Was there any ritual of committing suicide among Ghurkas?

[Manoucher Moshtagh]

I mean the Japanese used to have the Seppuku (or Harakiri in vulgar terms). If yes how was it conducted?

Regards,

Manoucher

 

[PipeyCain]

Yes they do....When their weapons run out of ammunition, they unsheath their kukris and charge in to the enemy lines yelling "Ayo Gurkhali!!!!!!"

 

[Walosi]

As a form of "ritual suicide", the Khukuri Charge is not dependably successful, unless you are an enemy who choses to stay and try to hold position. Their motto is "Better to die than be a coward", and self destruction isn't considered bravery. Their credo does not allow room for "giving up" - it just is'nt in their make-up.

 

[Bill Martino]

Most Gorkhas are Hindu or Buddhist and their belief says if you put an end to yourself you've wasted your life and have to return and go thru the very same thing again but without suicide. So, along with everything else it's just a waste.

 

[PipeyCain]

Aye Uncle Bill! At no time in any historical documents have I ever found any accounts of suicide committed by Gurkhas. As Walosi pointed out it is not in their genetic make up.
As for the Kukri charge, although it is not suicide it often lead to the death of Gurkhas. Some British observers considered the kukri charge suicidal though ask any Gurkha that suvived them and they will tell you that they prefer to live...

 

[WrongFriend]

I hate those lazy introducer of Japanese culture hudreds years ago... Seppuku / Harakiri was just one of kinds of execution by himself.

A samurai, as a born law enforcer caste, must show his qualification by any chance possible, that he treats people so fair that he could execute any illegality including himself. It was something like the sword of Damokles, only the sword happened to fall.

The ethic was reinforced by law system. If he refused the execution and ran away, law said the house (under strong influence by Coufucianism, the value of accumulated legacy from ancesters was higher than we think) was to be ruined.

Much later in early 20 century, fanatic military guys were so anachronistic and reminiscense that harakiri was a very good tool to dicipline soldiers to be a fierce death commandoes. Now harakiri became something between ritual suicide and a toxic pill embedded in spy's tooth.

 

[Bill Martino]

When I was considering becoming a Naval Aviator like John Powell one of the considerations was what to do if you had to punch out behind enemy lines and as usual I try to preplan for every eventuality. My decision was this: Never allow yourself to be captured. If you go down behind enemy lines try to take as many out as you can knowing you'll be taken out yourself in the end. If this fails save one for yourself and don't give the bastards the pleasure.

If that's suicide I understand it.