Posted on 02/01/2011 3:27:02 PM PST by ventanax5
Whoa...holy cow! Every once in a while someone in the world comes along and reminds us what a true hero really looks like. A 35 year-old Gurkha soldier named Bishnu Shrestha was riding a train when he suddenly found himself in the middle of a massive robbery. 40 men armed with knives, swords and guns stormed the train and began robbing the passengers.
Bishnu kept his peace while the gang snatched cell phones, jewelry and cash from other riders. But then, the thugs grabbed the 18 year-old girl sitting next to him and forcefully stripped her naked. Before the bandits could rape the poor girl in front of her helpless parents, Bishnu decided he had enough.
“The girl cried for help, saying ´You are a soldier, please save a sister´,” Shrestha recalled. “I prevented her from being raped, thinking of her as my own sister.”
(Excerpt) Read more at logiccool.com ...
Was the victim selling jelly?
I think in the near future - the Europeans should hire a few hundred Gurkahs to act as immigration officers. Off Muslims $100 and a bus and boat ticket home. If they do not want to leave then let the Gurkahs can deal with the problem.
Bishnu Shrestha, a brave Gurkha soldier in the Indian Army who defeated 40 train robbers while returning home after voluntary retirement, is going to be awarded with the Sourya Chakra bravery award and the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha medals, during the Indian Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
They are also fiercely loyal and true to their word. They still believe in honor.
It may have been 40 that stormed the train, and six or seven in his car involved in the attempted rape.
???
And they know HOW to use them.
It makes my heart sing to know there are still men like this on the face of this earth.
It’s ‘The Brave Little Tailor’...Turn your tv off and read a book once in awhile. :-P
Gurkhas are absolutely not to be trifled with. Fearless, loyal and tough as nails.
Back in the day when Hong Kong was still British, the Ghurkas would always win the yearly “Trailwalker” - a 100 km race for a 4 person team, across the mountains and valleys of Hong Kong’s New Territories. The one year I raced (our team didn’t finish), one of the Ghurka teams won with a time of <36 hours.
My father’s light machine gun company was attached to the Canadian 5th Armoured Division, which was part of the British 8th Army in Italy in 1944, when it broke through the Germam lines southwest of Monte Cassino and opened the road to Rome. There was a Gurkha unit fighting with the Canadians. Dad said they weren’t much for open combat, but were deadly night fighters because of their stealth and skill with knives. They terrorized German sentries.
Now if only General Clark had cut off the retreating Germans instead of diverting the Anzio breakout to Rome for purposes of personal vanity, the Italy campaign would have ended 6 months earlier and saved another 200,000 Allied casualties (not to mention free up hundreds of thousands of Allied troops to help clear the Germans out of France more quickly). Alas, that is a story for a different thread.
God bless him!!!
That said:
After 200 years, UK army set to axe Gurkha Regiment
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2579861/posts
LONDON: The world-famous Gurkha Regiment, part of the British army for almost 200 years, may be among those axed unless the ministry of defence’s demands for more money to fund the replacement of Trident nuclear missile submarines are answered.
Last night, hopes for extra funding were fading as chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander rejected demands for extra money from Tory defence secretary Liam Fox and insisted the £20 billion cost of replacing Trident had to be met fully by the MoD, The Observer reported.
Quoting an expert, the report said the increasing costs of running the regiment following actress Joanna Lumley’s high-profile campaign last year to improve their rights, added to the sense that the “writing is on the wall” for the Brigade of Gurkhas, which has 3,640 members.
The Gurkhas have been an integral part of the army since 1815, when the British East India Company signed a peace deal allowing it to recruit Nepalese soldiers.
Legends of Gurkha Bravery
Gurkhas’ Reputation for Bravery Precedes Them
It was a series of bloody conflicts fought in the great hill ranges of northeastern India in the early 19th century that saw big battle losses and grudging admiration on both sides for their respective foes.
Since 1812, the British East India Company, rapidly gaining ground across the subcontinent and eager to tame the tribes along the Himalayan foothills, had fought a series of battles against the fierce Nepali tribes.
