Gurkha word itself derived from "Go-Raksha" (), "raksha" becoming "rakha" (रखा). "Rakhawala" means "protector" and is derived from "raksha" as well. There are Gurkha military units in the Nepalese, British and Indian armies enlisted in Nepal, United Kingdom and India. Although they meet many of the requirements of Article 47 of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions regarding mercenaries, they are exempt under clauses similarly to the French Foreign Legion. Gurkhas are closely associated with the khukuri, a forward-curving Nepali knife, and have a reputation for fearless military prowess. Former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once stated
The Gurkha Museum 1989 the museum at Church Crookham was closed and the transfer of the artefacts to Winchester began. Field Marshal Lord Bramall officially opened the relocated museum on 16 July 1990. In 1994, a Gurkha Museum was established at a temporary site in Kathmandu; it moved to Pokhara in 2005 and has become one of the main attractions of the area. Besides tableaux, dioramas, showcases and interactive touchscreen displays, there are visual and audio depictions of Nepal and of the Gurkhas' renowned military history, including the award of 26 Victoria Crosses. The collections tell the story of Gurkha service to the