Explained: How regiments are named in the Indian Army
I Regiments in the Indian Army have been formed based on a
variety of factors, including:
Region: Some regiments are based on the region from which the troops are
recruited.
Caste: Some regiments are based on the caste of the troops.
Community: Some regiments are based on the community of the troops.
History: Some regiments are based on the historical background of the
troops.
Specialization: Some regiments specialize in a particular area, such as
border defense.
Indian Army: A Guide to Its Regiments and Battalions - India
The British East India Company is the origin of the regiments in the Indian
Army. The company employed Indians to protect their trading stations, and
the presidencies of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay each maintained their own
armies. The British government continued to recruit based on caste and
region after the Sepoy mutiny in 1857.
After independence, the Indian Army stopped raising regiments based on
caste or community. However, the army still maintains eligibility criteria
for these regiments for the general rank and file. Commissioned officers
can be from any caste, community, or region.
Some regiments that have been formed include:
Rajputana Rifles, Jat Regiment, 1 Gorkha Rifles, Sikh Regiment, Garhwal
Rifles, and Mahar Regiment.
II The Ahir community has begun demonstrating for the formation of
an Ahir Regiment. However, if a separate regiment is formed for the Ahirs,
then it would be the first time since independence that an infantry
regiment is raised based on caste demarcations.
By CNBCTV18.com Demonstrators from the Ahir community have called for a
rally to demand the creation of an Ahir Regiment in the Indian Army. The
protests are being organised under the banner of Sanyukt Ahir Regiment
Morcha, a group of leaders of the Ahirwal region March 23, 2022, 1:21:32 PM
IST (Published) CNBC-TV18 S
Member of the Ahir community have been on an indefinite strike since
February. “We have given the slogan ‘those who will get the Ahir regiment
formed, shall get the vote',” said Arun Yadav, morcha member, to Indian
Express. “This is a demand for the rights for Yadavs across the country.
The Ahir community has made sacrices in all the wars and they have won
several gallantry awards. In the battle of Rezang La in 1962, out of 120
casualties, 114 were Ahirs. It is unfortunate that Ahirs have not got the
recognition like other communities. The recruitment to President’s
Bodyguard (PBG) is open only for Rajputs, Jats and Sikh regiments.
Just like there is a separate caste-based regiment for Sikhs, Gorkhas,
Jats, Garhwals, and Rajputs, we demand formation of an Ahir regiment in the
army,” said Manoj Yadav, one of the founding members of the morcha. If a
separate regiment is formed for the Ahirs, then it would be the first time
since independence that an infantry regiment would be raised based on caste
demarcations. How are regiments in the Indian Army named? After the revolt
of 1857, the British monarch had assumed direct control of British India
and its princely state dependencies from the British East India Company.
This was the start of the British Raj and the British Indian Army. These
infantry regiments were demarcated around regional lines, caste and
community. These practices were further reinforced after the 1857 rebellion.
It was during this time that regiments like the Rajputana Ries, Jat
Regiment, 1 Gorkha Ries, Sikh Regiment, Garhwal Ries and Mahar Regiment
were formed
After World War II, where over 2 million Indian soldiers fought the Axis
powers for the fate of the world, India got its independence from the
British Empire. India reorganised this massive force into the armies of the
newly independent India and Pakistan based on the same system followed by
the British. The regiments were given new numbers, and occasionally
reorganised with other regiments, but they were allowed to hold their
titles as a sufx within brackets, i.e. 15 Kumaon (Indore). After 1947, the
Indian Army didn’t raise any more regiments based on caste or community but
continued to raise regiments based on regions, like the scout regiments
from Ladakh, Arunachal and Sikkim. While the Indian Army still maintains
the eligibility criteria for the various religion or caste-based regiments,
that is only true for the general rank and le. Commissioned officers can be
from any caste, community or region.
What about Ahir Regiment? While Ahirs have been historically strong
participants in the Indian Army, they are eligible to join regiments like
the Kumaon, J&K Ries, Punjab, Rajputana, and Jat Regiments, among others.
“The issue of Ahir regiment, particularly in Ahirwal region, is an emotive
issue. Ahir population is significantly higher in UP and Bihar as compared
to Haryana. Parties are banking on the emotive factor by invoking caste.
After independence, no regiment has been raised in the army along caste
lines,” said Ram Kanwar, political analyst and former professor, Haryana
Agricultural University, Hisar to Indian Express.
III *Regiments of Indian Army*
The military’s Indian Army Regiments division specialises in foot combat.
