Second Nine Gorkha Rifles Celebrated the 50th year of its Battle Honour *Kamarkhali* and Theatre Honour *East Pakistan* as part of the year long *Swarnim Vijay Varsh* celebrations, Second Nine Gorkha Rifles, hosted *35 veterans of the 1971war*, from Nepal and India.

Celebrating the 50th year of its Battle Honour *Kamarkhali* and Theatre Honour *East Pakistan* as part of the year long *Swarnim Vijay Varsh* celebrations, Second Nine Gorkha Rifles, hosted *35 veterans of the 1971war*, from Nepal and India. 

The celebrations took place in *Birpur Garrison* at the foothills of the Shivaliks. 

Second Nine Gorkha Rifles shares a unique bond with Birpur. 

Raised in  Nov 1904 in Lansdowne Garhwal, the battalion marched to Birpur in Dehradun and established a picturesque garrison on the stony plateau across the Tons river.

Second Nine Gorkha Rifles then went on to distinguish itself in various theatres from Mesopotamia to Waziristan and Malaya winning the battle honours *Tigris, Kut Al Amara, Baghdad, Shumran* and *Waziristan.*

 In between it's operational deployments, the battalion returned to Birpur in  the 1930s, to add to the garrison. 

Notable amongst the battles fought, is the opposed river crossing across the flooded Tigris against the well entrenched Turks. The battalion won *23 decorations*, including a Victoria Cross, in this one single action. Seperated from it's B echelon the hungry victorious troops, cheerfully slaughtered the black ram with their _khukries_, and survived till rations fetched up across the river. To this day, the Ninth Gorkhas wear a diamond shaped patch of ram skin on the Gorkha Hat, in memory of that epic battle. 

More than a century later, the battalion as part of its celebrations presented a scintillating _son et lumeire_ and a documentary titled ' *Flash of the Khukri*' showcasing the history of Birpur and the deep bonds of association  with the garrison. 

Amongst the war veterans of 1971, were present  Brig AP Datta VrC ( _aged 81, then Maj, Charlie Company Cdr_),  Col Sundaram ( _aged 77 , then Capt, Charlie Company Officer_ ), Col AK Sabharwal ( _aged 75, then  Lt, Charlie Company Officer),     Col Anil Kalra( _aged  78, then Captain Adjutant_ ) , 

Lt Gen Madan Gopal Iyenger

( _aged 75, then Capt, Bravo Company Officer & Adjt_ )

 Col Ishwar Thapa ( _aged 93, then Captain Quarter Master_ )  Surgeon Captain CV Natarajan ( _aged  81,then Captain, RMO_ ) Maj Pradeep Goyal

( _aged 75, then Captain  Mortar Platoon Cdr_). 

The battalion was also blessed with the presence of Col HN Handa ( _now 86, National Chairman,  Disabled War Veterans Association_ ) who lost his foot in while serving with the battalion in the 1965 war. 

*280* veterans and their families from Nepal attended the celebrations alongwith a large number of their former colleagues from Dehradun and other parts of India. 

Seventeen war widows were honoured by Colonel of the Regiment, Maj Gen Alok Kacker. 

His father Brig PN Kacker SC, VSM had commanded the battalion during the Bangladesh campaign. GOC Uttarakhand Sub Area Maj Gen Sanjiv Khattri VSM, whose father Colonel(then Maj) NS Khattri VSM, was the second in command of the battalion was also present.

Second Nine Gorkha Rifles has a unique tradition of sons following their fathers into the profession of arms. As part of the celebrations, amongst a number of grandfather's who came to see their grandsons serving in the paltan, were a few officers whose father's had served the battalion and the regiment. Maj Gen Kishan Singh son of late Brig Hari Singh, Maj Gen NS Jamwal, son of Col NS Jamwal SC,  Brig Anirban Datta SM, son of Brig AP Datta VrC, Big Rajeev Rawat VSM son of late Col SS Rawat, Col Sanjeev Thapa son of Col Ishwar Thapa, Col Tilak Khattri AMC son of late Lance Naik Tilak Khattri VrC, Col RK Khandka son of Sub Phul Bahadur, Capt Kshitij Karkare son of Col Tushar Karkare and several others were present on this occasion. 

In a solemn ceremony

the *Regimental War Memorial* initially created in Birpur in 1930 and later shifted to Varanasi in 1976, was resurrected at the same spot after 92 years. Bronze statues of Gorkha Soldiers in battle order, stand sentinel on both sides of the original memorial. Set against an imposing backdrop, showcasing the history of the regiment, the memorial is a tribute to the *Braves of Birpur.* 

Traditional martial  dances like the _Khukri Haath_ and cultural performances like the _jhamre_ and _tamang selo_ added variety during the rousing _Barakhana_ where officers and men who had fought shoulder to shoulder in various operations, got together to celebrate and revive their bonds.

An exhibition of war photographs by Col Ishwar Thapa, a 93 year old veteran of the Regiment and the inaugaration of the Veterans Cell and the unveiling of a photo board of all Officers who served in the battalion in the last 118 years, were the other highlights of the event.