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5 min readFrom Gurkha to SAS: Krishna Thapa's Unlikely Path
When Krishna Thapa's commanding officer called him into his office, the young Gurkha assumed he was in trouble. Instead, he was asked a question that would change his life: "Do you hear about the SAS?" Thapa had no idea what "the slicks" meant, but when his OC told him he'd been selected as one of the first Gurkhas to attempt Special Air Service selection, he responded with the obedience embedded in his upbringing: "If you have trust in me, I can only do my best."
The Gurkha Foundation
Thapa was born into a legacy. His great-great-grandfathers served in the Gurkha regiments, and his grandfather died fighting in World War II. Growing up in the Annapurna foothills, Thapa saw his grandfather's kukri hanging on the wall—a constant reminder of the bloodline he was expected to continue. His father had tried for seven years to join the Gurkhas and failed, making Thapa's path all but predetermined before he was born.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (05:01) **Childhood, Family Legacy, and the Gurkha Dream** - Krishna Thapa describes growing up in Nepal's Annapurna region, his grandfather's kukri hanging on the wall, and his parents' pre-birth dream for him to become a Gurkha.
- 2 (11:16) **The Brutal Gurkha Selection Process** - Krishna details the extreme competition and physical challenges of joining the British Gurkhas, including the iconic "Doko" race.
- 3 (15:28) **Joining the Gurkhas and the Role of British Officers** - Krishna explains the structure of the Gurkha regiments, his initial posting to 1 RGR, and the unique role of British officers.
- 4 (36:52) **The Surprise Call to Try Out for the SAS** - Krishna recounts the moment his commanding officer asked if he had heard of the SAS and told him he was being sent to selection.
- 5 (40:46) **SAS Selection: Being the Smallest in the Room** - Krishna describes the sensory overload of arriving at SAS selection, surrounded by much larger soldiers from the Marines, Paras, and Commandos.
- 6 (47:14) **Culture Shock and Finding a Home in the SAS** - Krishna details the profound culture shock of joining the SAS, from the food to the unique psychology of the regiment.
- 7 (50:30) **The Humbling Jungle Phase and Choosing Mountain Troop** - Krishna describes the 6-week jungle warfare phase in Brunei and his naive decision to join the Mountain Troop.
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Show Notes
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00:00 – Start
01:04 – Growing Up in Nepal & the Gurkha Bloodline
04:56 – His Grandfather, World War II & the Kukri
07:21 – The Kukri: Tool, Symbol & Weapon
08:07 – Being Born Into a Gurkha Family Legacy
10:37 – The History of the Gurkhas
13:03 – Attempting Gurkha Selection at 17
14:10 – The Brutal Doko Race
16:14 – Growing Up in the Himalayas & Preparing for Selection
17:50 – Failing Gurkha Selection the First Time
18:36 – Coming Back & Making It on His Second Attempt
19:55 – Gurkha Basic Training & Learning English
21:39 – British Officers & the Gurkha Command Structure
24:22 – Joining 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles
25:09 – Life Inside a Gurkha Battalion
27:27 – Years of Training, Courses &
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