The infantry is also called foot troops since they frequently move between
fights on foot. In addition to military vehicles, mounts, and other modes
of mobility, Indian Army Regiments also employ them. Infantry weapons make
up most of the arsenal of the Indian Army. The following is a list of
Regiments in the Indian Army:
*Serial Number*
*Indian Army Regiments*
1
Ladakh Scouts
2
Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry
3
Brigade of The Guards
4
Arunachal Scouts
5
Mahar Regiment
6
Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
7
Grenadiers
8
Assam Regiment
9
Bihar Regiment
10
Garhwal Rifles
11
Kumaon Regiment
12
Mechanised Infantry Regiment
13
Parachute Regiment
14
Dogra Regiment
15
Punjab Regiment
16
Madras Regiment
17
1 Gorkha Rifles
18
Rajputana Rifles
19
Naga Regiment
20
Sikh Regiment
21
8 Gorkha Rifles
22
4 Gorkha Rifles
23
Maratha Light Infantry
24
11 Gorkha Rifles
25
3 Gorkha Rifles
26
Jat Regiment
27
9 Gorkha Rifles
IV n 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Samajwadi Party in its election
manifesto promised to form a caste-based Ahir Infantry Regiment, if they
came in power. Also, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad demanded the
reinstation of the Chamar regiment which was formed during World War II.
The caste-based regiment was not only political agenda but the National
Commission for Scheduled Castes also supported the move. The commission
wrote a letter to the then Minister of Defence, Manohar Parrikar for the
reinstatement of the Chamar regiment.
History of Caste-based regiment
After 1857 Sepoy mutiny, the caste and region-based recruitment were done
by the British Government in the Indian Army to divide it into martial and
non-martial races. The Jonathan Peel Commission was tasked to identify
social groups and regions to recruit loyal soldiers. Since the revolt was
from Eastern and Southern parts of India, the British government didn't
recruit them in the Army and changed the centre of recruitment to Northern
India. However, independent India continued the caste and region-based
regiments due to their history and ethos.
In 1903, a caste-based regiment was created in the form of 1st and 3rd
(Gaur) Brahman Infantry which was disbanded after World War I. The second
caste-based regiment, 'Chamar regiment' was formed during the World War II
and was disbanded in December 1946. In 1941, the 1st Lingayat battalion was
created which initially served as an infantry unit and then as an anti-tank
regiment. The battalion was disbanded in the late 1940s.
Martial Class: The British Government categorized brave and well-built
people under this category for fighting. North Indians were given
preference by the British.
Non-martial Class: This class was believed to be unfit for battle by the
British Government. Bengalis were categorized by the British as non-martial
races due to the 1857 revolt. Also, the Bengali's spearheaded the
nationalist movements in India in the early years.
It can be said that the recruitment based on races and caste was done to
divide the colonial Indian society and to stop the revolts in the future.
V The bodyguard of the Indian President is a small unit having
nearly 150 troops which are still selected from three castes-- Hindu Jaat,
Jat Sikh and Rajput. The President's Bodyguard unit was formed in the year
1773 by the then Governor Warren Hastings under different titles-- The
Governor General's Bodyguard (GGBG)' in 1784, 'The Viceroy's Bodyguard' in
1858, the '44th Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron GGBG' in 1944.
The Indian Army has cited in the Supreme Court that the recruitment from
these three castes is done purely on the basis of functional requirement
and is not based on caste and religion. It further stated that the
ceremonial duties in the Rashtrapati Bhawan demand common height, built and
appearance.
VI Fact Check by Vishvas News: Several social media users are
claiming through a post that the Indian Army had a Muslim Regiment, which
was disbanded after incidents of betrayal during the 1965 war with
Pakistan. These posts assert that the regiment existed until 1965 and was
disbanded following allegations of Muslim soldiers siding with Pakistan
during the conflict.
The fact-check team found this claim to be fake in its
investigation. The Indian Army never had a Muslim regiment, so the claim of
it being disbanded is false and contrary to factual records.
VII WHY THERE IS NO MUSLIM REGIMENT IN INDIAN ARMY: You will be
astonished to know that there was a Muslim regiment till 1965. There are
two major incidents which forced army to remove them.
✓1. On 15/Oct/1947 when Pakistan and Afghanistan Pathans attack India, the
whole sleeping brave GURKHA company was murdered by fellow Muslim brother
soldiers of own Battalion. Company commander Prem Singh was the first to
become victim. 2 Gurkha JCO's with 30 other ranks manage to escape and fled
to Jhangar to report the incident. Next day Major Nasarullah Khan led the
Muslim troops to Tharochhi fort where the Garrison, blissfully recieved
them. Unaware of the development of night before and what was to befall
them soon. At night, the unsuspecting Gorkhas were all murdered in a
ghastly repeat performance. Their commander captain Raghubeer Singh Thapa
was "torchered to death". P.M. Nehru suppressed the matter. It's all
mentioned in the book "The Military Plight of Pakistan"
✓2. Another big thing that was hidden by Nehru during the 1947 war with
Pakistan was that many of the Muslims laid down their weapons & joined
Pakistan under the British major John Bird to fight the Indians but in the
latter stage the British major was suspended & was immediately lifted to
England on the next ship. Late Sardar Patel wanted to make it public but
was ordered not to do so by Gandhi.
✓3. During 1965 Indo-Pak war Muslim regiment of 30,000 Indian soldiers not
only denied to fight with Pakistan but went to Pakistan with weapons to
support them. It put India in big trouble as they over trusted them. Lal
Bahadur Shastri before being poisoned abolished Muslim regiment.
K Rajaram IRS 271124
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