The Reviewing officer (RO) of Passing out Parade (POP) of Indian Military Academy (IMA) slated on Saturday and Chief of Nepalese Army General Rajendra Chhetri visited the Khalanga War Memorial at Nalapani on Friday and paid tributes to the martyrs. His wife Rita Chhetri and other senior officers of Nepal Army accompanied the General in paying homage to the Heros of famous ‘Battle of Nalapani’. The delegation was briefed by lt Gen Shakti Gurung ( Rtd), Madhu Gurung and the President of the Khalanga Vikas Samiti, Ram Singh Thapa.
General Chettri lauded the efforts of Gorkha Samiti and Archeological Survey of India ( ASI) in maintaining the historical legacy of Gorkhas and said the Battle of Nalapani was one of the most important landmarks in the history of the Gorkhas.
The Khalanga War Memorial is probably the world’s first Memorial erected by an Army for their opponent. The memorial is constructed by the Britishers in the memory of Major General Rollo Gillepie who was in charge of the attacking British troops and Captain Balbhadra Kunwar, as a mark of tribute to the courage of the Gorkhas. The Battle of Nalapani was the first battle of the Anglo – Nepalese War. In the battle, General Gillespie was killed on the first day of the siege while rallying his men. Despite considerable odds, both in terms of numbers and firepower Captain Balbhadra and his 600 Gorkha troops successfully held out against more than 5,000 British troops for over a month.
