Gurkha, also spelled as Gorkha or Ghurka (Nepali: गोर्खा), are people from Nepal and northern India[1] who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath.[2] His disciple Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj/Prince Shailadhish, founded the house of Mewar,Rajasthan (Rajputana). Later descendants of Bappa Rawal moved further east to found the house of Gorkha, which in turn founded the Kingdom of Nepal.[2] Gorkha District is one of the 75 districts of modern Nepal.
Gurkhas are best known for their history of bravery and strength in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments and theBritish Army's Brigade of Gurkhas. The Gurkhas were designated by British officials as a "Martial Race". "Martial Race" was a designation created by officials of British Indiato describe "races" (peoples) that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and to possess qualities of courage, loyalty, self sufficiency, physical strength, resilience, orderliness, the ability to work hard for long periods of time, fighting tenacity and military strategy. The British recruited heavily from these Martial Races for service in the British Indian Army.[3]
Former Chief of staff of the Indian Army, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once famously said about Gurkhas:
| " | If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha. | " |
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