The history of the colonization of Asian and African countries by European powers is full of examples of heroic resistance of the indigenous population, national liberation movements. But at the same time, history knows no less vividly manifested courage of those inhabitants of distant southern lands who ultimately took the side of the colonialists and, due to national traditions that focused on impeccable loyalty to the "master", performed feats for the glory of English, French and others. European states.
Ultimately, it was from the representatives of the indigenous population of the territories conquered by the Europeans that numerous colonial troops and police units were formed. Many of them were used by the colonial powers on European fronts - in the Crimean War, the First and Second World Wars. It is noteworthy that some of the military formations that originated and gained fame in the era of colonial empires still exist. The former owners are in no hurry to abandon the warriors who have proven themselves fearless and loyal, both in numerous military conflicts and in peacetime. Moreover, in the conditions of modern society, which is shifting to a greater extent to local conflicts, the relevance of using such formations is noticeably increasing.
The famous British Gurkhas are among the classic legacies of the colonial era. The history of the Gurkha units in the British army began in the first half of the 19th century. It was during this period that Great Britain, gradually conquering the numerous feudal possessions of Hindustan, faced the warlike Nepalese highlanders. By the time of the British conquest of India, the kingdom of Nepal located in the Himalayan mountains was ruled by the Shah dynasty, originating from the kingdom of Gorkha, whose territory is now part of the Nepalese state. In the Middle Ages, the land of Gorkha was inhabited by the people of the same name, who appeared in the Himalayas after the resettlement from Rajputana - an arid region in Western India (now the state of Rajasthan), which was considered the cradle of the Rajputs, a military class known for its courage and valor.
In 1769, Prithvi Narayan Shah, who ruled the kingdom of Gorkha, conquered Nepal. During the heyday of the Gorkha dynasty, its influence spread to the surrounding lands, including Sikkim and parts of West Bengal. When British forces attempted to conquer Nepal by subjugating it to the colonial administration, they faced fierce resistance from the Gorkha army. From 1814 to 1816 the Anglo-Nepalese war lasted, in which brave Nepalese kshatriyas and warriors from the mountain tribes of the Gorkha kingdom fought against the colonial troops of British India.
Initially, the soldiers of Gorkha managed to defeat the British troops, but by 1815 the numerical superiority of the British (30 thousand soldiers and officers) over the 12 thousand Nepalese army and, in particular, the obvious military-technical superiority, did their job and the turning point in the war did not come in the benefit of the Himalayan monarchy. The peace treaty meant for the Gorkha kingdom not only the loss of a number of important territories, including Kumaon and Sikkim, but also the placement of a British resident in the capital of the kingdom, Kathmandu. From that time on, Nepal became a de facto vassal of the British crown, although it did not formally become a colony. It should be noted that until the twentieth century, Nepal continued to be called Gorkha.
Having paid attention to the excellent military qualities of the soldiers of the Gorkha army during the years of the Anglo-Nepalese war, British military leaders were puzzled with the goal of attracting the natives of Nepal to serve the interests of the empire. One of the first to suggest this idea was William Fraser, on whose initiative 5,000 people were admitted to the British East India Company in 1815 - representatives of both the Gurkha ethnic group itself and other peoples of mountainous Nepal. This is how the first units of Nepalese soldiers appeared as part of the colonial army. In honor of the kingdom of Gorkha, its natives, attracted to the British service, received the name "Gurkha". Under this name, they continue to serve in the British army to this day.
Throughout the 19th century, the Gurkhas were repeatedly used in the colonial wars waged by the British Empire on the territory of the Indian subcontinent and in the nearby regions of Central Asia and Indochina. Initially, the Gurkhas were included in the troops of the East India Company, in whose service they distinguished themselves in the first and second Anglo-Sikh wars. After the Gurkhas supported the British in 1857, taking an active part in suppressing the uprising of the sepoys - soldiers and non-commissioned officers of the colonial army, the Gurkha units were officially included in the army of British India.
The Gurkha units during this period were recruited by recruiters from the mountainous regions of Nepal. Toughened by the harsh conditions of life in the mountains, the Nepalese were believed to be ideal soldiers for service in the British colonies. Gurkha soldiers are part of the army contingents on the borders of British India with Afghanistan, in Burma, in Malacca, in China. Somewhat later, Gurkha units began to be deployed not only in East and South Asia, but also in Europe and the Middle East.
The need for an increase in the number of Gurkha troops is also gradually growing. So, by 1905, 10 rifle regiments were formed from the Nepalese Gurkhas. As it turned out, it was very prudent. When the First World War began in 1914, 200 thousand Gurkhas fought on the side of the British crown. On the fronts of the First World War, far from the Himalayan mountains in Europe and Mesopotamia, more than twenty thousand Nepalese soldiers were killed. Two thousand servicemen - Gurkhas received military awards of the British crown. The British tried to use Nepalese units primarily in Asia and Africa. So, in the First World War, the Gurkhas "came in handy" in Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Cyprus, almost at the same time - in Afghanistan, where in 1919 the third Anglo-Afghan war broke out. During the interwar period, Gurkha units were on guard duty on the troubled Indian-Afghan border, regularly engaging in armed clashes with warlike Pashtun tribes.
