Nepalese warrior’s descendant traces his roots to Mussoorie

Tribune News Service

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Mussoorie, February 16

Viking Kunwor, a descendent of Captain Balbhadra Kunwor, a great warrior from Nepal renowned for his bravery during the siege of the Khalanga Fort also known as the Battle of Nalapani that took place during the Anglo-Gurkha War in 1814, is in Mussoorie to collect the traces of history attached with his forefather.

Viking is the sixth generation descendent of Capt Balbhadra, the legendary warrior who was asked to defend the Nalapani Fort from the British during the Anglo-Gurkha War in 1814. To be linked with the lineage of such a brave soldier, who is also referred to as the Lion of Nepal, is the biggest honour for him.

This journey has brought him from Sweden, where he resides now and runs a management and catering company. He also runs an antiques and historical consulting firm — Gurkha Antiques — and believes that he is working in the capacity of a caretaker of history with an objective to educate, encourage and serve the Himalayan region.Viking has visited the Ground Zero at the Khalanga Memorial, Lal Gate at the Garhi Cantonment area and the war memorial at Nalapani.

It is said the British had won the battle but suffered heavy casualties, losing 31 officers and 732 soldiers compared to 520 Gurkha soldiers. It was considered a draw. However, Viking was saddened to see the dilapidated condition of the heritage buildings — the Nepali Palace near Jharipani and the George Everest House near Hathipaon from where the famous Surveyor George Everest continued the work of mapping the Indian sub-continent.

He said: “I see myself as a bridge between different cultures and between history and the modern world. I have begun working to promote “khukri”, a knife that is symbol of Gurkha pride and bravery. I am writing a book on it that will be completed this year. I hope society and politicians will stand up to preserve the rich heritage before it is lost to oblivion”.

About the warrior

Captain Balbhadra Kunwor, a commander of the Gorkhali Forces in Dehradun, was given the responsibility of defending the area that had expanded to Garhwal, thus leading to a conflict with the British East India Company that resulted into the Battle of Nalapani in 1814. Capt Balbhadra, realising that he would not be able to take on the might of 3,500 strong British force, withdrew to the strategic hill Fort of Khalanga on the outskirts of Dehradun. He even turned down Major General Sir Rollo Gillespie’s proposal of the post of Governor of the Western Garhwal on his surrender to the British. The siege continued for a month where General Gillespie along with Col Alice died.

Subsequently, the Nepalese army was outnumbered in Nalapani and Capt Balabhadra was forced to abandon the fort. Balbhadra went to Lahore and joined the regiment of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab. He was killed by Afghan artillery in Naushera, Afghanistan, in 1879.