Gurkhas / Gorkhas in indian army

Indian Gorkhas or Bharatiya Gorkhas (Nepali: भारतीय गोर्खा) have history of courage in the battle field, evident from the gallantry awards won by Gorkha soldiers and battle honours awarded to Gorkha both before and after joining the Indian Army. Infact India has the third largest army in the whole world and Gorkhas play an eminent part on this.

Indian Army Gorkha Rifles Infantry regiment
Gorkhas in indian army

India has a lot of Gurkha Regiments seven Gorkha Rifles (Ist, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th). Mostly Gurkhas in India join the Indian army. The Gurkhas are crazy and fearless fighters

History of origin
the independence of India in 1947, six (1 GR, 3 GR, 4 GR, 5 GR, 8 GR and 9 GR) regiments of the Royal Gurkha Rifles joined the Indian Army.  After India became a republic, the Royal titles were dropped from the regiments that joined the Indian Army in 1950. Indian Army made the decision to raise the 11 Gorkha Rifles. Since independence, the Gorkhas have fought in every major campaign involving the Indian Army being awarded numerous battle and theatre honours.

Besides  fighting in the major wars, the Gorkhas have served in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, at the Siachen Glacier and in the UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Sierra Leone . In October 2011, the 4/9 GR won the gold medal in the annual Cambrian Patrol Competition held in Wales, UK.

Composition:
Currently there are 39 battalions serving in 7 Gorkha regiments in the Indian Army. Six regiments were transferred from the British Indian Army, while one was formed after independence;
1 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 1st King George V’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)).
3 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles).
4 Gorkha Rifles 5 battalions (previously 4th Prince of Wales’s Own Gurkha Rifles).
5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) 6 battalions (previously 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)).
8 Gorkha Rifles 6 battalions.
9 Gorkha Rifles 6 battalions.
11 Gorkha Rifles 7 battalions and one TA battalion (107 Inf Bn (11GR) (raised after the independence of India).

Awards and Gallantry:
Gorkha regiments have won many gallantry awards like the Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra . The 8 Gorkha Rifles, has the unique distinction of producing one of the two Field Marshals of the Indian Army, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and is still revered as one of its finest officers.

Gorkhas still carry ‘Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali’ in battle field with their traditional weapon —an 18-inch long wickedly curved, broadbladed heavy knife known as the khukri. It is said once a khukri was drawn in battle , it had to ‘taste blood’ . If it did not, its owner had to cut himself before returning it to its sheath.

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