* GrinOfAudacity: Gurkhas are known for their senses of humor, and for laughing in the face of danger
** During the retreat from Burma, Lt. Gen. Bill Slim found himself under Japanese fire within sight of a Gurkha unit. He writes:
-> "My inclination to run for cover, not lessened by a salvo of mortar bombs that came down behind me, was only restrained by the thought of what a figure the Corps Commander would cut, sprinting for safety, in front of all these little men. So, not liking it a bit, I continued to walk forward. Then, from behind a bush that offered scant cover to his bulky figure, rose my old friend, the Subadar Major of the 7th Gurkhas, his face creased in a huge grin which almost hid his twinkling almond eyes. He stood there and shook with laughter at me. I asked him coldly what he was laughing at, and he replied that it was very funny to see the General Sahib wandering along there by himself not knowing what to do! And, by Jove, he was right; I did not!
-> It is a funny thing how differently the various races react to such a situation. A British soldier would have called out to me to take shelter and would have made room for me beside him. The average Indian sepoy would have watched anxiously, but said nothing unless I was hit, when he would have leapt forward and risked his life to get me under cover. A Sikh would have sprung up, and with the utmost gallantry dramatically covered me with his own body, thrilled at the chance of an audience. Only a Gurkha would stand up and laugh."

5th Apr '13 8:12:24 AM JenBurdoo

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19th Mar '13 9:16:55 PM StAraqiel

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17th Mar '13 9:26:39 PM StAraqiel

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* ScreamingWarrior: ''Aiyo Gurkali''
** The full translation of their BattleCry is ''Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gurkhali'' which means, "Blood for Kali, the Gurkhas are coming!"
*** To which their enemies say - in their respective tongues, and adjusted for culture: OhCrap.
*** This is a myth, though. The "Jai Mahakali" part doesn't even ''mention'' any blood, it means simply "Glory to Great Kali".[[hottip:*:The modern Indian Anthem (in Bengali, though, not in Nepali, but there's enough overlap) last line is "Jaya hei", which translates as "Glory to thee".]] Doesn't make any less of an ''OhCrap'' moment, OTOH. It does still tell you the Gurkhas are coming, and Kali ''is'' the Hindu goddess of ''death''.
* ShroudedInMyth: The Gurkhas frightened away the Argentines during the Falklands war by sheer reputation.
** Some in the Taliban believe that they are demons who eat their victims. The Gurkhas do nothing to dissuade these myths.
*** Given that ''one'' of them fought off ''thirty'' Taliban fighters [[Administrivia/ExamplesAreNotRecent recently]], it can be said that they do even less than nothing to dissuade said myths...
** The Japanese during the Second World War also had a tendency for their normally 'implacable warrior' image to crack when there were rumours of Gurkhas about. Largely because Japanese sentries would be discovered in the morning outside their camps missing their heads...
** Countries that actual detailed and accurate information on the Gurkhas feel a tingle of dread when facing them. Imgaine then what you feel if all you know about them IS the myth.

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* ScreamingWarrior: ''Aiyo Gurkali'', or more specifically,''Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gurkhali'', which means "Glory to Great Kali, the Gurkhas are coming!"
*** Their enemies tend to respond with--in their respective tongues, and adjusted for culture--"OhCrap!" After all, Kali ''is'' the Hindu goddess of ''death''...
* ShroudedInMyth: The Gurkhas frightened away the Argentines during the Falklands war by sheer reputation. Some in the Taliban believe that they are demons who eat their victims. The Gurkhas do nothing to dissuade these myths.
** Given that ''one'' of them fought off ''thirty'' Taliban fighters, it can be said that they do even ''less'' than nothing to dissuade said myths.
** The Japanese during the Second World War also had a tendency for their normally 'implacable warrior' image to crack when there were rumors of Gurkhas about--largely because Japanese sentries would be discovered in the morning outside their camps missing their heads...
** Countries that have detailed and accurate information on the Gurkhas feel a tingle of dread when facing them. Imagine then what you feel if all you know about them ''is'' the myth!

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25th Feb '13 12:20:24 PM Divra

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10th Feb '13 4:57:13 PM StevieC

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13th Jan '13 9:49:36 PM MrManBearPig1000

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-->Creator/RudyardKipling
** Indira Gandhi would have been wise to use them as bodyguards. They wouldn't have assassinated her like her actual Sikh bodyguards.
** Keep in mind that it was also her SIKH general that had personally carried out Operation Bluestar when her Hindu commanders were having moral conflictions. The Sikhs are a bit more complex as people than the Gurkas (most of whom are simply going to be yak herders or farmers if the British government didn't offer them a purpose and a paycheck). The Sikhs on the other hand, are actually a PEOPLE, they come from all walks of life, not just soldierly. There are Sikh doctors, lawyers, politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, etc. In this day and age it is impossible to categorize them, since they are not just a people but a religion as well. The gurkas on the other hand, hailing from the primitive and poor(er) country of Nepal simply do not have the resources to modernize, so they're stuck in the 18th Century mindset of two only two professions: farming your father's land or honorable service to the Brits as a mercenary tribe.

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