These days the demand for Ahir regiment in the army is rising at different levels. On March 15, MP Deepender Singh Hooda raised its demand in Parliament. At the same time, today Congress leader of Madhya Pradesh Arun Yadav also demanded this. After all, why is there repeated demand for Ahir regiment and what is its history in the army?
regiments
There are different regiments in the Indian Army. However, this system is only in the Army. There is no such arrangement in the Air Force or Navy. You must have heard many names like Sikh Regiment, Gorkha Regiment, Rajput Regiment, Maratha Regiment etc. These are army units in a way. By combining all these units, the army is complete. The division of regiments in the army took place during the British period itself. Then the British recruited the army in different groups as needed. Sometimes these recruitments were done on the basis of caste and sometimes on the basis of community. Then the regiment was formed on this base. This regiment is also seen in the infantry in the Army.
British tradition
When the British came to India, they did not bring their army. After starting with business, those people started making army. After this he started recruiting people from here in the army. After the revolt of 1857, the emphasis of the regiment on the basis of caste started increasing. The British gave preference to those castes who were already taking part in the war. They were divided on the basis of marshal and non marshal. Rajputs, Rajputs, Sikhs, Gorkhas, Dogras, Pathans, Balochs were included in the army as marshals. People of this category used to take part in battles. At the time of selection of these soldiers, the British used to insist on caste because of this, so that they would know who would play a better role for them in the battle.
Regiments named after caste, but not necessarily recruited from the same caste
This is a matter of British era. This system continued even after independence, but since then no new regiment has been formed on the basis of caste. At the same time, it is not necessary that if a regiment is formed in the name of caste, then only people of that caste should be selected. Gujjars can also be recruited in Rajput regiment, Muslims can also be recruited. There are many forces where there is no caste system.
This is how the Ahir Regiment is related to the battle of Rezang La
The valor of 117 Ahir soldiers in the battle of Rezang La is discussed even today. All these soldiers were part of the 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment. The soldiers of China had to bow down in front of the valor of these soldiers. After this the Indian Army had saved the Rezang La post. In this battle, 120 soldiers killed 400 Chinese soldiers. At the same time, 117 soldiers were martyred, in which 114 were Ahirs.