This week, the only new release is a documentary ‘Who Will Be a Gurkha ‘ (or, in Nepali ‘Ko Banchha Lahure’). The documentary is made on the recruitment of new cadets in the British Gurkha Camp in Pokhara. The documentary film made by Kesan Gseten was selected in various film festivals and it was also the winners in some of them.
‘Who Will Be a Gurkha’ is jointly produced by Shunyata Films Production and Gongaju Films. There aren’t any central characters and it features interviews and details on the cadets who want to get recruited in the British Army.
27 year old Private Rita Rana followed the footsteps of her ex British Gurkha father to join the British military in 2010. As there is no record of any other Nepali women in British Army, she can be termed the first female Gurkha.
Rita’s father had served 27 years in 2Bn the Royal Ghurkha Rifles. But, she is not in the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and can’t be termed a Gurkha officially.
Pte. Rita Rana is from the Germany-based 1Bn the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regt. (Read more here, a 2010 news article)
Corporal Dip Prasad Pun who defeated more than 30 Taliban fighters, alone was awarded the bravery medal by the Queen.
During an Investiture Ceremony Buckingham Palace, the Queen honored the 31-year-old Gurkha soldier with the medal.
The Britain’s second highest medal for bravery was announced in March for the bravery Dip Prasad showed during a September 17, 2010 militants on a checkpoint near Babaji, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. At that time, Pun had fired more than 400 rounds of bullets, detonated a mine, and launched 17 g
renades in about fifteen minutes of intense fight.
Gurkha soldiers are known for fighting single-handedly against a number of enemies. Last time, it was Indian Army Gurkha who fought more than 40 train robbers, in India to save a girl from being raped.
Now, a British Army Gurkha soldier was honored by Britain’s second highest medal for bravery for fighting off at least a dozen Taliban insurgents.
Acting Sergeant Dip Prasad Pun was stationed in a checkpoint near Babaji, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. On September 17, 2010 militants opened fire from all direction.
Alone on the roof, Pun fought rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s. He fired a more than 400 rounds of bullets, detonated a mine, and launched 17 grenades in about fifteen minutes of intense fight. He even used the machine gun tripod to knock down an insurgent, trying to climb up to his position.
In a BBC news article, Pun says, "I think I am a very lucky guy, a survivor. Now I am getting this award, it is very great and I am very happy."
The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross medal is only one level below the Victoria Cross, the highest medal a British Army personnel can get. The 31 year old Acting Sergeant Dipprasad Pun’s father and grandfather both had been Gurkha in British Army. (Photo credits – BBC)
Bishnu Shrestha, a brave Gurkha soldier in Indian Army, defeated 30 train robbers while returning home after a voluntary retirement. The Indian army, is going to awarded Bishnu with Sourya Chakra, Bravery Award and Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha medals during the Indian Republic Day celebration on January 26 .
While in the train, Maurya Express from Ranchi to Gorakhpur, on September 2, 2010, 35 year-old Bishnu saved a girl about to be raped by the train robbers in front of her helpless parents. After looting the train, when the robbers started to strip a 18 year old girl in front of him, he couldn’t contain his calmness. He took out his khukari and took on the a group of 30 robbers, alone. In the fight, he killed three of dacoits and injured eight others. Remaining dacoits fled the scene to save their lives.
The police arrested the eight injured dacoits and recovered Rs. 400,000 in cash, 40 gold necklaces, 200 cell phones, 40 laptops and other items left by the robbers while fleeing the train.
In recognition to his bravery, his regiment has given Bishnu a cash reward of Rs. 50,000 and it has also terminated his voluntary retirement, so that he could get a customary promotion after he receives the medals. In addition to that, he will also receive a cash rewards from the government, special discounts in international air tickets, and discounts in Indian railways train tickets.
UPDATE:
Updated according to a news in Indian newspaper Times of India of September 4, 2010. The report of Indian Army awarding Soury Chakra proved to be wrong as his name was not included in the official Indian Army site.
