1791, Gurkhas invade the Tibet and plunder the monastery of Tashilhunpo with Shigatse. In 1792, the Tibet request assistance of the China to demolish its invaders.

Gurkhas and the English conquest

Starting from 1814, they try to increase their territory in the south and are opposed to the interests English Compagnie of the Eastern Indies, which involves the war anglo-gurkha (1814 - 1816). Demolished, they sign the treaty of Saugali in November 1815, rebel again and are crushed with Makwanpur in 1816. During this war, the British if are impressed by their valiancy which they soon will recruit them regularly, with the permission of the Prime Minister of then, Shree Teen Maharajah Jung Bahadur Rana (father of the modern Nepal), like Mercenaire S organized in Régiment S of Gurkhas within the army of the company.

Gurkhas are then classified in two categories: Gurkhas Thâkur/Rajput, which is regarded as the original descendants of Gurkhas and which agree to be useful only as a Officier S and Gurkhas tibéto-Mongolian which agree to begin their career like privates. One of the first Thâkur/Rajput, the General Narendra Bir Singh, of the Gurkha Riffles , will become even the aide-de-camp of Mountbatten. After the independence of the the Indies, Gurkhas Thakur/Rajput refuse to serve in the British armed but authorize tibéto-Mongolian to with it to be been useful.

According to the international laws, Gurkhas integrated today in the British armed is not regarded commes mercenaries but as soldiers entirely integrated into this army, made up in a Brigade of Gurkhas, and subjected to the laws and payments which govern any British soldier. An equivalent system governs Gurkhas being useful in the Indian army.

Army of the English Company of the Eastern Indies

Gurkhas are used like troops under contract for the English Compagnie of the Eastern Indies during the war of the Pindarî as 1817, in Bhurtbore in 1826 and during the Guerres anglo-sikhs, (1845 - 1846) and (1848 - 1849).

During the Revolt of Cipayes, in 1857, Gurkhas fight at the side of the British and become part of the British army which is formed with its continuation. The 2nd Gurkha Rifles - or Sirmoor Riffles - defend the Hindu Rao House , a strategic position, during three months losing 327 of the 490 men who compose the regiment.

The men of the 60th Rifles (become later the Royal Green Jackets, who fought at the sides of the Sirmoor Rifles were impressed so much that at the conclusion of the mutiny, they asked that the 2nd Gurkhas be rewarded by adopting their distinctive green uniform for the fusiliers and that its men are called fusiliers instead of cipayes.

British army of the Indies

Revolt of Cipayes to the first world war, the regiments of Gurkhas is useful in Burma, in Afghanistan, in the North-eastern and North-western territories of the the Indies, with Malta during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877 - 1878, with Cyprus, in Malaysia, China (during the Révolte of the Boxers of 1900) and with the Tibet (during the forwarding of Francis Younghusband in 1903).

Between 1901 and 1906, the regiments of Gurkhas are renumbered of 1st to 11th and famous in Gurkha Rifles . Hundred thousand of them take part in the First World War, in France with Loos where the 8th Gurkhas combat until the last, Givenchy, New-Vault and Ypres; in Mésopotamie, Persian, on the Suez Canal and in Palestine (to retain the Turkish advance), with Gallipoli and Salonique. A detachment is used under the command of Lawrence as Arabia.

Between the two wars, Gurkhas took part in the third Afghan war in 1919 like in many campaigns on the north-western border, particularly with the Waziristan.

Starting from 1920, Gurkha can also receive a command of the King of the Indies , which makes it regard as a British Officier. Nevertheless, this fact was rather rare until the Second world war.

During the Second world war, the Nepalese crown authorizes the recruitment of twenty additional battalions, to reach a total of forty. Gurkhas fought then in Syria, in North Africa, Italy, Greece like against the Japanese with Singapore and in the Burmese Jungle . The 4th battalion of the 1st Gurkhas Rifles formed the core of the Chindits.

