z:\ ambedkar\vol 08\vol8 03.indd MK SJ+YS 28 9 2013 81
PAKISTAN : WEAKENING OF THE DEFENCES
81
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 | Col4 | Perce- ntage in Cavalry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excluding Gurkhas | Including Gurkhas | |||
| 1. Punjabi Musalman 2. Gurkhas 3. Sikhs 4. Dogras 5. Jats 6. Pathans 7. Mahrattas 8. Garhwalis 9. U. P. Rajputs 10. Rajputana Rajputs 11. Kumaonis 12. Gujars 13. Punjabi Hindus 14. Ahirs 15. Musalmans, Rajputs, Ranghars. 16. Kaimkhanis 17. Kachins 18. Chins 19. Karens 20. Dekhani Musalmans 21. Hindustani Musalmans | Punjab Nepal Punjab North Punjab and Kashmir Rajputana, U. P., Punjab N.-W. F. Province Konkan Garhwal U. P. Rajputana Kumaon N. E. Rajputana Punjab Do. Neighbourhood of Delhi Rajputana Burma Do. Do. Deccan U. P. | 27 ... 16.24 11.4 9.5 7.57 6.34 4.53 3.04 2.8 2.44 1.52 1.52 1.22 1.22 ... 1.22 1.22 1.22 ... ... | 22.6 16.4 13.58 9.54 7.94 6.35 5.33 3.63 2.54 2.35 2.05 1.28 1.28 1.024 1.024 ... 1.024 1.024 1.024 ... ... | 14.28 ... 23.81 9.53 19.06 4.76 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7.14 4.76 ... ... ... 4.76 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.