18 inch curved knife wants the 'taste of blood', are Nepal's fearless Gorkhas Putin's trump card?

 18-inch curved knife wants the 'taste of blood', are Nepal's fearless Gorkhas Putin's trump card?

Gorkhas(Getty)

They reside in the mountainous regions of Nepal. The hilly weather, adverse conditions, and treacherous paths are familiar to them. This remoteness and adversity have made the Gorkhas resilient.

The brave warriors of the Nepalese mountain region are known as the Gorkhas. War is their profession. Year after year, they have been engaging in battles following their ancient traditions. It is not just Nepal; even other countries seek the Gorkhas for their wars.

Gorkhas

Recently, several reports published in the Nepalese media state that Nepali youth are joining the Russian armed forces. Young Gorkhas from the remote mountainous regions of Nepal are going to Russia to fight in wars.

In order to strengthen the Russian military after the Ukrainian invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for foreign soldiers. It is said that if they fight for Russia for a year, foreign soldiers will be granted permanent Russian citizenship.

Kurki Knife

Is it the desire for citizenship or the call of duty that compels Nepali youth to go to Russia? Putin has attracted them by leveraging the Gorkhas' long history of warfare. It is believed that in the future, these warriors can be employed against other foreign powers as well.

However, these Gorkhas in Nepal are not Russian; they are the "discovery" of the British. In the 19th century, the British East India Company invaded Nepal. There were many casualties in the war between Nepal and Britain. Compelled by circumstances, in 1815, the East India Company reached a ceasefire agreement and established peace with Nepal.

According to this agreement, Britain could recruit Gorkha warriors into their armed forces from Nepal. Initially, the Gorkha Regiment was part of British India's army. After India gained independence, it became part of the British Army.

Gorkha

Even today, these Gorkhas remain one of the most important components of the British military. They are recruited from Nepal itself. They fight as British soldiers and then return to their homeland after retirement.

Although they fight as British soldiers, Gorkhas do not obtain British citizenship. Even their salary and pension are relatively lower compared to regular British soldiers. Nepali Gorkhas have been fighting for a long time to demand better salaries and pension benefits. Along with that, a guaranteed future as Russians.

It is said that the Gorkha Battalion is one of the most courageous and formidable warriors in the world. They still carry the tradition of wielding an 18-inch curved knife or kukri alongside modern firearms.

The Kukri is considered an essential weapon in the Gorkhas' arsenal. It is said that a drawn kukri, once used in battle, must draw blood and cannot be sheathed without it. If someone is not killed in battle using the kukri, the owner of the weapon must cut a part of their own body and stain the blade with blood.

Currently, many people do not understand this tradition. Gorkhas say that nowadays the kukri is also used for cooking in their homes. However, the essence of this tradition has diminished over time.