Vol. 8 · pages 106–110

81 PAKISTAN : WEAKENING OF THE DEFENCES This table brings out in an unmistakable manner the profound changes which have been going on in the communal composition of the Indian Army particularly after 1919. They are (1) a phenomenal rise in the strength of the Punjabi Musalman and the Pathan, (2) a substantial reduction in the position of Sikhs from first to third, (3) the degradation of the Rajputs to the fourth place, and (4) the shutting out of the U. P. Brahmins, the Madrasi Musalmans, and the Tamilians, both Brahmins and Non-Brahmins. A further analysis of the figures for 1930, which discloses the communal composition of the Indian Infantry and Indian Cavalry, has been made by Mr. Chaudhari in the following table.* Communal Composition of the Indian Army in 1930 Class Areas Percentage in Infantry Perce- ntage in Cavalry Excluding Gurkhas Including Gurkhas 1. Punjabi Musalman Punjab 27 22.6 14.28 2. Gurkhas Nepal ... 16.4 ... 3. Sikhs Punjab 16.24 13.58 23.81 4. Dogras North Punjab and Kashmir 11.4 9.54 9.53 5. Jats Rajputana, U. P., Punjab 9.5 7.94 19.06 6. Pathans N.-W. F. Province 7.57 6.35 4.76 7. Mahrattas Konkan 6.34 5.33 ... 8. Garhwalis Garhwal 4.53 3.63 ... 9. U. P. Rajputs U. P. 3.04 2.54 ... 10. Rajputana Rajputs Rajputana 2.8 2.35 ... 11. Kumaonis Kumaon 2.44 2.05 ... 12. Gujars N. E. Rajputana 1.52 1.28 ... 13. Punjabi Hindus Punjab 1.52 1.28 ... 14. Ahirs Do. 1.22 1.024 ... 15. Musalmans, Rajputs, Ranghars. Neighbourhood of Delhi 1.22 1.024 7.14 16. Kaimkhanis Rajputana ... ... 4.76 17. Kachins Burma 1.22 1.024 ... 18. Chins Do. 1.22 1.024 ... 19. Karens Do. 1.22 1.024 ... 20. Dekhani Musalmans Deccan ... ... 4.76 21. Hindustani Musalmans U. P. ... ... 2.38 *This table shows the percentage of men of each eligible class in the Indian Infantry (82 active and 18 training battalions), the Indian Cavalry (21 regiments), and the 20 battalions of the Gurkha Infantry. This table does not include the Indian personnel of (a) the 19 batteries of Indian Mountain Artillery, and (b) 3 regiments of Sappers and Miners, (c) the Indian Signal Corps, and (d) the Corps of Indian Pioneers, all of which are composed of different proportions of the Punjabi Musalmans, Sikhs, Pathans, Hindustani Hindus and Musalmans, Madrasis of all classes and Hazra Afghans, either in class units or class companies. Except that some units in these arms of the service are composed of the Madrasis and Hazras, now enrolled in other units of the Indian Army, the class composition of these units does not materially alter the proportion of the classes as given in the table. This table does not also include the Indian personnel attached to the British Infantry and Artillery units.

82 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Reducing these figures in terms of communities, we get the following percentage as it stood in 1930 :— Communities Percentage in Infantry Percentage in CavalryIncluding Gurkhas Excluding Gurkhas 1. Hindus and Sikhs .. 60.55 50.554 61.92 2. Gurkhas .. .. … 16.4 … 3. Muhammadans .. 35.79 29.974 30.08 4. Burmans .. .. 3.66 3.072 … These figures show the communal composition of the Indian Army. The Musalmans according to Mr. Chaudhari formed 36% of the Indian Infantry and 30% of the Indian Cavalry. These figures relate to the year 1930. We must now find out what changes have taken place since then in this proportion. It is one of the most intriguing things in the Military history of India that no information is available on this point after 1930. It is impossible to know what the proportion of the Muslims in the Indian Army at present is. There is no Government publication from which such information can be gathered. In the past, there was no dearth of publications giving this information. It is very suprising that they should have now disappeared, or if they do appear, that they should cease to contain this information. Not only is there no Government publication containing information on this point, but Government has refused to give any information on the point when asked by members of the Central Legislative Assembly. The following questions and answers taken from the proceedings of the Central Legislative Assembly show how Government has been strenuously combating every attempt to obtain information on the point : There was an interpellation on 15th September 1938, when the following questions were asked and replies as stated below were given :— Arrangements for the Defence of India* * Legislative Assembly Debates, 1938 Vol. VI, page 2462.

