The British and the Indians: A Relationship of Subjugation
To the British imperial mind, the world existed to be conquered. When they first arrived in India, they saw a civilization that was foreign, exotic, and—in their eyes—in need of "civilizing." The British treated Indians as subjects to be ruled, their culture as something to be studied but not respected, their lands as resources to be exploited. The colonial machinery systematically dismantled India’s economy, suppressed its traditions, and imposed alien systems of governance. Even after the 1857 Rebellion, which the British brutally crushed, they viewed Indians with suspicion, enforcing policies of divide and rule to weaken any unified resistance. The relationship was one of master and subject—never of equals.
The British and the Gurkhas: A Brotherhood of Warriors
But when the British encountered the Gurkhas of Nepal, they saw something different—something familiar. The Gurkhas, with their fierce bravery, rugged endurance, and unshakable discipline, reminded the British officers, particularly the Scottish nobles in the East India Company, of their own Highland warriors. The Scottish Highlanders, like the Gurkhas, were known for their martial spirit, loyalty, and resilience in battle. This recognition forged an instant bond. After the hard-fought Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816), the British didn’t just defeat the Gurkhas—they admired them. They recruited them, fought alongside them, and treated them with a respect seldom shown to other native troops. Unlike Indian sepoys, who were distrusted after 1857, Gurkhas were embraced as brothers-in-arms, dining in British officers’ messes and earning a legendary reputation in every imperial campaign.
A Colonial Double Standard
This stark contrast reveals the hypocrisy of British imperialism. While Indians were subjugated, their culture dismissed, and their rebellions crushed, the Gurkhas were celebrated as noble savages—honorable, trustworthy, and worthy of respect. The British, who saw themselves as the natural rulers of the world, made an exception for those who mirrored their own martial ideals. The Gurkhas’ similarity to the Highland clans made them more than just mercenaries; they became imperial mascots, a symbol of Britain’s selective admiration. Even today, Gurkhas serve in the British Army, a lingering testament to this unequal colonial legacy—where one conquered people were oppressed, while another, through shared warrior ethos, were exalted.