British Indian Soldiers : A British Perspective

[Samandri]

Whoever the author is, is a shyt talking poet, blabbing load of non-sense.....if murder, theft and adultery are not crimes in the eyes of Pathans then why it has severest repercussions?.....Among Pashtuns, murder triggers tribal wars, thief is killed if captured and the culprits of adultery are also killed if caught

 

[litman]

We South Asians are brilliant when someone tells us what to do but when we're in the driving seat ourselves....we're shyte !

The Gora Sahib ruled us for 200 years because we don't have any self-respect and not an ounce of the desire required to progress as a region. What we do have is plenty of false pride, chest thumping and the superhuman ability to inflict tremendous harm on ourselves.

i don't know why muslims from subcontinent joined the british army and fought for them in world wars? they were not doing any jihad . they surely didn't get thte status of ghazi or shaheed in islam, off course Allah knows what's inside the heart but somethings are very obvious. they definitely got the status of low paid mercenaries.

 

[Signalian]

 

[Kambojaric]

i don't know why muslims from subcontinent joined the british army and fought for them in world wars? they were not doing any jihad . they surely didn't get thte status of ghazi or shaheed in islam, off course Allah knows what's inside the heart but somethings are very obvious. they definitely got the status of low paid mercenaries.

A wide list of reasons, some are:

1) The British built vast canal colonies in Punjab which they offered to their soldiers upon completion of service. In a province where the majority of the populace lived in rural areas, the prospect of owning vast tracts of lands was very attractive, not only due to financial reasons, but also the prestige that went along with owning land, and the 'Chaudhry' titled that one gained subsequently.

(The British) began construction of a new work of canals, their branches and distributaries in the plains of the Western Punjab. This process was initiated in 1885 and continued intermittently until the end of the British rule, during which period large tracts inhabited by semi-nomadic peoples were brought under cultivation. There were nine such areas, called the Canal Colonies, where land with sufficient canal water became available.The British Indian government distributed this land mainly on political considerations, that is, to reward people and communities for services to the Raj. Substantial tracts of the colony lands were allotted to ex-servicemen, both officers and other ranks, which enhanced the attraction of army service for peasants. Land was also granted for keeping breeding horses, camels, and other animals for the supply to the army and taking care of them. Substantial allotments of land were made to the veterans of World War I. No other field of work was pledging such a great return in the North than joining the Army.

page 10, Punjabisation' in the British Indian Army 1857 - 1947 and the Advent of Military Rule in Pakistan, by Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi

2) Many tribes in the wider Punjab regions as well as in KPK of course have 'martial' traditions, in which joining the military is seen as an honourable thing to do. Our current Chief Sharif comes from such a family. Men from such backgrounds are hence just continuing the tradition that has been followed by their ancestors for centuries.

3) The inclusion of Punjab and KPK into 'British India' was spearheaded by soldiers primarily originating from the Gangetic Belt and Bengal (Purbias and Bengalis). In 1857 there was little love lost hence between men from regions such as Punjab and KPK for a rebellion that was centred around the gangetic plains, and many opted to the join the British army.

4) For men from poorer backgrounds, joining the British army meant a safe financial livelihood for them and their families.

 

[Icarus]

The Hazara is probably the nearest approach to the European you will find in the Indian Army.

The Hazara community has no commonality with India. The Hazara people are Pakistanis. Correct this fact.

Their country, Baltistan, or Little Tibet, lies to the north of Kashmir, between Fadakh and the Gilgit district.

Baltistan isn't a country. It's Pakistani territory.

The above article is filled with false information and inaccuracies.