Units of Gurkhas between 1800 and 1946

1 {{er}} regiment of Gurkhas of the king Georges V ( The Malaun Regiment , created in 1815, integrated into the Indian Armed in 1947)
2 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the king Edouard VII ( The Sirmoor Riffles , created in 1815, integrated into the British Armed in 1948)
3 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the queen Alexandra (created in 1815, integrated into the Indian Armed in 1947)
4 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the prince of Wales (created in 1857, integrated into the Indian Armed in 1947)
5 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (of the frontier forces, created in 1858, integrated into the Indian Armed in 1947)
6th regiment of Gurkhas , famous 6 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the queen Elizabeth in 1959 (resulting with the 42e regiment from Gurkhas of the Legion Cuttack created in 1817, integrated into the British Armed in 1948)
7th regiment of Gurkhas , famous 7 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of duke of Edinburgh in 1959 (created in 1902, integrated into the British Armed in 1948)
8 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (resulting in 1903 with the 44e regiment from Gurkhas of the 16 {{E}} local battalion (Sylhet) created in 1824, integrated into the Indian Armed in 1947)
9 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (created in 1817, integrated into the Indian Armed in 1947)
10 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the princess Mary (created in 1890, integrated into British Army in 1948)
11 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1918-1922; recreated in 1947 after the independence of India)
14 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1942-1946)
25 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1942-1946)
26 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1943-1946)
29 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1943-1946)
38 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1943-1946)
42nd regiment of Gurkhas (resulting with the 6th regiment from Gurkhas of the Légion Cuttack created in 1817)
44 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (resulting in 1903 with the 8th regiment from Gurkhas of the 16 {{E}} local battalion (Sylhet) created in 1824)
56 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1943-1946)
710 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas (1943-1946)

Independence of the India (1947)

Equivalence of ranks between the Indian army and the British army

After the independence of the India (and its partition), in 1947, the fate of Gurkhas was regulated by a tripartite agreement between the India, the Nepal and the the United Kingdom. The principal goal of this agreement was to ensure Gurkhas being used the British Crown the same treatment and the same scale as wages as those remained in the Indian Armée. This scale, definitely lower than the standards of the British armed , was partially compensated by the cost of living and the granted facilities of housing. Nevertheless, the pension of retirement versed in Gurkhas was weaker for those having been used in the old colonial power for their return to the Nepal.

Pursuant to this agreement, six regiments of Gurkhas joined the Indian Armée and four others were transferred in the British armed .

With the great disappointment of their Officer S, the majority of Gurkhas with which one had left the choice between the service in the British armed or in the Indian Armée chose the latter. The reasons of this choice are very pragmatic and the fact that the Indian Armée continuous to be useful on a familiar territory under known conditions weighed much in this choice. The principal change was the replacement of the Officier S British by Officier S Indians.

The four Regiment S indicated to serve in the British armed , were to face, as for them, with a dubious situation, a removal (initial) in Malaysia, area where very little Gurkhas had then been useful. The four regiments (eight Battalion S) in service in the British armed were thus reduced to only one (either 2 battalions) whereas those in service in the Indian Armée were carried to 12 battalions.

Units of Gurkhas after 1947

Gurkhas of the British armed

2 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the king Edouard VII ( The Sirmoor Riffles )
6 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the queen Elizabeth
7 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the duke of Edimbourgh
10 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the princess Mary

They were gathered within the Brigade Gurkhas, initially stationed in Malaysia. Moved thereafter with Hong-Kong, they left the Asia at the time of the return of the island in the Chinese bosom in 1997.

Gurkhas of the Indian Armed

1 {{er}} regiment of Gurkhas of the king Georges V ( The Malaun Regiment )
3 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the queen Alexandra
4 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas of the prince de Galles
5 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas
8 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas
9 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas

Following independence, Gurkhas were famous Gorkhas. Moreover, one additional regiment, the 11 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas was raised. When the India became a République, in 1950, all the royal titles were removed.

