Pune: The 1st Battalion of The Mahar Regiment, an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, will celebrate its platinum jubilee at Aundh Military Station to commemorate 75 years of glorious service to the nation. The events are being held from December 8 to 10. On the occasion, veterans, veer nari (war widows) and serving officers are attending the celebrations.
In November, a cycle expedition was carried out by a team of officers and jawans across major towns and villages of Maharashtra to promote the event. As many ex-servicemen and present jawans of the Battalion belong to Maharashtra, the expedition served as an informal invitation to them.
The 1st Battalion of the Mahar Regiment was raised at Nanawadi (Belgaum) on October 1, 1941. During the 75 years of selfless service to the nation, the Battalion has participated extensively in wars and counter insurgency operations. The Battalion has been bestowed in Battle Honour 'Harar Kalan' and Theatre Honours of “Jammu & Kashmir 1947-48”, “Ladakh 1962” and “Punjab 1971”. The Battalion participated in Operation Bluestar, Amritsar in 1984, then in Operation Falcon in Arunachal Pradesh to counter Chinese Army intrusions in 1986, besides counter insurgency actions in Operation Rakshak. The unit helped citizens post communal riots in Gujarat.
History of Mahar warriors
The Mahars were recruited by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as scouts and fort guards in his army. They were recruited by the British East India Company, at one part forming one-sixth of the Company's Bombay Army. They achieved many successes, including in the Battle of Koregaon, where Mahar-dominated Company troops defeated a much larger army led by Peshwa Baji Rao II. However, after their participation in the 1857 revolt (First War of Independence), the Britishers stopped recruiting Mahar warriors from 1892.
The recruitment policies of the British Indian Army continued until the beginning of the First World War. The War forced the Government to begin more broad-based recruiting, and the Mahars were allowed to enlist in the Army. One battalion, the 111th Mahars was raised in June 1917. Later, the battalion was disbanded in March 1921, and the Mahars were once again demobilised.
In 1939, the Second World War broke out, and once again, the Army was forced to overlook its narrow minded recruitment policies. In July 1941, Dr BR Ambedkar was appointed to the Defence Advisory Committee of the Viceroy's Executive Council. He exerted pressure for a Mahar regiment. He appealed to Mahars to join the Army in large numbers. In October, the Army gave in, and the 1st Battalion of the Mahar Regiment was raised in Belgaum on October 1, 1941, under Lt Col HJR Jackson of the 13th Frontier Force Rifles and Sub Maj Sheikh Hassnuddin. During the War, the unit served in the North West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan).