Britain took part in the Second World War, having 55 battalions in its army, manned by 250 thousand gurkhks. These were 40 Gurkha battalions as part of the British army, 8 Gurkha battalions as part of the Nepalese army, as well as five training battalions and auxiliary units of engineering troops, military police and home front protection. The combat losses of the Gurkha on the fronts of the Second World War amounted to more than 32 thousand people. 2734 servicemen were awarded for military valor with military awards.
Himalayan soldiers distinguished themselves in battles in Burma, Singapore, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. The courage of the Gurkhas terrified even the seasoned soldiers and officers of the Wehrmacht. So, the Germans were amazed at the fearlessness of the Nepalese, going to their full height on machine guns. Despite the fact that the losses in such an attack the Gurkhas suffered colossal, they managed to get to the enemy trenches and use the Khukri …
Khukri is a traditional Nepali dagger. In Nepal, this reverse-curved knife is revered as sacred and is considered a weapon bestowed by the god Shiva, the patron saint of warriors. The knife is also believed to represent the Sun and the Moon. For the Gurkhas, Khukri is an obligatory weapon, which they do not part with even in modern conditions, being armed with the latest types of firearms. Khukri is worn in a wooden sheath, which is covered with buffalo leather on top and trimmed with metal components. By the way, the ominous Kali, the goddess of destruction, is considered the patroness of the Gurkhas. In the Shaiva tradition, she is considered the dark hypostasis of Parvati, the wife of Shiva. The battle cry of the Gurkha units, throwing the enemy into awe, for two centuries sounds like "Jaya Mahakali" - "Glory to the Great Kali".
In the military units of the Gurkha during the colonial period, there was a system of their own military ranks, not identical to the British. Moreover, the Gurkha officer could only command units of his fellow tribesmen and was not considered equal to an officer of the British army in the same military rank. In the Gurkha units, the following ranks were established, bearing traditional Indian names: Subedar Major (Major), Subedar (Captain), Jemadar (Lieutenant), Regimental Hawildar Major (Chief Petty Officer), Hawildar Major (Petty Officer), Quartermaster Hawildar (Senior Sergeant), havildar (sergeant), naik (corporal), lance naik (lance corporal), marksman. That is, a soldier from among the Gurkha could only rise to the rank of major in the British colonial army. All officers in higher military ranks serving in the Gurkha units were British.
After World War II, in 1947, British India achieved independence. On the territory of the former "granary" of the colonial empire, two states were formed at once - India and Pakistan. In the first, the bulk of the population was made up of Hindus, in the second - Sunni Muslims. The question arose between India and Great Britain about how to divide the legacy of the colonial era, which, of course, included the armed units of the former colonial army, including the Gurkhas. It is known that most of the Gurkha soldiers, when they were offered the choice between serving in the British army and moving to the emerging armed forces of India, chose the latter.
Most likely, the Gurkhas were guided not so much by considerations of material benefits, since they paid better in the British army, but by territorial proximity to their native places and the possibility of continuing to serve in those places where they were previously stationed. As a result, it was decided that out of 10 Gurkha rifle regiments, six would go to the newly formed Indian army, and four would remain in the British armed forces, forming a special Gurkha brigade.
As Great Britain gradually abandoned the status of a colonial power and left the colonies, the Gurkha military formations remaining in the British army were transferred to a two-battalion structure. In turn, India, constantly ready for war with Pakistan, in a state of protracted conflict with China and fighting in almost all states with separatist and Maoist rebel groups, increased the Gurkha contingent, forming 39 battalions. Currently, the Indian service consists of more than 100 thousand military personnel - Gurkha.
In the modern British army, the Gurkhas form a separate Gurkha brigade, numbering 3,500 troops. First of all, these are two light infantry battalions. The difference between light infantry is that the units have no armored vehicles. Gurkhas of infantry battalions also undergo a parachute training course, that is, they can be used as an airborne assault force. In addition to the light infantry battalions, which form the backbone of the Gurkha brigade, it includes auxiliary units - two engineering squadrons, three communications squadrons, a transport regiment, as well as two parade half-platoons, acting as a company of the guard of honor, and a military band. In Great Britain, the Gurkhas are stationed in Church Crookham, in Hampshire.
