Reva: My name is Reva. I'm eight years old and I live in Surrey. Today I'm meeting Captain Ganesh Rai, who is a special kind of soldier in the British army, called a Gurkha. My father is also a Gurkha. Captain Ganesh works with him. Gurkhas are soldiers from a country called Nepal in South Asia, and are best known for their courage and loyalty. The Brigade of Gurkhas have fought with the British army for the past 200 years.
So, Captain Ganesh, why did you become a Gurkha?
Captain Ganesh: My father was my inspiration. He was a Gurkha and he fought so many important battles in Second World War time. I can remember that he was injured in one of the battles in Italy, and he had to come back home after that. But he always talked about that, how proud he was to fight along with with his friends in the British army. Because of that, I wanted to follow my father's footsteps. I went to Hong Kong and start my training. My dream was to join 7th Gurkha Rifle because that was my father's unit. When I was told that I was selected for joining the 7th Gurkha Rifle, I was really, really excited and really happy. Therefore, in 1992, January 1992, I passed the training and that's how I become a Gurkha.
Reva: So how did the Gurkhas start fighting with the British army?
Captain Ganesh: About 200 years ago India was controlled by Britain. In some occasions Gurkha invaded India from Nepal because India and Nepal is next to each other. And for that reason, Britain declared war against Nepal. So both sides end up admiring each other about their fighting abilities and loyalty. So they think it is better to be friends than foe. Ever since the Gurkha fought every war alongside with the British. 130,000 Gurkha soldiers fought during World War Two. Many of them died and never returned home. But they demonstrated their bravery. Victoria Cross is the highest honour that a British soldier can receive, and it is awarded to the soldiers that are really, really brave. And 26 of them were won by Gurkha soldier.
Reva: So what was it like to move to the UK?
Captain Ganesh: Everything was different. UK was different country, different temperature, different weather, and the way of life was completely different. So it was really, really difficult at that time. Eventually I started making friends and I started feeling like home there as well.
Reva: What's the most challenging thing about being a Gurkha?
Captain Ganesh: Well, Reva I've done three tours in Afghanistan and it was really, really hard. It was hard because you had to be very on your toes always, because you had to be ready to attack if any enemy attack unto you. But by far, the most challenging thing I ever experienced in my life as being Gurkha is being separated from my family. When I joined the Gurkha and leave Nepal for Britain, first time, I had married to my wife and we had a new-born baby. And I left my new-born baby girl when she was three months for three years, and I couldn't see them. My wife and my daughter, for three years. It was really, really challenging. In 11 years time after I joined, my family were able to come to UK and join me.
Reva: What does being a Gurkha mean to you?
Captain Ganesh: I would say it's everything. Following my father's footsteps is a really, really great experience in my life. And also British army and Gurkha has a special relationship, and I am really, really proud to be part of that.
Reva: Speaking with Captain Ganesh has made me realise how special Gurkha soldiers are and how hard they have worked to serve in the British army. I feel very grateful that they are here helping to keep us all safe.
Video summary
8 year-old Reva talks to Captain Ganesh Rai about the contribution of Gurkha soldiers to the British army over the past 200 years, especially during World war Two.
Reva explains that Gurkhas are soldiers from a country called Nepal in South Asia and talks to Captain Ganesh about how Gurkhas are known for their courage and loyalty, learning that Gurkha soldiers have won 26 Victoria Cross medals, which is one of the highest awards a British soldier can receive, and awarded for bravery.
Captain Ganesh talks about being inspired to become a Gurkha by his father, who fought in many important battles in World War Two and was proud to fight alongside his friends in the British army.
He explains the history of this special relationship, that began in conflict between the Gurkhas and the British over 200 years ago whilst Britain controlled India, and developed into a mutual respect.
Captain Ganesh reveals how hard it was to be apart from his family when he moved to Britain as part of his training, leaving his wife and new-born baby for three years, until they eventually joined him in the UK.
This short film is from the 鶹Լ Teach series British Asian History.
Teacher Notes
Learning points:
- To learn about the contribution of a diverse range of people during World War Two: focus on the Gurkhas of Nepal.
- To learn about the reasons why people have emigrated to Britain from Asia over time, and in the post-war years.
