Raising

11 Gorkha Rifles was raised after independence by a Tripartite Agreement between Govt of India, Nepal and Britain on 09 Nov 1947. As per this agreement, the 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th Gorkha Rifles were tfr to On 01 Jan 1948, 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre was raised at Palampur, the erstwhile Regt Trg Centre of 7 Gorkha Rifles. In 1948, as the No of non optees increased, three units were raised. Later one bn was raised in 1960 and remaining three were raised after the Sino Indian Conflict in 1962.ian and Nepalese Govts. Tps from the 7th and 10th Gorkha Rifles opted against the tfr to the British Army in large numbers. Tps of the 7th and 10th Gorkha Rifles hailed from Eastern Nepal. Since there was no Gorkha Regt in the Indian Army with tps from Eastern Nepal, as also keeping in mind the large No of non-optees and their fighting qualities, it was decided to re-raise 11 Gorkha Rifles, a regt which had been raised and demob in the First Wold War.

On 01 Jan 1948, 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre was raised at Palampur, the erstwhile Regt Trg Centre of 7 Gorkha Rifles. In 1948, as the No of non optees increased, three units were raised. Later one bn was raised in 1960 and remaining three were raised after the Sino Indian Conflict in 1962.

Participation in Ops 

The 11 Gorkha Rifles had the proud privilege of having most of its bns participating in practically all the ops undertaken by the Indian Army since independence. The Bns of 11 GR have taken part in Hyderabad ops and J&K ops in 1948, Indo Pak war of 1965 and 1971, famous Chola incident in 1967 where the tps fought a gallant action against the Chinese in a localized border skirmish and Kargil ops in 1999. Some of the maj events are encapsulated in succeeding paras.

1971 Ops. An 11 GR Bn won the Battle Honours ‘Shingo River Valley” and theatre honour ‘J&K’ in Kargil another was awarded battle honour ‘Bogra’ and theater honour ‘East Pakistan’ in Bangla Desh. Yet another Bn was awarded the ‘Theatre Honour J&K, for its stubborn action in Chicken Neck area of J&K in 1971. Rfn Dhan Bahadur Rai of the same bn was awarded VrC for shooting down a Pakistani ac with his LMG in the same ops. The Regt won numerous other awards during the Indo Pak war.

Op PAWAN. Two Bns of the Regt took part in ops in Sri Lanka and acquitted themselves commendably.

Counter Insurgency Ops (NE). All the Bns of the Regt have carried out CI ops in NE. One of the Bn has also been awarded the “COAS Unit Citation” for excellent performance during OP BAJRANG and OP RHINO in Assam.

Op RAKSHAK (J & K). The Regt has performed exceptionally well in Op Rakshak. 2/Lt Puneet Dutt was awarded ‘ASHOKA CHAKRA’ posthumously for his bravery in 1997and one bn has been awarded “COAS Unit Citation” for excellent performance in CI ops in Kashmir valley in 1989-92.

Op MEGHDOOT. Three units of the Regt have participated in Op Meghdoot and gave good acct of themselves at the highest battlefield in the world.

Op VIJAY. The Regt was an active participant in Op Vijay and carved a niche for itself in the annals of the history of Indian Army. Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded PVC posthumously and his Bn was awarded “COAS Unit Citation” for the second time. The unit has also been conferred with the title of “Bravest of the Brave” and awarded the “Battle Honour BATALIK” and the ‘Theatre Honour KARGIL’ for acts of gallantry in OP VIJAY.

Overseas Msn. Three Bns of the Regt have had the honour to represent India in UN msns, a commendable record for the smallest Regt of the Army.

Wherever the battle fd, the Regt has carved an enviable niche for itself and acquitted itself honourably in keeping with its motto of “YATRAHAM VIJAY STATRA” (In Hindi – Main Jahan Vijay Wahan. In English - We The Metaphor for Victory).

Battle Honours, Theatre Honours & Unit Citations 

Battle Honour

SHINGO River Valley - 1971
BOGRA - 1971
BATALIK - 1999

Theatre Honour

J&K - 1971
East Pakistan - 1971
J&K - 1971
KARGIL - 1999

COAS Unit Citation

Uri-Baramula(1989-92) - OP RAKSHAK
ASSAM (1990-92) - OP RHINO & OP BAJRANG
1999 - OP VIJAY

GOC-in-C Unit Citation

GOC-in-C,NC - OP RAKSHAK & PARAKRAM
GOC-in-C, CC - OP SAHAYTA (ORISSA)
GOC-in-C, CC - LUCKNOW

Appreciation by FORCE CDR (UN MSN)

2006 - MONUC (CONGO)
2010 - UNIFIL (LEBNON)

Gallantry Awards The gallantry awards won by the Regt :-

Pre-Indep Awards (Non Optees to British Army)

Victoria Cross - 01
Military Medal - 21
Indian Distinguished Service Medal - 09
Military Cross - 06
Mentioned-in-Despatches - 31
Indian Order of Merit - 01
Jangi Inam - 24

Post Indep Awards

Padma Bhushan - 01
Param Vir Chakra - 01
Ashok Chakra - 04
Param Vishisht Seva Medal - 12
Maha Vir Chakra - 02
Kirti Chakra - 03
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal - 16
Vir Chakra - 14
Shaurya Chakra - 13
Yudh Seva Medal - 03
Uttam Jeewan Raksha Padak - 01
Sena Medal - 82
Vishisht Seva Medal - 29
Jeevan Raksha Padak - 01
Mentioned-in-Despatches - 31

Award Winners