KHALANGA WAR MEMORIAL! A heritage monument of pride for the Gorkhas!

 

Khalanga War Memorial [Source: Facebook]

Why I like Britishers despite what history tells me about their colonial rule? It is because it is only the Britishers that value merit until now. They did it in the past and they do it now as well. The UK is the only country that places merit high above everything. This I never found in the country that I was born in. There, I only saw the quota system in education and career. People with less merit were studying medicine with me in my class and they were getting reserved posts that were higher in seniority despite their low merits. In jobs, the same was witnessed. But it is only the British who value merit and bravery even in their opponents. The Khalanga War memorial in Dehradun is a glaring example of it.

THE BATTLE OF NALAPANI, 1814

The Battle of Nalapani was the first Anglo-Nepalese war that was fought between British East India Company and Nepal that was ruled at that time by the House of Gorkha. This was from 1814 to 1816 and was fought around the Nalapani Fort in Dehradun in Uttarakhand. The British troops had laid a siege around the fort from 31 October 1814 to 30 November 1814. Major-General Robert Rollo Gillespie was in charge of the charging British troops while Captain Balbhadra Kunwar was commanding the Gorkhas.

Major-General Robert was killed on day 1 of the siege. Captain Balbhadra had only a small army of 600 Gorkhas with him while the British troops numbered 5000. The latter also had fire ammunitions but despite all odds, Balbhadra and his men managed to hold on for one month.

Battle of Nalapani [Source: Wikipedia]

The British tried direct invasion on the fort but failed two times. After this, they changed their strategy and started to cut off the external water supply to the fort. Three days of thirst was troublesome but despite that, Balbhadra and his 70 surviving men fought against the British people and escaped into the nearby hills. The British army spent a lot of their time, efforts, and also resources to capture the fort. But they were amazed at the great fighting ability of the Gorkhas.

BRITISH AND THEIR RESPECT FOR THE GORKHAS

Although Gorkhas lost the battle and the fort, the British army could not but sing the praise of them and their valor. They valued their bravery and skills and decided to recruit them in their army. Thus the British Gorkha Army was born. The British army was also impressed by the conduct of the Gorkhas during the battle. The British accounts state that the Gorkhas exhibited fair conduct towards them. This act reached the heart of the British army and they in turn reciprocated by providing good medical aid to the injured and captured Nepalese men.

Khalanga War Memorial [Source: Euttaranchal]

The injured Nepalese even asked for surgical help. Scottish traveler James Baillie Fraser writes:

“While the batteries were playing, a man was perceived on the breach, advancing and waving his hand. The guns ceased firing for a while, and the man came into the batteries: he proved to be a Ghoorkha, whose lower jaw had been shattered by a cannon shot, and who came thus frankly to solicit assistance from his enemy.

It is unnecessary to add, that it was instantly afforded. He recovered; and, when discharged from the hospital, signified his desired to return to his corps to combat us again: exhibiting thus, through the whole, a strong sense of the value of generosity and courtesy in warfare, and also of his duty to his country, – separating completely in his own mind private and national feelings from each other, – and his frank confidence in the individuals of our nation, from the duty he owed his own, to fight against us collectively.”

And that is the reason I like Nepalese citizens as well. They remain to date honest, peaceful, patriotic, and helpful.

The courtesy and goodness of the Gorkhas touched the hearts of the fighting Britishers. As a mark of tribute, British officials also decided to construct a heritage monument in the name of the Gorkhas who splendidly fought the battle of Nalapani and managed to keep the British army at bay for almost a month with a small number of defensemen and resources. This monument was the war memorial that got the name of Khalanga War Memorial and it was built in Dehradun.

KHALANGA WAR MEMORIAL

This war memorial is built on Sahastradhara Road in Dehradun. The area is called Tibbanala Pani and it is just 5 km from the Dehradun City Center. It is 27 km from Jolly Grant Airport. It is the only monument in history that was erected by a victorious army for its opponents. It is now under the Archaeological Survey of India. Every year, a fair is held at the place in order to commemorate the soldiers and also to celebrate Gorkha culture and history.

One can reach the place in the bus, public autorickshaw, cab, or private car. It is around 40 minutes from ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) of Dehradun. To see the place takes around 20-30 minutes. But it is a nice feeling when one reads through and knows about the reason for building it! Worth a visit!