Key Vocabulary
This film gives you the chance to explore and learn this vocabulary in the context of a personal story.
Vocabulary used in the film:
- Empire
- Soldier
- Unit
- Courage
- Loyalty
- Veteran
- Rifles
- Captain
- British army
- Gurkha
Vocabulary useful for discussing the film:
- Immigration and immigrants - coming to live permanently in another country.
- Emigration - leaving one's own country in order to settle permanently in another.
- Asia/Asian - the largest and most populous continent on earth.
- Britain/ British - "Great Britain" is often used to refer to England, Scotland and Wales, including their component adjoining islands.Great Britain and Northern Ireland now constitute the United Kingdom.
- Community - a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
- Culture - a pattern of behaviour shared by a society, or group of people.
- Discrimination - the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people.
- Diversity - differences in racial and ethnic, socioeconomic, geographic and academic backgrounds.
- Equality - when people are treated the same, regardless of what they look like or where they come from.
- Inclusion - being a part of what everyone else is, being welcomed and embraced as a member who belongs.
- Legacy - something we inherit from past generations and pass to our future generations.
- Prejudice - a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
- Racism - the belief that people of different races or ethnic groups have different value in society, and using this against them.
Before watching the film
You may want to discuss what your pupils understand by the word ‘immigrant’ and what they already know about people who have come to live in the UK, over time. Pupils could discuss what they understand by the term ‘community’ and whether they identify as being part of any communities.
In the film, Ganesh talks about Gurkhas fighting alongside the British army. You may want to find out what your pupils already know about the British army.
You could make links with the children's prior knowledge of World War Two, since Ganesh’s father fought alongside the British army during the war.
Please note, the film shows soldiers in uniform. As part of your preparation, you should consider pupils who have lived experience of war or soldiers.
Questions to consider
Depending on the focus of your lesson, you may wish to pause the short film at certain points to check for understanding, asking questions such as:
- Why do Gurkhas fight alongside the British army even though Nepal is so far away?
- How did Ganesh’s father influence him in becoming a Gurkha?
- What contribution did the Gurkhas make to World War Two?
- Ganesh was separated from his family at times. How do you think this felt? Why do you think he still wanted to be a Gurkha?
Activities to further explore learning
- Pupils could set Ganesh’s story alongside what they are learning or have learnt about World War Two. They could explore other sources of information about the Gurkhas and use this as a starting point for non-fiction writing.
- Pupils could add information about the Gurkhas to a time-line covering the period of World War Two, building the chronological understanding.
- Having watched the film, pupils could write down any questions they would ask Ganesh if they had the opportunity.
How this film meets the aims of the National Curriculum in England:
- History
This film will help you to ensure your pupils understand the history of these places as a coherent, chronological narrative, focusing on the 19th Century to the present day. Through this personal story, pupils will learn about the diversity of people who have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.
Pupils will develop deeper understanding of historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, and frame historically-valid questions.
They will also gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales.
How this film meets the aims of the Scottish Curriculum:
Social Studies
This film will enable pupils to compare and contrast communities and the lives of people in the past with their own, and to contribute to a discussion of the similarities and differences.They will find out why people and events from a particular time in the past were important, placing them within a historical sequence.
Health and Welbeing Across the Curriculum
This film will help pupils to develop self-awareness, self-worth and respect for others, understanding diversity and that it is everyone’s responsibility to challenge discrimination.
How this film meets the aims of the The Northern Ireland Curriculum:
- The World Around Us
This film will enable pupils to learn about how people and places have changed over time, the causes and effects of people moving from one place to another, and the positive and negative impacts of people on places. Exploring the lives and memories of people from the past is part of the history non-statutory guidance and this film provides an ideal starting point for this.
- Personal Development
This film will enable pupils to appreciate the similarities and differences between themselves and others by providing a starting point for discussing cultural heritage, community and the diversity of people living in Britain.
How this film meets the aims of the National Curriculum in Wales:
History
This film will enable pupils to place events chronologically, identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different places during the 20th Century, and to discuss the consequences to people of historic events.Personal and Social Education Framework
This film will help pupils to see people who have been active citizen and help them to develop respect for others. Through personal stories, pupils will learn the value of diversity and recognise the importance of equality of opportunity.
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