11th Gorkha Rifles
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| 11 Gorkha Rifles | |
|---|---|
| File:11 Gorkha Rifles.png | |
| Active | 1948 - Present |
| Country | India |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 6 Battalions |
| Regimental Centre | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Motto(s) | Yatraham Vijayastatra (The Metaphor for Victory) |
| War Cry | Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali (Victory to Mahakali, The Gorkhas Are Here) |
| Decorations | 1 Param Vir Chakra, 3 Ashoka Chakras, 1 Padma Bhushan, 6 Param Vishist Seva Medals, 2 Maha Vir Chakras, 8 Ati Vishist Seva Medals, 11 Vir Chakras, 4 Shaurya Chakras, 30 Sena Medals, 14 Vishist Seva Medals and 18 Mentioned-in-Despatches |
| Battle honours | Shingo River, Bogra and Batalik, Theatre Honours Kargil 1999 |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental Insignia | A pair of crossed Khukris with the Roman numeral XI in-between |
The 11 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army that was re-raised after independence. It was commonly used in the Desert War.
History
First Regiment
The 11th Gurkhas was originally founded in 1918 through the amalgamation together of companies of the other Gurkha regiments and the Garhwal Rifles. This regiment saw service in both Palestine and Mesopotamia at the end of the First World War, as well as during the Third Afghan War in 1919, before being disbanded in 1922.
- Battle Honour
- Afghanistan 1919
Second Regiment
Following India's independence in 1947, the Gurkha regiments of the British Indian Army were divided between the new Indian Army and the British Army. A referendum was held among the soldiers of the four regiments that would transfer to the British as to whether they wished to join the British Army, as the decision to do so was made entirely voluntary. In the event, large numbers of men from the 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles, which recruited predominantly from Eastern Nepal, decided not to join their regiments as part of the British Army. So, in order to retain a contingent from this area of Nepal, the Indian Army made the decision to re-raise the 11 Gorkha Rifles.
The 11 Gorkha Rifles was officially re-raised on January 1st 1948 with regimental centres at Palampur and Santa Cruz, Mumbai. The regiment was raised with strength from the non-optees of the 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles. As the regiment was raised by the Indian Army after independence, it was decided not to retain the honours and traditions of the first 11th Royal Gurkha Rifles of the British Indian Army.
Today, the regiment has a total of six battalions. The regiment took part in all major military operations India has undertaken since independence including the 1947 India Pakistan War, 1948 Operation Polo, 1965 India Pakistan War, 1971 India Pakistan War, and in the 1999 Kargil Conflict.
War Cry
At the time of inception, the battle cry adopted by the Regiment was Ayo Gorkhali (The Gorkhas Are Here) followed by 'Charge'. However, upon the raising of the 2/11 Gorkha Rifles in 1963, the then Commanding Officer desired that the unit battle cry be Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali (Victory to Mahakali, The Gorkhas Are Here). This cry was first raised by the Adjutant on the raising day on the occasion of the first flag hoisting at the unit Quarter Guard. Goddess Durga is known in this Regiment as Mahakali and invoking her blessings on the battlefield has imbibed itself deep in the troops. Additionally, the battle cry apart from infusing daring courage in the men, also helps create psychological fear in the enemy.
Gallantry Awards
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 GR, is the first and only recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous) for the regiment, in the 1999 Kargil conflict. He is the Indian Army's first Lieutenant to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra. 2nd Lieutenant Puneet Nath Datt, 1/11 GR, was the second recipient of the Ashoka Chakra for the Regiment in 1997. The first recipient of the Ashoka Chakra is not known. The third recipient of the Ashoka Chakra was Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri of 9 Para, who was originally from 5/11 GR before he volunteered to join 9 Para. Though the award obviously goes to the tally of 9 Para, a Coffee Table book recently published by 11 Gorkha Rifles also counts it in its tally.
Battle Honours
- Bogra, East Pakistan 1971, Shingo River Valley, Jammu and Kashmir 1971