Imagine you're on a train, passing through a dense forest. Around midnight, the mighty locomotive came to a halt, sending passengers lurching forward from their seats and suddenly about 40 armed robbers enter to rob the passengers of everything they own. That's what happened on the Maurya Express on September, 2nd 2010.
In the midst of this dire situation, Bishnu Shrestha, a 35-year-old former Gurkha soldier, initially resigned himself to giving up all his possessions. But everything changed when an 18-year-old girl was forcibly taken by robbers to be raped in front of her parents. The girl cried for help, and Bishnu knew he couldn't stay silent.
With extraordinary courage, Bishnu attacked the robbers with his "kukri," the traditional Gurkha knife he always carried. He counterattacked the robbers, killing three, wounding eight, and forcing the rest to flee.
His actions prompted the other passengers to fight back, eventually forcing the robbers back. Despite a serious injury to his left hand, Bishnu remained standing.
When the train reached the next station, the police arrested the fleeing robbers, complete with their stolen goods. Bishnu was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
The girl's family even offered money as a token of gratitude. But Bishnu flatly refused. He said, "Fighting the enemy on the battlefield is my duty as a soldier. Fighting evil on the train is my duty as a human being."
Salutes to the brave soldier 🫡