The words Gurkha and kukri (Khukuri) go together – one cannot be said without the other. Their story is incomplete without each other.
The Gurkhas and the kukri achieved fame during WWI and WWII. The kukri has been better known since those days as “The Gurkha Knife.”
The kukri is not only the national weapon of Nepal, but also a utility knife for Nepalese people and it holds a unique as well as significant place in Nepalese culture. The kukri represents Nepalese traditions, history and to some extent, spiritual beliefs.
In some communities, it defines a social role as well as serves as a symbol of wealth, social status and prestige. The kukri has not only been the main weapon of war, but also a multi-purpose tool in peacetime and many men from various communities in Nepal love to carry one with them all the time.
Although the history of the kukri is long in Nepal, the knife was first seen by the British during the Anglo-Gorkha War of 1814-16. Wherever the Gurkhas fought, the kukri went with them and there wasn’t a single battle where the kukri was not used.
Gurkha fighters have a fearsome reputation, and the kukri is the main reason. No Gurkha goes into battle without a kukri.
However, the kukri is much older than Nepal. The kukri was already the weapon of choice for the Kiratis in the 7th century BC. Some believe the history of the knife stretches back to the time of Alexander the Great’s invasion of India and compare the kukri with the Macedonian version of the Kopis, the single-edged curved sword used by Alexander’s cavalry which was about the same size as the kukri. Both stories point to the kukri being at least 2,500 years old.
When Prithvi Narayan Shah, the king of the independent Kingdom of Gorkha and the founding father of Nepal, invaded the Kathmandu valley in 1767 and conquered it the following year, the kukri was credited wth playing a major role in his victory. It continued to be the weapon of choice for the Gorkha soldiers. His forces, widely known as the Gorkhali army, eventually clashed with British forces and the story of the Gurkhas and the kukri became widely known.
The kukri of King Drabya Shah, the King of Gorkha in 1627, is among the oldest and is in the National Museum of Nepal. Another famous kukri is the Fisher Kukri, used by Lt. J. F. L. Fisher during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857-58 in India and is displayed at the Gurkha Museum in Winchester in the UK. The Sepoy Mutiny was where the loyalty of the Gurkhas was tested and proved. As a reward, the Gurkhas were made riflemen and allowed to have their own regiments renamed the Gurkha Rifles. The kukri played a significant role in the Gurkhas achieving their status.
There are many famous knives and the kukri is one of the most famous, becoming a propaganda tool for the British during war.
The British have long used the Gurkhas and their kukris in various forms of propaganda, but the way they used them against the Argentines before the battles in the Falklands in 1982 was a classic. A photograph of a Gurkha sharpening his kukri instilled fear in many Argentine soldiers’ minds and worked well with the myth that a Gurkha must draw blood every time he unsheathes his kukri, which is not true.
Read: 70th anniversary of Malayan Emergency: a moment for reflection
The kukri is also the emblem of the Gurkhas, whether they are serving in the Nepal Army, British Army, Indian Army or Singapore GC. Badges, insignia, flags, signage and colors used by various armies with Gurkha soldiers all have a kukri on them.
The blade is made from high-grade steel, the handle of hardwood, metal or animal horn, the sheath of wood and animal hides. To make a high-quality kukri takes at least one week and highly skilled blacksmiths are involved. An average kukri is 14-16 inches long. It comes with two small knives in the top of the scabbard, one is blunt (Chakmak) and the other sharp (Karda). The blunt one is used for starting a fire with a flint and the sharp one is a general purpose knife.
The notch on the blade has a purpose. It stops the blood from spilling over the handle and prevents the grip from becoming slippery during the heat of battle.
In modern day warfare, it’s understandable that here are reservations about a knife. This is why kukris are mostly limited to ceremonies and special dances in both the British and Indian armies. In many wars foot soldiers are used to clear areas, which sometimes descends into hand-to-hand combat. It’s in those battles that the Gurkhas and the kukri reign supreme.
Read: Remembering the Gurkhas’ role in ensuring Brunei’s autonomy
An excellent piece from a former 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles soldier….
Gurkhas are living on. Both sides of Nepal and India! The border was always porous for millenniums . Say two thousands years ago, so called Nepal didn’t exist except a little tribal kingdom. Only a land loosely known as Bhata Varsha etc.
The days of Gurkhas giving their blood as mercenaries Is just degrading. In the British Army, Gurkhas can not rise above the rank of a Subhedar Major and it is humiliating.
Time to behave like proud citizens of a sovereign country. No need to serve as borrowed soldiers by outsiders. India has its own Indian-Gurkhs.
Read my comments above ! No need to serve as mercenaries in foreign armies. No more money for blood! Be, proud citizens of an ancient nation!
It’s a matter of prestige guys.
It’s a pity that Pun, who beat the Taliban attack in Afghanistan, wasn’t carrying his khukuri, otherwise more Talibans would have departed to meet their quota of hurs!
A proud people and a proud nation.
Proper pronounciation is Khukuri i think.. nt khukri.
I dont think that gurkha term recognizing for bravery existing earlier than nepal……it was after great king prithivi narayan shah start unification of nepal form small kingdom gorkha …his soldier called as gorkhali soldier …and later on during the unification and after it people around the whole country were included in the army so soldier of nepal was still called gorkhali soldier and this meaning gets globalized after the clash with British invading india who were unable to invade nepal and praise gorkhali force for bravery ……..so it makes no sense calling indian gurkha and saying gurkha have been living on both side of nepal and india……get your fact corrected dude….
Gurkhas or the Protector of Cows–confused whether we want to hold on to the traditions or find new identity?? Proud of the heritage.
If holding a khukuri doesn’t give u chills then my friend you are not a gurkha.
#Kirati
Perry Kamath If there were jobs to feed and sustain them they wouldn’t leave their homes.
They can and do rise to commissioned officers. There is nothing degrading to work.
For your kind information they are directly recruited from Nepal .
Sijan Regmi british could not inved nepal..What happened in sugoli?What about ilyas shah invesion of Nepal in 16 th century?Read history carefully. What about defeat of Nepalese by Tibetans and treaty of thapathali?Go and read some history
This is sponsored content just to creat positive vibration before Modi ji’s visit to Nepal.
Laxman Singh Dev ….in anglo nepal war nepal face a heavy defeat ..nepal loss one third of total land…i agree that…..but it doesnot mean that british invade nepal…..they didnot occupied all the territory and form the government……did they?…..during war there was a treaty in sugouli……if british thought that they could win over nepal do they agree for treaty……so it couldnot be call as total defeat …..nepal had a huge loss…..also british had lost many soldier….so they were wise enough to had a treaty and recruit the people of nepal in their army……..and i hope you need to know more about nepal history ….tibet was defeted by nepal twice (or thrice ..i m actually not sure about the number now)…..then at the last war with tibet china came to help tibet and there was treaty between nepal china and tibet….not to attact each other and help each other if others attack any one…..and this was probably earlier than anglo nepal war…….i think you too needs some correction ……
Its Not Kukri.
Its khukuri
I have one with an Ivory handle and trible markings on the blade and the two little blades like you talked about. Do you think it is one of the old ones and how much is it worth?