The Gurkhas took part in almost all military conflicts, in which Great Britain also participated after the Second World War. So, the Nepalese arrows distinguished themselves during the short Anglo-Argentine war for the Falkland Islands, were present on the island of Kalimantan during the conflict with Indonesia. The Gurkhas also took part in peacekeeping missions in East Timor and on the territory of the African continent, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2001, the Gurkhas have been deployed in Afghanistan as part of the British contingent. As part of the Indian army, the Gurkhas participated in all the Indo-Pakistani wars, the 1962 war with China, police operations against separatists, including helping the government forces of Sri Lanka in the fight against the Tamil tigers.
In addition to India and Great Britain, units staffed by Gurkhas are actively used in a number of other states, primarily in the former British colonies. In Singapore, since 1949, the Gurkha contingent has been deployed as part of the Singapore police, before which the British, deploying it in this state, then still a former colony of Great Britain, set the task of anti-partisan struggle. Jungle of Malacca since 1940s became the haven of guerrillas led by the Maoist Communist Party of Malaysia. Since the party was under the influence of China and its leadership was largely staffed by the Chinese, the British feared the growth of Chinese influence in Malaysia and neighboring Singapore and the coming to power of the Communists in the Malacca Peninsula. The Gurkhas, who had previously served in the British colonial army, were transferred to Singapore and enlisted in the local police to replace the Sikhs, another militant people of Hindustan who also served the British crown in many colonial possessions.
The history of the Singaporean Gurkhas began with a figure of 142 soldiers, and currently there are two thousand Gurkhas serving in the city-state. The divisions of the Gurkha contingent are responsible for the personal protection of the Prime Minister of Singapore and his family members, the country's most important government institutions - ministries and departments, banks, and major companies. Also, the Gurkhas are entrusted with the tasks of fighting street riots, patrolling the city, that is, police functions with which professional soldiers also successfully cope. It is noteworthy that the command of the Gurkhas is carried out by British officers.
In addition to Singapore, the Gurkhas perform military, police and security functions in Brunei. Five hundred Gurkha, formerly serving in the British army or the Singapore police, serve the Sultan of Brunei after retirement, seeing their stay in this small state on the island of Kalimantan as a continuation of their military career. In addition, a 1,600-strong Gurkha contingent was traditionally stationed in Hong Kong until its annexation to the People's Republic of China. Currently, many former Gurkhas continue to serve in private security structures in Hong Kong. In Malaysia, after independence, the Gurkhas and their descendants continued to serve in the Royal Ranger Regiment, as well as in private security firms. Finally, the Gurkhas are also used by the Americans as a mercenary guard at a US naval base in the small state of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf.
In the armed forces of Nepal, two light infantry battalions continue to be called Gurkha battalions. These are Sri Purano Gurkha battalion and Sri Naya Gurkha battalion. Before the overthrow of the Nepalese monarchy by the Maoist rebels, they served as palace guards and also served in the Nepalese contingent of the United Nations peacekeeping force.
It should be noted that the system of recruiting the Gurkha units has practically not changed over a century and a half. Gurkhas are still being recruited in Nepal. Mainly people from the backward mountainous regions of this Himalayan state are enrolled in military service - peasant children, for whom military service becomes almost the only chance to "break out into the people", or rather, to receive very decent money by Nepalese standards, and by the end of service to count not only on a large pension, but also on the prospect of obtaining British citizenship.
The ethnic composition of the Gurkhas is very diverse. Let's not forget that Nepal is a multinational state. At the same time, there are two ethnic groups that are traditionally given priority in recruiting soldiers - the Gurkha - these are the Gurungs and the Magars. Gurungs live in central Nepal - in the mountainous regions that were formerly part of the Gorkha kingdom. This people speaks the Gurung language of the Tibeto-Burmese language family and profess Buddhism (over 69%) and Hinduism (28%), strongly influenced by the traditional shamanistic beliefs "Gurung Dharma", close to the Tibetan religion Bon.
For a long time, the Gurungs were recruited for military service - first in the troops of the kingdom of Gorkha, and then in the British colonial army. Therefore, military service among the gurungs has always been considered prestigious and many young people are still striving to get into it. The competition for 200 places in the Pokhara training center, which is located in the same place, in central Nepal, in the immediate vicinity of the areas of compact residence of gurungs, has 28 thousand people. The overwhelming majority of applicants do not pass the entrance tests. However, in case of failure in the exam, they have a chance, instead of serving in the British units of the Gurkha, to go to the Indian border troops.
The two million Magar people, who make up more than 7% of the population of modern Nepal, play an even greater role in the recruitment of the Gurkha. Unlike the gurungs, more than 74% of the Magars are Hindus, the rest are Buddhists. But, like other mountainous Nepalese peoples, the Magars retain a strong influence of both the Tibetan Bon religion and the more archaic shamanistic beliefs, which, according to some experts, were brought by them during the migration from southern Siberia.
