22 Facts About Mahar Regiment Of The Indian Army Which Makes Us Proud

As the newspapers scream about the Bhima-Koregaon violence, the focus has fallen on the Mahars. In the Battle of Koregaon fought in 1818 the Mahars under the command of the British defeated the Peshwas. That victory is commemorated every year at Koregaon, where a memorial stands to this date. The Mahars were recruited by Shivaji in his army. They were later inducted into the British East India Company forces because of their bravery.

But what is their history with the Indian Army? To put it succinctly, they are one of the bravest regiments of our army and their sacrifices for the motherland deserves our salute.

1. At one point of time the Mahar constituted one-sixth of the Bombay Army of East India Company.

2. Formed as a regiment of troops exclusively from Mahar community, it now consists of members from all communities and regions.

3. The war cry of the regiment is “Bolo Hindustan Ki Jay” and the motto is “Yash Siddhi” (Success and Attainment).

4. In 1818, the members of the Mahar community joined forces with the British against the Peshwas.

It is this victory which is celebrated by members of the Mahar community till date.

5. The Mahar troops had also helped the British in the Anglo-Maratha wars.

6. The British, however, betrayed the loyalty of the Mahar when they disbanded the regiment in 1892 in favour of “martial classes”.

7. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who opposed the discriminatory policies of the British, supported the demand of the Mahars to be taken back into service.

8. It was only when World War I broke out that the British realised they needed more men and so recruited one battalion of Mahar troops – the 111th in 1917.

9. In 1921, the British again disbanded the battalion. It was only in 1941, during World War II, that the Mahar regiment was reintroduced.

10. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar too was in favour of the Mahars joining the British Indian army and advocated for their inclusion.

 

11. Four battalions of the Mahar Regiment were raised between 1941 and 1942. Today there are 19 battalions.

 

12. The regimental insignia initially had the symbol of the Koregaon Pillar memorial. It was changed in 1946.

13. In October 1946, the Mahar Regiment became one of the first in the British Indian Army to be converted to a machine gun regiment.

It was renamed Mahar Machine-gun Regimental Centre. The machine-gun troops became invaluable to infantry divisions for more than a decade. There were reconverted into infantry regiment in 1963.

14. The new logo, as in use, shows two crossed Vickers machine guns over a dagger.

15. Soldiers of the regiment helped escorting refugees during the Partition.

16. In 1956 the Mahar regiment doubled its strength and became a mixed-class regiment when the Border Scouts were merged with it.

The Border Scouts had been raised to man the turbulent regions in Punjab following the partition.

17. Today the regiment has soldiers from nearly all Indian states, especially those who were once discriminated for their non-martial nature by the British.

18. The Regiment has earned the following honours: 1 Param Vir Chakra, 4 Maha Vir Chakra, 29 Vir Chakra, 1 Kirti Chakra, 12 Shaurya Chakra, 22 Vishisht Seva Medals and 63 Sena Medals.

19. Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, India’s 17th PVC winner, was from 8 Mahar.

He attained martyrdom in the Operation Pawan against the LTTE in Sri Lanka on November 25, 1987.

20. One of the bravest Mahar Regiment soldiers was Sepoy Anusuya Prasad who laid down his life after just 10 days of service in 1971 Indo-Pak war.

He was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra. The Anusuya Prasad Parade Ground in Sagar has been named after him.

21. The regiment produced two Army Chiefs – General K.V. Krishna Rao and General Krishnaswamy Sundarji.

22. The Mahar Regiment has participated in every military operation since Independence.