ARTICLES
“IT’S YOU HE DOESN’T KNOW” Many who read this will have endured that indeterminate period when no Gurkha soldier below the rank of Lieutenant (QGO) understood a word one said, until the magical day when, suddenly, everyone understood. It certainly happened to me, and I remember perfectly clearly when and where my moment came. But this is not about me…
O
n my last trip to Delhi, in January 1995, Lieutenant Colonel ‘SS’ Singh, CO 3rd/1st Gorkha Rifles, then Public Duties Battalion, invited me, along with Tej Pal Singh who was hosting me in Delhi, to visit his Officers’ Mess, followed by dinner in his official quarter. This last was the bungalow in which had lived the architect who designed the Red Fort, while building took place around him. SS’s wife, Bunny, would be there together with Hari and Bholi Ahluwalia: truly, company and a setting one simply wouldn’t miss. Arriving at the gate to the Fort, TP’s car and driver were stopped. Dismounting and speaking Hindi, TP tried to explain our intention to the Gorkha corporal IC Quarter Guard. Unsmiling, the NCO appeared to understand not a word, and nor did any member of
the Guard standing by, watching a 300 pound Sikh becoming increasingly frustrated, and just holding on to his temper. I believe that all Indian Army Gorkhas have to learn Hindi, but I said, “Let me try.” “Corporal, shayad ma samjaunu paryo”. With a snappy, “hajur!”, the NCO sprang to attention and saluted. “Dherai samay pahile, ma Che Gurkha Paltanma naukri garen. Ahile, tapainko Commanding Saheb hamiharulai bolaunu bhayo, Officers’ Messma kehi piunulai ani, tespachhi, usko qotama khana khanulai”. Another “hajur!”, and the now smiling guard commander said that he had been waiting for us; the jeep and driver next to the guardroom were to take us to the Mess and, later, to the CO’s house. A second salute, and off we went, an incandescent Tej Pal spluttering in the back. “What happened? This is our army, not yours!!” Amused to find the ‘system’ seemed to work across different armies, I explained it to TP. “But he doesn’t know you!” said TP. “Well, no – and yes, he does. He was expecting a former British Gurkha officer, and when someone turns up, speaks his language and tells him what he wants to hear, of course he understands. It’s quite simple, TP; it’s you he doesn’t know.” Jack Keen
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