“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny
and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (/ˈɡɜːrkə, ˈɡʊər-/), with the endonym Gorkhali (Nepali: गोर्खाली [ɡorkʰali]), are soldiers native to the Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India. The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Nepali-Speaking Indian People and are recruited for the Nepali Army (96,000), Indian Army (42,000), British Army (4,010), Gurkha Contingent Singapore, Gurkha Reserve Unit Brunei, UN peacekeeping forces and in war zones around the world. Gurkhas are closely associated with the khukuri, a forward-curving knife, and have a reputation for military prowess. Former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once stated that: “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha.” Historically, the terms “Gurkha” and “Gorkhali” were synonymous with “Nepali”, which originates from the hill principality Gorkha Kingdom, from which the Kingdom of Nepal expanded under Prithvi Narayan Shah. The name may be traced to the medieval Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath who has a historic shrine in Gorkha District. The word itself derived from Go-Raksha (Nepali: गोरक्षा i.e., ‘Protector(रक्षा) of cows(गो’)), raksha becoming rakha (रखा). Rakhawala means ‘protector’ and is derived from raksha as well.
Indian Gorkhas are considered an Indian indigenous ethnic group found in multiple states in northeastern part of the country with a mixture of castes and ethno-tribe clans. The Gorkhali Parbatiya ethnic groups include the Khas-Parbatiyas such as Bahun (hillBrahmins), Chhetri (Khas), Thakuri, Badi, Kami, Damai, Sarki, Gandarbha, Kumal, etc. Other Tibeto-ethnic groups include Tamang, Gurung, Magar, Newar, Bhujel (Khawas), Sherpa and Thami. The Kirati people include Khambu (Rai), Limbu (Subba), Sunuwar (Mukhiya), Yakkha (Dewan), Dhimal, etc. Although each of them has its own language (belonging to the Tibeto-Burman languages or Indo-Aryan languages), the lingua franca among the Gorkhas is the Nepali language with its script in Devnagari. It is one of the official languages of India.
Looking at the history of Nepal, Gorkha is a historic place where the King Prithvi Narayan Shah was born, who ultimately unified Nepal as one. Apart from the historical importance of this place, Gorkha has developed as a trekking hub in these recent years. Apart from the glorious range of the beautiful Himalayas, rich biodiversity, varied topography, and distinctive culture and tradition, Nepal is known around the world as the home of brave legendary Gurkhas. And, the title of “brave Gurkhas” came from the Gorkha, as most of the soldiers during the wars were from Gorkha itself. Gorkha is the birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who conquered and joined the small states to make one large nation, as well as the home of legendary Gurkhas. Let us know more about this sensational place of Nepal.
Gurkha, also spelled as Gorkha or Gurka, hail from Nepal but they are also the inhabitants of northeast India. This clan has derived their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. His disciple Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj, founded the house of Mewar in Rajasthan (Rajputana). Later descendants of Bappa Rawal invaded further east and founded the house of Gorkha, which was later established as the Kingdom of Nepal. The word Gorkha is derived from the Prakrit words “go rakkha”, literally meaning “livestock-protector”. The clans of Gurkhas are best known for their history of gallantry and strength in the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas and the Indian Army’s Gorkha regiments. British officials designated the Gurkhas as a “Martial Race”. They were thought to be naturally warlike and hostile in battle, and were valourous, loyal, self competent, flexible, disciplined and have the ability to work hard for long periods of time. The British recruited heavily from these martial races for service in their army during their reign. The 11 communities are Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami, Yakka (Dewan) and Dhimal.
