8th Gorkha Rifles | |
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Active | 1824 – Present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Rifles |
Size | 6 Battalions |
Regimental Centre | Shillong, Meghalaya |
Nickname(s) | The Shiny Eight |
Motto(s) | Kayar Hunu Bhanda Marnu Ramro (Better to die than live like a coward) |
Colors | Green; faced black |
March | War Cry: Jai Maa Kali, Ayo Gorkhali (Hail Mother Kali, The Gorkhas are here) |
Engagements | First Anglo–Burmese War Bhutan War World War I World War II Sino-Indian war Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Kargil War Operation Khukri |
Decorations | 4 Victoria Crosses (Pre Independence) 1 George Cross 1 Param Vir Chakra 4 Ashoka Chakras 1 Padma Vibhushan 1 Padma Bhushan 4 Param Vishist Seva Medals 7 Maha Vir Chakras 1 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal 2 Kirti Chakras 8 Ati Vishist Seva Medals and 1 Bar 22 Vir Chakras 13 Shaurya Chakras 1 Yudh Seva Medal 34 Sena Medals 12 Vishist Seva Medals |
Battle honours | Post Independence Punch Chushul Sanjoi and Mirpur Theatre Honours Jammu & Kashmir 1948 Ladakh 1962 Jammu & Kashmir, 1965 |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw |
Insignia | |
Regimental Insignia | A pair of crossed Khukris with the numeral 8 above |
Tartan | Government (pipe bags and ribbons) |
The 8th Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1824 as part of the British East India Company and later transferred to the British Indian Army after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The regiment served in World War I and World War II, before being one of the six (of ten) Gurkha regiments transferred to the Indian Army after independence in 1947. Since then it has served in a number of conflicts including the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. Today the 8th Gorkha Rifles is one of the most celebrated regiments of the Indian Army, having received numerous citations for bravery in the field of battle, and even producing one of the two field marshals of India, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, of the Indian Army.