The Gurkhas or Gorkhas the actual soldiers of Nepalese nationality [1] [2] recruited in British Army, Indian Army, Gurkha Contingent Singapore, Gurkha Reserve Unit Brunei, UN Peace Keeping force and war zones around the world. Historically, the terms “Gurkha” and “Gorkhali” were symbolic of “Pahari”,[3] and derived from hill town and district of Gorkha from how the Kingdom of Nepal expanded under Prithivi Narayan Shah which subsequently also end result in formation of Gorkhaland and Indian Gorkha ethnic group in India.[4][5] The name may be traced to your medieval Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath[6] who has a historic shrine in Gorkha.[7] The word itself resulting from Go-Raksha, raksha becoming rakha. Rakhawala means protector and is also derived from raksha also.
Ethnically, Chhetri or Khas , Thakuri, Gurung and Magar mainly were the Gorkha tribes who united erstwhile Gorkha kingdom and fought with the British invasions. But today, Gorkha soldiers mostly belong to the Gurung, Magar, Rai, Limbu and Sunuwar, in addition handful of Chhetri; there is no ethnicity based restriction to attend. There are Gurkha military units associated with Nepalese, British and the Indian army enlisted in Nepal, English and India. Although they meet many within the requirements of Article 47[8] of Protocol I of your Geneva Conventions regarding mercenaries, they are exempt under clauses 47(e)&(f) similar to your French Foreign Legion.[9]
Gurkhas are closely linked to the khukuri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife, and also have a well known reputation for fearless military prowess. Ad units Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, once stated that[10] “If one says he is not afraid of dying, herrrs either lying or might be a Gurkha.”
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