During the course of my fieldwork, the most cogent form of ‘martial race’ narrative emerged in story-telling. While at the museum, non-Gurkha visitors of varying nationalities had stories of Gurkha bravery and soldierly to tell. Most of these stories were not first hand, instead coming from parents, grandparents, and friends. One male visitor reported how his friend who had served alongside the Gurkhas was constantly telling tales of their bravery. He ended his summary of these stories by repeating a phrase I heard often: “If a man says he’s not afraid of death he’s either a liar or a Gurkha.”
