“Kayar Huno Bhanda Marnu Ramro” – (It is better to die than be a coward)

FROM GARHWAL POST

ARTICLE SHARED BY AARDEE

By Lt Colonel VK Sharma (Retd)

A great military lesson of the first battle with British Forces, in Indian soil, at Khalanga–Nalapani Fort, during Anglo- Gorkha War 1814-15.

Background

The Khalanga–Nalapani war memorial has been constructed to commemorate the inspiring leadership and indomitable courage of 36 year old Gorkha Commander (General) Balbhadra Singh Thapa (Kanwar) under whose command a small force of about 500-600 Gorkha soldiers fought fiercely against a nearly 100 times numerically superior in manpower and war materials British force. The battle lasted for over 30 days (24 October 1814 to 30 November 1814), in which, many Gorkha soldiers, women and children made the supreme sacrifice and achieved martyrdom.

The British Forces

On 24 October 1814, the 3rd Infantry Division under Major General Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie comprising a total of 20 battalions of British Infantry, Cavalry and Pioneer companies, irregular force of about 6668, supported by 20 pieces of artillery and two troops of the Horsed Artillery, launched an attack to Capture Khalanga–Nalapani Fort, defended by Balbhadra Singh Thapa and his soldiers, numbering about 500 to 600.

The Gallant Gorkhas Battle

The Gorkha soldiers, women and children under the leadership of their commander Balbhadra Singh Thapa put up a stiff resistance and repulsed the British attack thrice. Major General Gillespie and many of his officers and soldiers lost their lives. The battle of Khalanga is also remembered for having taken the life of a British Major General in close–quarter-battle, an unparalled feat of the gallant Gorkhas in world history. Later, due to very adverse conditions of war and in face of the numerically superior British Force, with heavy reinforcement of manpower and war-equipment arriving from Meerut and the treachery resorted to by the Britishers by cutting-off the only source of spring–water supply to the Fort, Balbhadra and his remaining force of 70-80 men decided to abandon the Fort, rather than surrender to the British Commander. The message asking Balbhadra Singh Thapa to surrender was sent by the British Commander but it was promptly shunned by Balbhadra Singh Thapa, which made the British Commander more furious and they employed every piece of Artillery to pound the Fort and raze it to the ground.

The Gorkhas Acclaimed

When the British entered the Fort on 30 November 1914, they counted 180 dead, soldiers, a few dying men and toddlers calling for drinking water (Pani – Pani!). The treachery and ghastly sight of thirsty dying men, women and toddlers remains a stigma on the bravery and chivalry of the British Army.

The Battle-Cry

The shouting of battle cry “Aayo–Gorkhali, Aayo Gorkhali ! (Gorkhas are coming) with their Khukris in their hands took a heavy toll of British Forces and blunted their attacks. In the Indian context, the battle cry of “Aayo–Gorkhali” has since been adopted as the battle-cry of Gorkha Regiments of the British and Indian Armies.

The British Praise of Gorkhas

The indomitable courage and the highest quality of fighting ability displayed by the Gorkha soldiers during the battle of Khalanga impressed the British authorities so much that it is perhaps the only example in the history of warfare where an victorious army built a memorial in praise of their adversary (Balbhadra Singh Thapa and his brave Gorkha soldiers) besides the memorial of their own General Gillespie and his men. Two obelisks exist at Sahastradhara Road on the bank of the Rispana River.

Archaeological Value

This twin memorial located on Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun is under the control and maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India.