Modern history of Gurkhas

Indian units

The 1st Bataillon of the 11 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas fought at the time of the Conflit of Kargil in 1999 in India.

In 1999, the 5th Bataillon of the 8 {{E}} regiment of Gurkhas belonged to the Indian quota of the Mission of the United Nations in Sierra Leone to protect the mines from diamond against the forces of the Front unified of release.

British units

In Malaysia, new units were created: sappers, transmitters, military police force and unit of transport inflated the rows of the Brigade gurkha.

In 1962, the 2nd Gurkha Rifles left Asia for the British garrison of Tidworth (in Wiltshire). The revolt indonésienne in 1963 saw the creation of the first unit of parachutists for Gurkhas (the Gurkha Independent Parachute Company ). This unit quickly became a unit commando employed with the Special Air Service . This unit was dissolved in 1972.

At the conclusion of the conflict, the units were redeployed with HongKong, where they were confined with missions of safety, in particular at the time of the events of the Chinese Cultural revolution.

In 1971, the 7th Duke off Edinburgh' S Gurkha Rifles was transferred in Great Britain (in Church Crookham in Hampshire). It then became the first unit of Gurkhas to ensure the guard of the Queen.

In 1974, the Turkey invades Cyprus and the 10th Gurkha Rifles was sent in order to ensure British sovereignty on the basis of Dhekelia. They remained on the spot as a gripping force of peace.

July 1st 1994, the four regiments were gathered in only one, the Royal Gurkha Rifles , and the three other bodies of specialists (the military police force had been dissolved in 1965), were reduced to the size of squadrons.

July 1st 1997, the British government reassigned Hong-Kong with the Popular republic of China and brigade gurkha cuts it was further decreased to be carried to 3400 men. All the remaining units were sent in Great Britain.

Gurkhas also took part in the conflict of the Guerre of the Falklands (with the 1st Battalion off the 7th ), with the Guerre of the Gulf, the operations of NATO to the Kosovo, like with the operations of maintenance of the peace of the the United Nations in Bosnia and with the Eastern Timor.

It were also engaged in Sierra Leone and are useful regularly in Iraq.

The Gurkha quota of Singapore

The Gurkha quota (or GC for Contingent Gurkha ) of the forces of Singaporean police force was formed on April 9th 1949 by the recruitment of Gurkhas, veterans of the British armed . It was created to replace a unit Sikh dissolved during the Second world war and formed integral part of the police force.

This unit, particularly well trained, devoted and disciplined is a unit of guard of reserve. In times of crisis, it can be deployed like forces impartial fast reaction. During turbulent years which followed independence, the unit discharged many tasks of maintenance of law and order during the riots. Gurkhas showed of a courage, a control of themselves and a professionalism which saved to them the respect of the population.

Since the events of September 11th 2001, the quota gurkha is sometimes seen patrolling in the streets, and to replace the local police officers to the guard of the key installations. Before the incident they seldom appeared in public.

Units of Gurkhas in the British armed in 2006

the The Royal Gurkha Riffles (RGR) composed of the

1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Riffles
2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Riffles

the Queen' S Gurkha Engineer (QGE) composed of:

69th Field Squadron
70th Support Squadron

these two squadrons belong to the 36 Engineer regiment

the Queen' S Gurkha Signals (QGS) composed of:

246th Gurkha Signal Squadron
250th Gurkha Signal Squadron

the Queen' S Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment composed of:

1st Transport Squadron
28th Transport Squadron
94th Blinds squadron

like several other units of less size:

company of troops of operation of the school of infantry of Brecon;
company of troops of operation of the center of drive of the infantry of Catterick;
company of troops of operation of the school of officers of Sandhurst;
Unit of instruction of the brigade Gurkha;
school of language of Catterick;
music of the brigade Gurkha.

