The Glory of the Nepali Kukri Ignites Nepal and the World from 1762 to Present Day

But it had been in use since the time of Alexander the Great. Nepali Kukri that is renowned in Nepal and India is traditionally made, following the rules and regulations by one of the ethnic groups of Nepal called Biswakarma. When is the kukri worshipped? It is ritually done, according to the Nepali calendar, on the ninth day of the Dashain festival. Why and who are the first users of the Nepali kukri or khukuri? The answer to this question is Nepali, and they use it for slicing and cutting.

History

It tells that the kukri is a copied and improved version of a Greek sword called kopis, accordingly made to the requirements of the hilly people of Nepal. When was the first kukri made? The answer to this question is 4th century B.C. or 13th century, or 7th century. The 4th century is associated with Alexander the Great, and the 13 and 14 centuries with the Malla and Kirat dynasties of Nepal, respectively. When you see the kukris belonging to the Malla and Kirat dynasties in the National Museum in Kathmandu, you will see the realities in the statement. Since they are as old as the time, you can call them antique Gurkha knives as well.

Kukri Use in War

The world knew about the Nepali kukri when the Mughals were miserably defeated inside the territory of Nepal by the Gurkhas. Using kukris, 600 Gurkha troops defeated 4,000 British troops in 1814. Why can’t the kukri be separated from the Indian and the British Gurkhas? It is a must-have weapon when the enemy-occupied territory is inaccessible to war tanks, fighter jets, and missiles. Why kukri or khukuri is called the genuine knife of the Gurkha? Its feature symbolizes the brave characteristic of the Gurkha. In Nepal, the kukri or khukuri knife was and is an important weapon, but its importance reached the peak of its superiority on the battlefield. Another name of kukri is Gurkha blade.

War Stories where Kukri was used

Under the leadership of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Gurkha soldiers defeated thirty-one thousand Muslim soldiers. The Gurkha soldiers were only four thousand in number, and this number is mentioned correctly in the history books of Iraq and Iran. The British were impressed very much with the courageous characteristic of Gurkha in Nepal and called the Gurkha the Brave Enemies to the British. According to Gurkha, we use guns and grenades for protection, but when we have kukris at our hands; our courage grows ten-folds. This is one of the reasons why the British government started recruiting Gurkhas to their armies. The Gurkhas can fight in the desert, hill, and ice.

The Gurkhas also fought for India against Pakistan for six months in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the First World War, in France, Turkey, and Mesopotamia, Gurkhas fought for the British. The Gurkhas also fought in Libya, Syria, Tunisia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Burma in the Second World War. When the Gurkhas were fighting in these countries, they always carried kukri and used it to stab and behead enemies.

Legends who have used the Kukri

Bishnu Prasad Shrestha: He is a Gurkha soldier, who took on 40 dacoits, killed 4 of them, and injured 8 in a train in Bihar, India, on September 2, 2010.

Bal Bhadra Kunwar: He fought against the British in the present borderline between India and Nepal in 1814. The British were surprised at his bravery. This brave man took a kukri in his hand on the last day of the battle.

Gurkhas in the Battle of Gallipoli: They attacked the enemies with kukri and guns.

Hand-to-hand combat with Germans in World War II, using kukris.

Some Facts about Kukri or Khukuri

1. A well-designed Nepali kukri can cut the head of a buffalo at a single stroke.
2. There are different types of kukris, and they are

• Sirupate
• Dhankute
• Bhojpure
• Chainpure
• Chitlange

3. Besides Gurkhas, other regiments also carry kukris, and they are Assam Rifles, Kumao, and Garwal Rifles of India.