But in 1816, the Nepali defense of the hill fortress of Kalunga in the Himalayan foothills so impressed the British that in the terms of a peace treaty signed with Nepali King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the British shrewdly included a clause under which the Gurkhas could serve in the East India Company’s army.
That was the start of a long, illustrious military alliance between the British and the Gurkhas, a term loosely used to describe men of Nepal who serve as soldiers in the armies of Nepal, India or Britain.
Drawn mostly from the Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu and Sunwar hill tribes — tribes the British considered fit fighters — the term “Gurkha” is an Anglicization of the Gorkha district, the birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who is considered the father of modern Nepal.
Ayo Gurkhali!
With their battle cry “Ayo Gurkhali!” — “Here come the Gurkhas!” — the hardy Nepali hillsmen gained such a reputation as fighters that stories of enemies fleeing their positions upon hearing rumors of their advance abound.
During the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857, when local Muslim sepoys revolted against their British officers, a rumor running through the northern Indian town of Simla that the Gurkhas had joined the sepoys so frightened the resident British that they panicked and fled the town, some men even abandoning their wives and children.
But the Gurkhas stayed loyal to the British and did not join the mutinying sepoys, passing their first test of loyalty.
Many years later, after Argentina’s surrender to Britain in the 1982 Falklands War, Argentine troops told reporters that rumors of the Gurkhas slitting the throats of 40 Argentine soldiers in single strokes and of Gurkhas jumping into enemy foxholes with live grenades gave them the jitters and seriously shattered their morale.
It’s hard to tell where the legends of Gurkha ferocity spring from and how much of it is true. Many of their deeds have been recorded in official military dispatches, but many more have been gleaned from diaries of British officers through the centuries, and historians argue that many of these entries may have been liberally embellished.
Blood Thirst of the Blade
Certainly the most pervasive myth of Gurkha ferocity fans from their famed wielding of the kukri, or the curved Himalayan knife.
Legend has it that once a Gurkha unsheathes his kukri, he must draw blood with it. When a Gurkha unsheathes his weapon in a noncombative situation, he must then nick himself to satisfy the “blood thirst” of the blade.
With a motto that says, “Kaphar hunnu bhanda marnu ramro” — “Better dead than live like a coward” — Gurkhas are known to be brutal in battle, but they can also be charming and delightfully childish in peace.
During their World War I operations in the Arabian Peninsula, British officers recorded the Gurkhas’ delight when they encountered the sea and camels for the first time.
When a Mule Kicks a Gurkha
Stories of the toughness of Gurkha skulls also do the rounds, with one story going so far as to claim that if a mule kicks a Gurkha’s head, the Gurkha may suffer a headache, but the mule will certainly go lame.
But among all the legends surrounding the Gurkhas, the ones that have the greatest ring of truth are stories of the Nepali fighters’ discipline and literal performance of orders from military superiors.
One particular diary entry talks about how an Indian army doctor once went up to a British officer and told him that a wounded Gurkha would surely die unless he displayed some “will to live.”
The officer, the story goes, stormed into the hospital room and barked the order: “Live!” The wounded Gurkha obeyed.
I remember a show, probably on “The History Channel” about how the British first ran into the Gurkhas.
When the British met them they were really impressed by their fighting spirit. On the other hand, the Gurkhas were also impressed by the British men’s fighting ability. Great Britain did not create a vast empire because they were wimps.
Dad was in the 5th Army (forward artillery observer) in Italy.
He did comment to me once that if you requested to see their weapon, they would oblige but always drew blood (their own)
The Gurkha equivalent of “One riot, one Texas Ranger”
http://www.khukuriimports.co.nz/description.htm
Definition of the khukuri or kukri knife:
A mid-length curved knife comprising a distinctive "Cho" that is the national knife and icon of Nepal. The traditional utility knife of Nepalese. A formidable and effective weapon of the Gurkhas. An exquisite piece of craftsmanship that symbolises pride and valour which also represents the country and it’s culture. Believed to have existed 2500 years ago. Kopi is the probable source of the khukuri that was used by Greeks in the 4th Century BC. However, khukuri came into limelight only in and particularly after the Nepal War in 1814-15 after the formation of British Gurkha Army. Carried in a leather scabbard, normally having a walnut wooden grip and traditionally having two small knives, it is one of the most famous knives of the world.