The Magars are considered excellent warriors, and even the conqueror of Nepal from the Gorkha dynasty, Prithvi Narayan Shah, proudly took the title of King of Magar. Natives of the province of Magar since the 19th century enrolled in the Gurkha units of the British army. Currently, they constitute the bulk of the Gurkha military personnel outside Nepal. Many Magars distinguished themselves in military service during the First and Second World Wars. Five Magars received the Victoria Cross for service in Europe, North Africa and Burma (in World War I - one cross for service in France, one for Egypt, in World War II - one cross for Tunisia and two for Burma). For the modern Magar, a military career seems to be the most desirable, but those who have not passed strict selection into British units have to limit themselves to serving in the Nepalese army or police.
Finally, in addition to the Magars and Gurungs, among the military personnel of the Gurkha units, a significant percentage are representatives of other mountainous Nepalese peoples - rai, limbu, tamangi, also known for their unpretentiousness and good military qualities. At the same time, in the Gurkha units, in addition to the Mongoloid mountaineers, representatives of the military caste of Chkhetri - Nepalese Kshatriyas traditionally serve.
Currently, one of the main tasks of the Gurkhas serving in the British army is the liberalization of service regulations. In particular, the Gurkhas are trying to ensure that they receive all the benefits related to other members of the British army. Indeed, in order to count on a pension and other social benefits, a Gurkha must serve under a contract for at least 15 years. At the same time, after completing his service, he returns to his homeland in Nepal, where he receives a military pension of 450 pounds - for the Nepalese this is a lot of money, especially if they are paid regularly, but for the British military, as we understand it, this is a very modest amount. Only in 2007, after numerous protests of Gurkha veterans in defense of their rights, the British government agreed to provide Nepalese soldiers with the same benefits and benefits as British citizens who served in the armed forces for a similar time and in similar positions.
The overthrow of the monarchy in Nepal could not but affect the recruitment of Gurkha soldiers. The Maoist Communist Party, whose activists also include representatives of mountain peoples - in particular, the very same Magars from whom the Gurkha traditionally recruited - argues that recruiting mercenaries from among the citizens of Nepal for the purpose of using them in military conflicts on the side of foreign powers is a shame country and humiliates its population. Therefore, the Maoists advocate an early end to the recruitment of Gurkhas into the British and Indian armies.
Thus, completing the story of the Gurkhas, the following conclusions can be drawn. Undoubtedly, brave and skillful warriors from the mountainous regions of Nepal deserve full respect for their military prowess and specific ideas of duty and honor, which, in particular, do not allow them to kill or injure a surrendered enemy. However, it should be remembered that the Gurkhas are only mercenaries used by the British as cheap and reliable "cannon fodder". Where no money can lure an English contractor, you can always send an executive, trusting, but fearless Asian.
More recently, during the period of mass proclamation of the former British colonies as sovereign states, it could be assumed that the Gurkhas were a dying military unit, a relic of the colonial era, the final end of which would come in parallel with the final collapse of the British Empire. But the specifics of the development of modern Western society, cultivating the values of consumerism and individual comfort, testifies that the time of the Gurkha and other similar connections is just beginning. It is better to rake in the heat in local military conflicts with someone else's hands, especially if these are the hands of representatives of a completely different racial and ethnocultural community. At least, the dead Gurkhas will not cause significant indignation of the European public, which prefers that the wars "for democracy" go somewhere far away, "on TV", and does not want to see their young fellow citizens perishing on the fronts of another Iraq or Afghanistan.
The decline in the birth rate in the countries of Western Europe, including in the same Great Britain, already today raises the question of who will defend the interests of European states in military conflicts. If as workers of low-skilled and low-paid labor in construction, in the field of transport and trade, housing and communal services, one can increasingly see migrants from Asian and African states, then sooner or later the armed forces will expect a similar prospect. There is no doubt about it. So far, English society still retains a certain mobilization potential, and even the princes of the crown set an example for other young Anglo-Saxons, going to serve in the units of the active army.
However, it is easy to predict that in the foreseeable future the number of potential military personnel among the representatives of the indigenous population of the UK will only decline. The country will face an inevitable prospect - either to accept for military service representatives of the lumpenized urban environment, for the most part - the second and third generations of migrants from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and African countries, or to continue the old colonial traditions of using pre-prepared military units. manned by the natives. Of course, the second option appears to be more profitable, if only because it has been repeatedly tested in the past. It is hard to deny that the units, staffed according to the principle of ethnicity, will turn out to be more combat-ready than the dubious conglomerate of urban outcasts - yesterday's migrants. The long-standing practice of using indigenous military units can turn into an urgent need. All the more, if we take into account that combat operations have to be conducted, for the most part, in the countries of the “third world”, which in itself pushes European countries to the historical experience of using colonial troops, “foreign legions” and other similar formations that have little contact with society of the "metropolises" of Europe.
