Over the last 200 years everything from Gorkha, Gurkha, Goorkhas and other ways of spelling it has been used by the Military and adds to some confusion as well. Please use common sense when drawing conclusions.
The word “Gorkhali” means all the people (of different faiths, language groups and ethno-tribal groups whom originated, lived, served and/or “ate the salt” of the Gorkha King(s) at some stage. Gorkhali applied to the larger community of people in and out of Nepal, who at some stage came from the Lands of the Gorkha King, which became Nepal. Being a Gorkhali was about a origin, a common language, a shared culutral base and those who trace their forefathers back to the land governed by the Shah dynasty of Gorkha at some stage.
A word which goes back to a time when the idea of nation-states was thought about rather differently and some events of history had not happened. It never meant only those residing or with citizenship of Nepal (citizenship is a result of a nation-state developing and a “modern” idea in Nepal) but included groups in what is today India, Tibet, Bhutan, Burma and elsewhere.
In due course words have been simplified to Gorkha and Gurkha (and the confusion there in-between) which today means:
Nepalese/Nepali, a person from Nepal and their national language.
Gorkhali, originally the people and military from the town and/or area of Gorkha. With the growth and expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom those whom accepted the reign of the Shah dynasty of Gorkha and became their subjects. Nepal was until the late 19th century refered to the Gorkha Kingdom and only in the 1920-30´s finally called Nepal and Nepalese (partly due to British pressure).
Gorkha, member of the Indian Army´s Gorkha Rifles or other units which recruits Nepalese citizens or people of Nepali origin with Indian citizenship. Gorkha can also refer to the people of the Nepalese diaspora spread over South Asia, the vast majority with roots and strong relationship to the Indian Military and/or colonial Armed Forces. Most likely had a forefather whom immigrated when their language was called Gorkhali and Nepal was refered to as the Gorkha Kingdom. Gurkha, member of the British Army´s Brigade of Gurkhas (and Singapore Police Force) which recruits Nepalese citizens. Gurkha can also refer to the people of the Nepalese diaspora spread over the UK and Commonwealth which have at some stage served in the British Armed Forces after 1947. It can also refer to a member of the colonial Indian Army whom served in a Gurkha Regiment or battalion as various words from Gurkha – Gorkha – Goorkhas and other words were used.
Gurkha, member of the British Army´s Brigade of Gurkhas (and Gurkha Contingent of the Singapore Police Force) which recruits Nepalese citizens. Gurkha can also refer to the people of the Nepalese diaspora spread over the UK and Commonwealth which have at some stage served in the British Armed Forces after 1947. It can also refer to a member of the colonial Indian Army whom served in a Gurkha Regiment or battalion as various words from Gurkha – Gorkha – Goorkhas and other words were used over the 19th and early 20th century
