Mr. Bean is one such character that has made us laugh with his actions. Mr. Bean is one of the most loved characters as well. He successfully reached every household with his humor. The real name of Mr. Bean is Rowan Atkinson. Little did we know that, apart from playing the Mr. Bean character, he has also appeared in several other Hollywood movies, such as James Bond, Never Say Never Again, Four Weddings and a Funeral, etcetera. But why are we discussing Mr. Bean here? How is he related to Gorkha? The Gorkhas are known as the bravest of the brave; they are one of the world’s most fearless troops.

Once, the former Chief of Army Staff and First Field Marshal of the Indian Army, Sam Manekshaw, quoted, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, either he is lying or he is a gorkha.” With no fear, Gorkhas are always ready to face any odds against them. Gorkhas or Gurkhas are part of various armed forces of different nations, such as the Indian Army, the British Army, the Singapore Police Force, etcetera. Fighting in different war zones, Gorkhas have been awarded the highest gallantry awards, the Victoria Cross and Param Vir Chakra, for their valor and sacrifice.

When the British East India Company declared war on Nepal in 1814, the British were impressed by the bravery of Nepali Gorkha soldiers. Both sides decided to end the war with a treaty of Segauli signed in 1816, 2 years after the war, and from that point, the Gorkha Regiments began to be raised as part of the East India Company’s army. When India gained independence in 1947, ten Gorkha regiments were split between India and Britain. Agreements were made between Nepal, India, and Britain to recruit soldiers from Nepal.

Every year, thousands of young boys leave their homes to join Gorkha regiments of various armies. They must pass a rigorous selection process that includes a written exam, endurance, strength, medical exams, and other tests. After getting selected, they go through rigorous training for months and take an oath with the promise to protect the motherland. Finally, they earn a combat uniform, which makes them soldiers. They carry different weapons with them, but the specialized weapon of the Gorkha is the Khukuri, a short sword with a recurve in its blade.

Usually a child chooses a profession that their parents are part of, but with Ben
Atkinson, the son of Rowan Atkinson, it was different. He did not choose the career of acting or directing, but he chose to join the British Army in the Gorkha Regiment. After spending some time in training and learning about the different cultures of Nepal, he successfully joined the Brigade of Gorkhas of the British Army as a lieutenant. According to the reports, he learned languages quickly, and it was not difficult for him to learn different cultures.

The news of him joining the Brigade of Gorkhas of the British Army spread widely throughout the world, shocking everyone. It also shows that parents should allow their children to pursue careers in whatever they are happy with.

Writer : Prajwal Thapa

Address : Tilottama-01, Shankarnagar “Banwatika” Rupandehi