This stuff is pre-partition, atleast take the time to make out context.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

A wide list of reasons, some are:

1) The British built vast canal colonies in Punjab which they offered to their soldiers upon completion of service. In a province where the majority of the populace lived in rural areas, the prospect of owning vast tracts of lands was very attractive, not only due to financial reasons, but also the prestige that went along with owning land, and the 'Chaudhry' titled that one gained subsequently.



page 10, Punjabisation' in the British Indian Army 1857 - 1947 and the Advent of Military Rule in Pakistan, by Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi

2) Many tribes in the wider Punjab regions as well as in KPK of course have 'martial' traditions, in which joining the military is seen as an honourable thing to do. Our current Chief Sharif comes from such a family. Men from such backgrounds are hence just continuing the tradition that has been followed by their ancestors for centuries.

3) The inclusion of Punjab and KPK into 'British India' was spearheaded by soldiers primarily originating from the Gangetic Belt and Bengal (Purbias and Bengalis). In 1857 there was little love lost hence between men from regions such as Punjab and KPK for a rebellion that was centred around the gangetic plains, and many opted to the join the British army.

4) For men from poorer backgrounds, joining the British army meant a safe financial livelihood for them and their families.

No bangali was part of the Bengal presidency army .. It was composed of Bihari/Awadi Rajputs and forces of Awadi sultan .. Mostly bihari Muslims,Rajputs and Brahmins.. Hence during 58 mutiny the Panjabis,Pashtuns,Gurkhas didn't mind crushing the men who spearheaded the attacks on Panjab,KPK etc.

 

[Winchester]

My Grand Father served in the British Army and later Pakistan Army.

He died before I was born so don't know many details....but I remember my father telling me he got commission in 41-42 and served in the Middle East.

 

[Kambojaric]

No bangali was part of the Bengal presidency army .. It was composed of Bihari/Awadi Rajputs and forces of Awadi sultan .. Mostly bihari Muslims,Rajputs and Brahmins.. Hence during 58 mutiny the Panjabis,Pashtuns,Gurkhas didn't mind crushing the men who spearheaded the attacks on Panjab,KPK etc.

True , just did some reseach on the Bengal Presidency Army and Bengalis practically dont exist in it. It was composed mostly of as you said Biharis (Purbias).

 

[axisofevil]

No bangali was part of the Bengal presidency army .. It was composed of Bihari/Awadi Rajputs and forces of Awadi sultan .. Mostly bihari Muslims,Rajputs and Brahmins.. Hence during 58 mutiny the Panjabis,Pashtuns,Gurkhas didn't mind crushing the men who spearheaded the attacks on Panjab,KPK etc.

Oh so Brahmins do fight?

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Oh so Brahmins do fight?

Nah .. My bad.. It was purbias,Rajputs & sultans Muslim troops..

 

[third eye]

Oh so Brahmins do fight?

Nah .. My bad.. It was purbias,Rajputs & sultans Muslim troops..

Yes they do. Some details :
The 1st Brahmans was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised at Oudh by Captain T Naylor in 1776 for service in the army of Nawab Wazir of Oudh, and was known as the Nawab Wazir's Regiment. It was transferred to the East India Company in 1777. In 1922, it was designated as the 4th Battalion 1st Punjab Regiment. It was disbanded in 1931.

The regiment was the senior-most among the twelve Bengal Native Infantry regiments that survived the Great Indian Rebellion of 1857-58. It was accordingly one of the small number of Bengal regular infantry regiments to retain the traditions of East India Company service in the new post-Mutiny army. Renumbered as the 1st of the Bengal line, it subsequently saw active service in the Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885-87. Following the Kitchener reforms of the Indian Army, when the names of the presidencies were dropped, the regiment became the 1st Brahman Infantry in 1901.the regimental centre of the 1st Brahmans was located at Allahabad and it was linked with the 3rd Brahmans. The regiment was recruited from United Provinces Brahmins, Garhwali Brahmins and some Punjabi Mussalmans.

There were other Brahmin Battalions too.

1st & 3rd Brahman Infantry

British and Indian officers of the 1st Brahmans, 1912

Regimental Hockey Team of the 1st Brahmans, 1910 (c)