Indian Army’s Most Decorated Unit Turns 125


The Indian Army’s 2/5 Gorkha Rifles battalion turns 125 today. Going by the motto Shauryam Evam Nishtha (courage and determination), the unit was raised in Abbottabad, present day Pakistan (yes, the same one). Commentator and columnist Maj Gen (Retd) Ashok K. Mehta, who belongs to the unit, has this column today. Many felicitations to the unit on this very special day.

19 thoughts on “Indian Army’s Most Decorated Unit Turns 125”

  1. Shiv, actually "Shauryam evam Nishtha" means "courage(valor) and Dedication"…if it was "dridhta" then it wud hav been "determination"..

    1. Every infantry regiment of the Indian Army is as good as the other. If you come to claims, The Rajputana Rifles won the first Victoria Cross of the Indian Army in 1856 and has a total of six VCs to it’s credit. Official history of the WW II describes 4 (Outram’s) Rajputana Rifles as the most decorated unit (including 2 VCs) in WW II, not only among the Indian Army units but also among the entire Allied Armies who have taken part in WW II. Therefore, let us give due respect to each regiment of the Indian Army, which have no less a record than the other. The collective glory of all these regiments only make others regard Indian Infantry as one of the finest in the world.

  2. Its a shame that a country of 1 billion still has to continue with colonial practices of employing foreigners to guard it's borders. The Gorkha Rgts were raised to suppress Indian independence struggles. Defeat of INA is largely due to actions of Nepalese/Gorkhas.

    1. Gurkha Regiments have an important part in the history of the Indian Army. To day 4 of the total 10 pre Independence Gurkha Regiments continue with British Army. They have been retained by British not because they were colonial, but because they are good fighting soldiers with an impeccable record of loyalty. If you term Gurkha Regts as colonial army, for that matter the whole of the Indian Army also can be termed colonial army, because barring 4 infantry regiments all others were raised by British when they colonised India. But today they are part of Independent India’s Army and have established exemplary records in 1948,1965,1971,1999 & Siachen Glacier besides countless counter insurgency, internal security and UN operations, not to speak of the relief operations in natural calamities. In all these Gurkha Regiments’ contribution is no less than any other regiment, with total loyalty to Indian Nation. Therefore do not raise such stupid doubts with out knowing history and their record.

  3. its very amusing to know that the people of India are not aware of the Gorkhas living in India after having sacrificed soo much this is what we get.. and talking bout suppressing freedom struggles who did fight 4 wars since independence all the regiments except the Gorkhas!!(sarcasm) ha!! (plz post it necessary for awareness of gorkhas living in India.)

  4. Being the oldest and traditionally continued professional warriors on the earth, all Indians are the bravest on the earth. Brave Gorkhas are obviously one among them. Congrats…

  5. Its a shame that a country of 1 billion still has to continue with colonial practices of employing foreigners to guard it's borders.
    ———————————-
    anon@12:22: you don't even know about your own country…what a shameful thing…tcheh…

  6. 3.18 AM will you "sacrifice" if we don't pay you Nepalese any salary?? Btw, there is no community called "Gorkhas". Gorkhas are Nepalese recruited in Indian and British army.

  7. Anon 3.18 AM, during the last Kargil War there were only 5 "Indian" Gorkha casualty i.e. less than states which don't have any regiment. India is paying 10,000s of crores to Nepal each year for hiring Nepali soldiers who have no love for India. If we recruited our own people in our Army, the money would have been well spend. It seems our Army is yet to be "Indian".

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