The History of Gorkhas in Himachal Pradesh State

Umesh Jung Thapa

The majority of Gorkhas who are living in Himachal Pradesh were till recently a part of Punjab. One of the oldest associations of gorkhas in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is the Himachal Punjab Gorkha Association, which was established on October 29, 1916. Its first president was Madho Singh Rana (Magan Pathik, Hamro Sanstha Pachattari Barsa, Himachal Punjab Gorkha Association, page 11). The settlement of Gorkhas in Himachal Pradesh has a long history of nearly 200 years. In this context, Sat Mahajan, former Parliamentarian and ex‐minister of Himachal Pradesh , wrote: “The first regular settlement of Dharamshala is known to have taken place sometime between 1879 and 1882, when the pensioners’ lines, some are in pine groves known as “Chilghari” was earmarked for poor pensionsers” (Sat Mahajan, “Gorkhas: Personifcation of Courage” in quarterly magazine Bindu, 1987, page 17). Even earlier, the Gorkhas had settled near Sahura village in Kangra during the siege of Kangra fort (1805‐1809). In this context, Khushwant Singh has written that Sansar Chand Katoch, ruler of Kangra had approached Maharaja Ranjit Singh for help against the Gorkha invasion. 

Ranjit Singh had no love for Sansar Chand but feared the Gorkhas were a threat to Punjab, especially if they succeeded in taking Kangra fort (Khushwant Singh, History of the Sikhs, Volume 1, Oxford University Press, 1987, page 1). General Amar Singh Thapa of the Nepal Army had also approached Ranjit Singh, but the Sikh leader had spurned him. Gorkha troops suffered badly in an outbreak of cholera and could not withstand the Sikh forces for long. The Gorkhas retired to Mandi in Himachal Pradesh , swearing vengeance against Ranjit Singh. They freed the king of Mandi from the rule of Sansar Chand. Later, in the famous battle at Malaun fort (April 14‐16, 1815), under the brave commander Bhakti Thapa, who was 70 years old at the time, the Gorkhas inflicted heavy casualty on British forces but succumbed to the superior weapon and artillery power of the enemy. The Gorkhas surrendered on May 15, 1815. By then a treaty was in the offing and one was concluded at Sugauli.

On April 24 that year, the first Nusseree (Friendship) battalion was raised at Subathu in Himachal Pradesh , which later became the 1st Gorkha Rifles. General Amar Singh was considered the “crownless king of states” (Khushwant Singh, History of the Sikhs). The Gorkhas fought with British forces at Nahan, Subathu, Maulan, Taragarh, Nalagarh, Kangra and Jatok. Maharaja Ranjit Singh suffered reverses in his expedition to west Kashmir against the Afghans in July 1814. He lost his commander Main Ghausa and the Afghan Army pushed the Sikhs from the hills. This unsuccessful campaign compelled Ranjit Singh to recruit Gorkhas in the Khalsa Army because he knew the Gorkhas were unparalleled in hill warfare. Gorkhas went to Lahore, Ranjit Singh’s capital, for recruitment and Gorkha soldiers have since been called Lahures. However, during the Anglo‐Sikh war of 1846, the British Gorkhas faced a battalion or two of Sikh Army Gorkhas. This occasion seems to reinforce the belief that the Gorkhas serve their motherland and their master faithfully, irrespective of their temporary affiliation. 

In March 1823, in the battle of Namshera, the renowned Sikh General Phula Singh and Gorkha commander Bal Bhadra Thapa died (Khushwant Singh, History of the Sikhs). Himachal Pradesh is very rich in Gorkha heritage, culture and customs and has many place names that betray their Gorkha background, such as Chandmari, Cheelghari, etc. Himachal Pradesh has the unique privilege of associating with martyrs Durga Malla and Dal Bahadur Thapa of the INA, musician Ram Singh Thakur, singer Mitrasen Thapa and Master Dalip Singh (who accompanied Mitrasen on the harmonium). Gorkhas who had settled in the areas around Malaun fort comprise the forefathers of one of the prominent families of Arjun Singh Bist, who was a former legislator from Nalagarh. The Gorkhas of Himachal Pradesh have assimilated well the culture, customs and dialect of Himachal Pradesh without losing their own distinct mother tongue, culture and identity. 

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