General information

Distinctions and differences

At the time of colonization, and in opposition to the British officers which received their command of the king or the queen, the officers Gurkhas received theirs of the Vice King. At the conclusion of independence, for the regiments of Gurkhas which joined the British armed , the Gurkhas officers were called: Queen' S Gurkha Officer (or King' S Gurkha Officer QGO or KGO) in order to mark their difference. This distinction implied that they could not order from British soldiers. This does not have any more course today but name nevertheless is preserved under tradition and the Officier S gurkhas carry this inscription (QGO or KGO) on their badges of rank.

Whereas in theory in the British army a subject can claim to directly begin officer and to have thus a command, the equivalent is not setting for Gurkhas. It was of habit which Gurkha makes initially its evidence and climbs the ranks before its unit does not offer a command to him.

The treatment of Gurkhas and their families, in conformity with the tripartite agreement between the Great Britain, the India and the Nepal, was discussed many to the the United Kingdom following the revelation of the differences in wages between the British soldiers and their Nepalese counterparts.

In addition, the statute and the nationality of Gurkhas as well as their families are also a subject of discord. Indeed, under the terms of this agreement, the authorization to reside in Great Britain was not systematically given to these soldiers at the end of their time of service under the flags.

Nevertheless, since 2005, the equality of wages was established and, once of the retirement, Gurkhas can more easily require (and be seen allotting) a residence permit.

Decorations and rewards

The soldiers of the Gurkhas units gained 13 Victoria Cross . All these medals, excluded that of Rambahadur Limbu, were gained whereas the regiments Gurkhas still belonged to the army of the Indies. 13 Victoria Cross moreover were allotted to British officers being useful in these units. Since independence, Gurkhas in addition gained 3 Param Vir Chakras.

In addition, these soldiers are famous for their broad traditional Couteau bent called Kukri.

All Gurkhas, whatever their ethnic origin, speak the Nepalese, Langue of Indo-European origin . The Officier S British being useful within their units carry out all an as a preliminary training course at the school of languages anglo-Nepalese of Catterick in order to know the bases of this language. In the middle of the years 1980, a group népalophone originating in the west of the Bengal tried to organize a secession by creating the national Face of release of Gorkhaland. In 1988, they accepted a relative autonomy by creating the Gurkha High council of the Darjeeling.

Recruitment of Gurkhas

From an ethnic point of view, Gurkhas which currently serves in the British armed are types indo-tibéto-Mongolian and Aryan. Gurkhas of the Indo-Tibeto-Mongol type belong mainly to the groups Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Khasa and Kiranti. Good number of them are followers of the Buddhism Tibetan or the Chaman ism.

The tests of selection for incorporation take place once per annum, on the spot, in Nepal.

At the conclusion of the test, 230 candidates will join the British army; 77 others will take to their place in the quota gurkha police force of Singapore. A variable number will be recruited by the Indian army.

See too

External bonds

Gurkhas on the site of the British army
the museum of Gurkhas

References

Purushottam Sham Shere J B Rana, chief Historian off Nepal, Jung bahadur rana-Tea story off his small channel and glory , ISBN #: 81-7303-087-1
The Mewar Encylopedia , gathered, written and published by Ian Austin and Thakur Nahar Singh Jasol
* Goswami, C.G and M.N. Mathur, Mewar and Udaipur, Himnashu Publicaitons, Udaipur-New Delhi
Davenport, Hugh, The Trials and Triumphs off the Mewar Kingdom , Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur
Tod, Lieut. - Collar. James, published by William Crooke, C.I.E., Annals and Antiquities off the Rajasthan , 3 volumes, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, reprinted in 1994
Austin, Ian, Mewar- The World' S Longest Serving Dynasty , Roli Books, Delhi/The House off Mewar, 1999
Chauhan, Dr. Sumerendra Vir Singh (Direct Descending off Maharaj-Dhiraja Prithvi Naraya Shahdev and Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur), The Way off Sacrifice: The Rajputs , Pages 28-30, Graduate Thesis, South Asian Department Studies, Dr. Joseph T.O' Connell, Professor Emeritus, University off Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1996.

Simple: Gurkha

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