King Charles III of the United Kingdom remarked “Ajur din ramro cha!” in Nepali, meaning “Today is a good day,” while reviewing the inaugural formation parade of the King’s Gurkha Artillery in south-west England. This event brought into focus the Garhwal Rifles, an illustrious Indian Army regiment tracing its origins to the Gurkha regiments raised by the British. The regiment currently boasts seven serving Lieutenant Generals, one of the highest numbers from any infantry regiment.
Creation of the King's Gurkha Artillery
“As Captain General of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, it gives me the greatest pride on this most significant day to witness the formation of your new regiment,” said King Charles at the event on June 4. His office termed it a landmark moment, marking the creation of the British Army’s first dedicated Gurkha Artillery unit and its newest regiment. The unit is set to grow to more than 500 personnel by 2029. A new cap badge, the first in 14 years, was created to mark the occasion and reflect the expanded role of the Brigade of Gurkhas in modern warfare. Currently, the British Brigade of Gurkhas comprises about 4,000 troops recruited directly from Nepal.
Historical Legacy of the Gorkhas
The Gorkhas have a storied history. During the Anglo-Nepali War of 1814–1816, they were first recruited into the British East India Company. For over two centuries, they have served with distinction in campaigns and operations worldwide. The Indian Army’s present First Battalion of the First Gorkha Rifles (1/1 GR), earlier known as the 1st King George V’s Own Gurkha Rifles, is the oldest Gorkha battalion, raised in April 1815 as part of the East India Company’s Bengal Army.
After India’s Independence in 1947, four of the ten Gurkha regiments were transferred to the British Army: the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles, 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles, 7th Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Gurkha Rifles, and 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles. In 1994, these were amalgamated into the Royal Gurkha Rifles. The remaining six regiments allotted to the Indian Army were reorganised as the 1 Gorkha Rifles (GR), 3 GR, 4 GR, 5 GR, 8 GR, and 9 GR. A seventh regiment, 11 GR, was raised in 1948 to incorporate troops from the four British units who opted to remain in India. Each highly decorated regiment has five to six battalions consisting mostly of Nepal-domiciled troops.
Several illustrious infantry regiments of the Indian Army trace their origins to the Gurkha Rifles battalions of the pre-Independence era, notably the Garhwal Rifles and the Kumaon Regiment. The Naga, Assam, and Dogra Regiments also have historical linkages with the Gurkha Rifles.
Garhwal Rifles Gains Prominence
The Garhwal Rifles recently came into prominence with the appointment of General NS Raja Subramani as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He belongs to this regiment, which was raised in 1887. Prior to this, Garhwalis were enlisted in the five Gurkha regiments of the Bengal Infantry and the Punjab Frontier Force. Besides the country’s senior-most military officer, the Garhwal Rifles boasts seven currently serving Lieutenant Generals, among the highest numbers from any infantry regiment. These include:
- Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana – the only Army Commander-equivalent officer, serving as Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command.
- Lt Gen Vakamulla Hariharan – commanding a strike corps.
- Lt Gen Rajan Sharawat – Corps Commander in the western sector.
- Lt Gen Amit Kabthiyal – Corps Commander in the western sector.
- Lt Gen Shamsher Singh Virk – Corps Commander in the western sector.
- Lt Gen Gambhir Singh – on staff posting.
- Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva – on staff posting.
Incidentally, the Army’s apex leadership is currently dominated by the Infantry. The Army Chief and five Army Commanders are from the Infantry, while the Vice Chief and one Army Commander are from the Armoured Corps. General Raja Subramani is the first officer from the Garhwal Rifles to become a four-star General, while three Gorkha officers—Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, and General Bipin Rawat (later the first CDS)—became Army Chiefs.
Combat Record and Honours
Both the Gorkha Rifles and the Garhwal Rifles have seen extensive combat over the past two centuries, serving in campaigns worldwide, including the two World Wars, all post-Independence wars, major operations, and United Nations peacekeeping missions. They have earned numerous gallantry awards and battle honours. The first India-born recipient of the Victoria Cross, Naik Darwan Singh Negi of the 39th Garhwal Rifles, was decorated for his actions near Festubert in France in 1914 during the First World War. Three Indian recipients of the Victoria Cross and one recipient of the Ashok Chakra belong to the Garhwal Rifles.
As part of their ceremonial attire, officers and troops of the Garhwal Rifles wear a wide-brimmed felt slouch hat called the Terai hat, the rakishly worn headgear widely associated with the Gorkha Rifles.