Khukri Blade
1. Belly (Bhundi): Widest part/area of the blade.
2. Bevel (Patti): Slope from the main body until the sharp edge.
3. Bolster (Kanjo): Thick metal/brass round shaped plate between blade and handle made to support and reinforce the fixture.
4. Butt Cap (Chapri): Thick metal/brass plate used to secure the handle to the tang.
5. Cho/Notch (Kaudi): A distintive cut (numeric 3 like shape) in the edge functioned as a blood dropper and others.
6. Edge (Dhaar): Sharp edge of the blade.
7. Fuller (Chirra): Curvature/Hump in the blade made to absorb impact and to reduce unnecessary weight.
8. Fuller/Groove (Khol): Straight groove or deep line that runs along part of the upper spine.
9. Keeper (Hira Jornu): Spade/Diamond shaped metal/brass plate used to seal the butt cap.
10. Main body (Ang): Main surface or panel of the blade.
11. Peak (Juro): Highest point of the blade.
12. Ricasso (Ghari): Blunt area between notch and bolster.
13. Rings (Harhari): Round circles in the handle.
14. Rivet (Khil): Steel or metal bolt to fasten or secure tang to the handle.
15. Spine (Beet): Thickest blunt edge of the blade.
16. Tang (Paro): Rear piece of the blade that goes through the handle
17. Tang Tail (Puchchar): Last point of the khukuri blade.
18. Tip (Toppa): Starting point of the blade.
Khukri Scabbard
1. Chape (Khothi): Pointed mettalic tip of the scabbard. Used to protect the naked tip of a scabbard.
2. Frog (Faras): Belt holder especially made of thick leather (2mm to 4mm) encircling the scabbard close towards the throat.
3. Lace (Tuna): A leather cord used to sew or attach two ends of the frog. Especially used in army types (not available in this pic).
4. Loop (Golie): Round leather room/space where a belt goes through attached/fixed to the keeper with steel rivets.
5. Lower Edge (Tallo Bhag): Belly/curvature of the scabbard.
6. Main Body (Sharir): The main body or surface of the scabbard. Generally made in semi oval shape.
7. Strap/Ridge (Bhunti): Thick raw leather encirlcing the scabbard made to create a hump to secure the frog from moving or wobbling (not available in this pic).
8. Throat (Mauri): Entrance towards the interior of the scabbard for the blade.
9. Upper Edge (Mathillo Bhaag): Spine of the scabbard where holding should be done when handling a Khukuri.
The khukuri is also the peaceful all-purpose knife of the hill people of Nepal. It is a versatile working tool and therefore an indispensable possession of almost every household, especially of those belonging to the Gurung, Magar, Rai, Limbu and Tamang ethnic groups of central and eastern Nepal. A Nepali boy is likely to have his own khukuri at the tender age of five or so and necessarily becomes skillful in its usage long before his manhood. It is also likely that the boy will have painful encounters with his khukuri but his belief and bonding in the process with the khukuri will teach him how to use and respect it. Moreover, apart from the fact that the khukuri is an exceptionally effective tool that denotes a strong character, it also symbolises bravery and valour and is a Nepalese cultural icon, it also represents an exquisite piece of Nepalese craftsmanship.
The construction of khukuri is very basic and simple yet it has a distinctive style and class of its own. In Nepal, people still use traditional methods to manufacture khukuris. In early Nepal most villages would have a metal smith known as “Kamis” who forged the khukuris.
Khukuris in the earlier days were much longer than the modern ones and significantly varied in shape and size. Khukuris issued to the Gurkhas during the World Wars had markings such as the name of the manufacturer, inspection date, issue date and sometimes the name of the unit. Khukuris have changed over the years adapting to modern times.
Khukuri grips are normally made from local walnut wood called “Sattisaal” in Nepalese. They are also made from domestic water buffalo horn and some from brass or aluminum.
There are two types of tang. One is the rat tail tang that goes all the way through the handle narrowing its surface area as it finishes towards the end of the handle and its end is penned over and secured. The other is the full flat tang that also goes through the handle but the tang can be seen on the sides of the handle and steel rivets are fixed to secure the handle to the tang and a pommel plate or butt cap is also fitted at the end to enhance the total fixture. This type is known as “Panawal" handle.
