9 Gorkha Rifles
| 9 Gorkha Rifles | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1817 – Present |
| Country |
 India
|
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Rifles |
| Size | 5 Battalions |
| Regimental Centre | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Motto(s) | Kafar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Niko (Better to die than live like a coward) |
| Colors | Red faced yellow 1894 Dark Green; faced black |
| March | War Cry: Jai Maha Kali, Ayo Gorkhali (Hail Goddess Kali, The Gorkhas are here) |
| Decorations | 3 Victoria Cross 1 Ashoka Chakra 5 Param Vishist Seva Medals 5 Maha Vir Chakras 3 Kirti Chakras 6 Ati Vishist Seva Medals 17 Vir Chakras 7 Shaurya Chakras 13 Sena Medals 14 Vishist Seva Medals |
| Battle honours |
Post Independence Phillora,Kumarkhali and Dera Baba Nanak |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental Insignia | A pair of crossed Khukris with the numeral 9 below |
Post Independence
The 9 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin. The regiment was initially formed by the British in 1817, and was one of the Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army after independence as part of the tripartite agreement in 1947. This Gorkha regiment mainly recruits soldiers who come from the Chhetri (Kshatriya) and Thakuri clans of Nepal. Domiciled Indian Gorkhas are also taken, and they form about 20 percent of the regiment's total strength. The 9 Gorkha Rifles is one of the seven Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army. The other regiments are 1 GR, 3 GR, 4 GR, 5 GR (FF), 8 GR and 11 GR.
The history of the 9 Gorkha Rifles dates back to 1817, when it was raised as the "Fatehgarh Levy". In 1823, it was renamed the "63rd Regiment", and was formed as a regular unit as part of the Bengal Native Infantry. After the reorganisations that took place after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the regiment's designation was changed to the "9th Bengal Native Infantry" with one of its companies formed by Gorkhas and the others by hillmen. By then the regiment had fought at Bhartpur and in the difficult Battle of Sobraon in the First Anglo-Sikh War.
By 1893, the regiment became a wholly Gorkha unit of Khas origin, accepting only those who were more closely linked to Hindu ways as compared to the Buddhist ways. In 1903, the regiment was designated 9th Gurkha Rifles.
9 GR fought in World War I in Europe, and in the inter war years took part in the operations on the North West Frontier. It was soldiers of the regiment under the command of Brigadier General Reginald Dyer who fired into the crowd at the Amritsar Massacre.
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Wikipedia