83 PAKISTAN : WEAKENING OF THE DEFENCES Q. 1360: Mr.Badri Dutt Pande (on behalf of Mr. Amarendra Nath Chattopadhya). (a) x x x x (b) x x x x (c) x x x x (d) How many Indians have been recruited during 1937 and 1938 as soldiers and officers during 1937-38 for the Infantry and Cavalry respectively? Amongst the soldiers and officers recruited, how many are Punjabi Sikhs, Pathans, Garhwalis, Mahrattas, Madrasis, Biharis, Bengalis and Hindustanis of the United Provinces and Gurkhas ? (e) If none but the Punjabi Sikhs, Pathans and Garhwalis have been recruited, is it in contemplation of the Honourable Member to recruit from all the Provinces for the defence of India and give them proper military training ? (f) Will the Defence Secretary be pleased to state if Provincial Governments will be asked to raise Provincial Regiments, trained and fully mechanised, for the defence of India? If not, what is his plan of raising an efficient army for the defence of India ? Mr. C.M.G. Ogilvie : (a) The Honourable Member will appreciate that it is not in the public interest to disclose the details of such arrangements. (b) 5 cadets and 33 Indian apprentices were recruited for the Indian Air Force during 1937-38. (c) During 1937-38, 5 Indians have already been recruited to commissioned ranks in the Royal Indian Navy, 4 will be taken by competitive examination in October 1938, and 3 more by special examination of “Dufferin” cadets only. During the same period, 314 Indians were recruited to different non-commissioned categories in the Royal Indian Navy.

84 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES (d) During the year ending the 31st March 1938, 54 Indians were commissioned as Indian Commissioned Officers. They are now attached to British units for training, and it is not yet possible to say what proportion will be posted to infantry and cavalry, respectively. During the same period, 961 Indian soldiers were recruited for cavalry, and 7,970 for infantry. Their details by classes are not available at Army Headquarters and to call for them from the recruiting officers all over India would not justify the expenditure of time and labour involved. (e) No. (f) The reply to the first portion is in the negative. The reply to the second portion is that India already possesses an efficient army and so far as finances permit, every effort is made to keep it up-to-date in all respects. Mr. S. Satyamurti : With reference to the answers to clauses (d) and (e) of the question taken together, may I know whether the attention of Government has been drawn to statements made by many public men that the bulk of the army is from the Punjab and from one community ? Have Government considered those facts and will Government also consider the desirability of making the army truly national by extending recruitment to all provinces and communities, so as to avoid the danger present in all countries of a military dictatorship seizing political power ? Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie : I am not sure how that arises from this question, but I am prepared to say that provincial boundaries do not enter into Government’s calculations at all. The best soldiers are chosen to provide the best army for India and not for any province, and in this matter national considerations must come above provincial considerations. Where the bulk of best military material is found, there we will go to get it, and not elsewhere. Mr. S. Satyamurti: May I know whether the bulk of the army is from the Punjab and whether the Government have forgotten the experience of the brave exploits of men from my province not very long ago in the Indian Army, and may I know if Madrasis are practically kept out and many other provinces are kept out of the army altogether ?

85 PAKISTAN : WEAKENING OF THE DEFENCES Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie : Madras is not practically kept out of the army. Government gladly acknowledge the gallant services of the Madrasis in the army and they are now recruited to those Units where experience has proved them to be best. There are some 4,500 serving chiefly in the Sappers and Miners and Artillery. Mr. S. Satyamurti: Out of a total of 120,000 ? Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie : About that. Mr. S. Satyamurti: May I take it, that, that is a proper proportion, considering the population of Madras, the revenue that Madras pays to the Central exchequer, and the necessity of having a national army recruited from all the provinces ? Mr. C. M. G. Ogilvie: The only necessity we recognise is to obtain the best possible army. Mr. S. Satyamurti: May I know by what tests Government have come to the conclusion that provinces other than the Punjab cannot supply the best elements in the Indian Army ? Mr. Ogilvie : By experience. Dr. Sir Ziauddin Ahmed: May I ask if it is not a fact that all branches of Accounts Department are monopolised by the Madrasis and will Government immediately reduce the number in proportion to their numerical strength in India ? Mr. Ogilvie: I do not see how that arises from this question either, but the Government are again not prepared to sacrifice efficiency for any provincial cause. Indian Regiment consisting of Indians belonging to Different Castes* Q. 1078 : Mr. M. Anantasayanam Ayyangar (on behalf of Mr. Manu Subedar): (a) Will the Defence Secretary state whether any experiment has ever been made under British rule of having an Indian regiment consisting of Indians recruited from different provinces and belonging to the different castes and sections, such as Sikhs, Mahrattas, Rajputs, Brahmins and Muslims ? *Legislative Assembly Debates, 1938, Vol. VI, page 2478.