The 194th birth anniversary of great Gorkha poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya was celebrated in all major Gorkha inhabited places in Assam. News of celebration has poured in from Karbianlong in Talbalijan mini stadium, Sivsagarh at Sapekati, in Golaghat at Uriamghat, in Kokrajhar, in Goalpara at Fafal Dhudnoi all aegis of All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) the apex students’ body of Nepali speaking Gorkha community of Assam. Many organizations in various places of Assam has celebrated this Bahnu Jayanti with gaiety and happiness as a symbol of unity. Notably AAGSU have been demanding Bhanu Jayanti to be declared as State holiday though the Government has struck to its decision to keep it as a restricted holiday. Born in Greater Nepal in 1884 Bhanu Bhakta Acharya made Nepali language a common tongue to almost 61 Gorkha tribe before the Nepal monarch Prithivi Narayan Shaha had declared then Gorkha language now Nepali as a national and palace language. All the 61 Gorkha tribes preach their own culture, tradition and religion but communicate in a common tongue today due to the contribution of poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya who translated Ramayana in Nepali language. He has many literary works to his credit.
The Gurung (Tamu) are nomadic people who migrated to the Himalayas many centuries ago. Gurung (Tamu) is one of the main Gorkha Tribes located on the slopes of the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal and in the Hilly region of northern India (Darjeeling, Sikkim). They are full of people in Manang, Mustang, Kaski, Lamjung, Gorkha, Parbat and Syangja districts. The first village of Gurung in the southern Himalayas is believed to be Khhol, their highest base in the forests north of Larjung. It is also believed that Gurung (Tamu) from the Ethic movement moved to Tibet 2000 years ago. The name Gurung is derived from the Tibetan word ‘Grong’ meaning farmers. The name ‘Gurung’ is actually known as ‘Gu-Rewan’, which is a combination of two sounds — ‘Gu’ and ‘Rewan’. The word ‘Gu’ means nine according to the Tibetan language and ‘Rewan’ means Mountains and Hill. Thus the name ‘Gu-Rewang’ signifies people living in the vicinity of the mountains and the mountains. Gurung is also called Tamu in their own language which means actually Horse Man in the Tibetan language. But the Tamu word also symbolizes as Sky Thunder (Ta means Sky and Mu means Thunder).
The Gurung people, also called Tamu (“ཏམུ”), are an ethnic group from different parts of Nepal. They are one of the main Gurkha tribes. They are densely populated in Manang, Mustang, Kaski, Lamjung, Gorkha, Parbat and Syangja district. According to their legend, the Gurung were a wandering tribe that traversed west across Tibet prior to their entry into Mustang. Their Tibetan Sojourn pre-dates the introduction of Buddhism there in the 7th century as the Gurung religious traditions are basically animistic. They celebrate their feasts and festivals and carry out the ceremonies and practices related to worship, birth, death and marriage in accordance with the Bon and Buddhist religion. Losar is the main and biggest festival of Gurung, observed according to the ancient calendar of western Tibet. Priestly practitioners of the Gurung Dharma include Bon Lam (Lama), Ghyabri (Ghyabring) and Pachyu (Paju). Shamanistic elements among the Gurungs remain strong and most Gurungs often embrace Buddhist and Bön rituals in communal activities.
The Gorkha Kingdom (Nepali: गोरखा राज्य) was a member of the Chaubisi rajya, a confederation of 24 states on the Indian subcontinent ruled by the Khas people. In 1743 CE, the kingdom began a campaign of military expansion, annexing several neighbors and becoming present-day Nepal.[1] The Gorkha Kingdom extended to the Marshyangdi River in the west, forming its border with the Kingdom of Lamjung. To the east, the kingdom extended to the Trishuli River, forming its border with the Nepal Mandala. The Gorkha Kingdom was established in 1559 CE by Prince Dravya Shah, second son of King Yasho Brahma Shah of Lamjung. The prince replaced the Khadka chiefs who previously ruled the region.
“The Gorkhas are hill tribes and were designated so till the 1941 census. Sadly, after Independence, their designation was changed without any consultation with the community,” he added. “In due course of time, out of the 18 sub-tribes, seven were included as ST, while 11 are still left-out Gorkha sub-tribes who are awaiting their recognition as STs. This has been a historic injustice, and now it has been recognised by our party (the BJP).” The 11 tribes are Gurung, Mangar, Rai, Sunwar, Mukhia, Jogi, Thami, Yakha, Bahun, Chettri and Newar, which are also found in neighbouring Sikkim.
Indigenous Peoples Literature 