Most of ancient khukuris used to have a wooden handle with rat tail tang however, surprisingly, the tail did not come all the way through the handle. The handles were curved unlike the modern ones and had steel or iron fixtures in most cases. The exact origin or who initiated the Panawal handle is not known but probably started in early 1900’s when Kamis were influenced by British knives. It is also likely that the handle demanded better treatment as the rat tail handle is not strong enough to hold the long blades when put to hard work. Today different materials are used in the khukuri for better results, however traditional styles have been retained except for a few exceptional and unique ones.
The khukuri is carried in scabbard, "Dap” in Nepalese, where normally 2 pieces of wooden frames are covered with water buffalo hide or other domesticated animal hide. It may or may not have a brass or steel protective cap depending on the type of khukuri.
The khukuri scabbard, like the blade and handle have come a long way with many changes and modifications to keep up with the ever changing times and needs. Scabbards from the early days did not have a belt frog and people used raw leather for carrying the khukuri blade. After the formation of British Gurkhas, frogs were introduced by British to carry khukuri from a waist belt and later steel and brass fixtures were used for appearance and also to protect the naked tip of the scabbard. Some khukuris have a decorative scabbard, beautifully carved using wood, horn, silver, brass and sometimes ivory.
Khukuris that are especially intended for display purpose, are given extra time and effort. It is a customary in Gurkha Army to present a retiring officer with a Kothimoda khukuri (silver case) to honour his outstanding long and loyal service to the regiment and the country.
The khukuri scabbard also has two pockets at the back that carry a blunt steel called “Chakmak” for sharpening the khukuri blade and also for striking sparks from flint and a little sharp knife called “Karda” used as a small utility knife. Very old scabbards along with Karda and Chakmak also had an extra leather pouch (Khalti) attached. The Khalti was used for carrying small survival kits or most of the time small piece of flint to create a spark with the Chakmak. However, army khukuris in world war days and most khukuris in 19th and early 20th centuries did away with the Karda and the Chakmak as well as the extra pouch. It is only after the mid 20th century that the Karda and Chakmak were re-introduced. Most present day khukuris have a Karda and a Chakmak with the Khalti being ignored.
Shapes and sizes of khukuris from ancient to modern ones have varied intensely from place to place, person to person, maker to maker. For instance khukuris made in the Eastern village of Bhojpur, have thick blades where as Sirupate, the most famous khukuri in Nepal is very thin. Similarly khukuris from Salyan are long and slender with deeper belly and Dhankuta, a village in the east makes simple standard army type blade but gives emphasis on the scabbard by making it decorative and ornate. Khukuris made during the 18th and 19th century were much longer and more curved than modern ones. Only the standard army issue were made to the same dimensions and measurements in order to bring about uniformity of equipment for the unit.
The most appealing and distinctive part of the khukuri is the notch or “Cho” cut into the blade directly in front of the grip and the bolster. The Cho or “Kaudi” in Nepalese that separates the khukuri from other knives of the world arouses much interest because of its unique shape and uses. Practically the notch works as a blood dipper to prevent blood or fluid getting on the handle. It is also for stopping the Chakmak (sharpener) from reaching the handle area when sharpening the khukuri blade. Similarly the notch also has religious significance as it signifies the Hindu fertility symbol (OM) and represents the sacred cow’s hoof. It is also believed to have been developed as a device for catching and neutralizing an enemy blade in close combat. However, myths like notch being a target device to capture an enemy’s sight within it and hurl the blade like a boomerang are not true. The khukuri is never thrown. It is not a can opener or a rest for the index finger. The first khukuri blade ever known to the modern man had the Cho and some drawings found in an Indian temple around 600AD also depict it in the blade. Almost all khukuris that originated in the past had the notch. The modern khukuri continues with this distinctive tradition.
My Cold Steel Khukri came with a short history of the knife, nowhere near as detailed as your explanation but basically said the same thing.
It was believed that style of knife was brought to the area by soldiers in Alexander The Great’s army. This would have been roughly 330 BC.
“Carrying’ a dangerous weapon? He IS a dangerous weapon!
Ask the surviving bandits.
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