Torrents of rain poured its fury at the forest all night
The moon hid her face behind a cloud in probable anger
while men plodded on camouflaged out of sight.
It wasn't because they had no particular ambition
nor was it because of some ironical desperation
these were hand-picked soldiers; men of tough nature
who would stick together through thick and thin forever and ever.
They struggled for survival and victory of their country
if people wondered what made them brave so simply
it wasn't because they were soldiers out of frustration
but it was only because they had a reason and ambition.
They were fiercely independent and dignified men
proud of their status wherever they would stand.
They were known by the whole world, far and wide
as GORKHAS— the nemesis of the enemy side.
For decades and centuries they had lived up to their name
those were the times when nuclear made no sense.
They charged through the line, facing the enemy right in the face
with their war cry and naked khukuri dancing with grace.
The Indian, Chinese and English all had reasons to fear
the Gorkhas and their legendary khukuri for quite a few years.
Then came the age of the advanced modern warfare
The age where the legendary Gorkhas lost their hard earned fame.
But Gorkha lives! Yes, even until today.
Recruited in different places—fighting everyday.
The story I had begun with, I shall certainly proceed
It was on the fateful night of 1944, 3rd of July,
The 10th Princess Mary's Own Royal Gorkha Rifles
Was assigned to secure a hill on Shenam Pass
and to complete the job on a dead quiet night
Plodded the Gorkhas, their reasons quite right.
Jas Bahadur Gurung was a short, robust and witty man
A captain of the group comprising of a thousand able men.
Most of the soldiers had complexion of either dark or tan
Yet it was the best even out of ten thousand Englishmen.
They had their precious symbol khukuri fastened behind
And yes of course, their guns—thanks to modern times.
Because one cannot deny the truth of the hopelessness
to face an enemy with a gun with only a khukuri in hand.
Like when an eagle swoops down to claim
the unfortunate victim of desperation & disdain.
Like when a hunter sights his favorite prey
and after killing it you hear him rightly say—
"Eat or be eaten, kill or be killed;
for 'tis is the law of the jungle and everything in it".
The Gorkhas are ruled by their true jungle instinct
the best of best the out of all the sacred gifts.
They needed no stopwatch neither advanced instrumentation
As nature had blessed them all with accuracy to a deadly precision
Their instincts works better than any American Radar.
They can see at night, to distances so very far.
They need no persistent urging and temptation to go on
A simple word of encouragement will put them into motion.
For they are the offspring of natures careful engineering
which can never be compared with mortal human intelligence.
On exactly midnight, the order got around
for the soldiers to secure and surround the town.
They were told it wasn't quite as easy as it may seem
but they would certainly complete the impossible with their brave team.
And after careful planning, briefing and understanding
the men moved out; not bothered with returning
As Lord Tennyson said, "There's but to do and die"
so if you want to smile, you can only sigh!
Final check to ensure their weapons and well stocked ammunition
But they knew the khukuri better than any guns or cannon.
The iron blade at their side gave them relief
whenever they were forced to overcome some tragic grief.
Two at a time they moved in different directions
their guns cocked assuring them deadly precision.
Their tense gripped mind were on full alert
Even through fog, mist, rain and dirt.
Slowly & stealthily they surrounded as they were instructed
the town of the enemy who were all quite unaware.
Then unfortunately a soldier on vigil saw them approach
Sounded his whistle before running like a cockroach!
Then almost instantly, bullets streaked across
like meteors forming a deadly mortal criss-cross.
Every minute was punctuated by a cry of anguish and pain
The soldiers still marched, their body full of blood stains.
"Aayo Gorkhali" were the words and prayers they uttered
Brandishing khukuris and guns, the enemy defense shattered.
Some were hit and would never walk again
others killed with khukuri—their only strength.
Friends began falling right, left and everywhere
but their eyes spelled death to every enemy face.
And it was actually a matter of fifteen minutes
which seemed like a year or two in hell!
"Gorkhali ho! Agadi Badh", Jas Bahadur cried.
Although it grew tough each time they tried.
And so saying for his companions to understand
he left his shelter and jumped to defend the land.
A bullet struck him on the chest tearing it apart
yet he killed the enemy with khukuri hurling like a dart.
And seeing what a brave man their captain had really been
they were inspired to fight—to abandon was a sin!
With a gun in one hand, a khukuri in the other
they made a wild rush to the enemies shelter.
Bullets tore into the Gorkhalis right into the chest
but they died with their khukuri never disgraced.
A few seconds which seemed like a few years later
they were upon the enemy whom they viciously slaughtered.
Dumbfounded and awestruck put the enemy out of sense
but helped to ease the Gorkhas mind which was rather tense.
And then the enemy knew they were beaten
made a dash to live—their fortress abandoned.
The enemies whose nerves were so badly wrecked
ran helter-skelter before they too were checked
by a hundred and twenty men who had waited behind
happily agreed to avenge them behind their boundary line.
They pleaded and cried, ran, tossed and tried
but they realized that their luck had finally lied.
A thousand great men had marched through the twilight zone
while only a few hundred men made it out of the death throne.
Blood streamed down their faces; their khukuri held nigh
marched back through the bodies; their spirits held high.
All the world wondered what a charge they had made
but forgot to ponder that it was not yet late
to bless the Gorkhas for their duty they had done
so bravely to die beneath the glowing sun!
Prime Minister, Emperors, Presidents and King
have ye all forgotten that war song they would sing?
Did all the brave Gorkhas die to be forgotten?
like a stone thrown carelessly or an egg rotten.
Verily I say unto you, my honored ones
that one Gorkha soldier is worth more than you all.
Cause they lived up with pride, loyalty and ambition
but sadly we have forgotten to praise their determination.
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| Gorkha Memorial, Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire UK |
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| Battlefield on Scraggy Hill at Shenam |
Further reading :
Battle of Imphal, WW2, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Imphal
Battle of Imphal, WW2, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Imphal
