Ashok Nath’s book Izzat is an encyclopedic work on the history of cavalry regiments of India and Pakistan. The title of the book Izzat roughly translated as honor in English is the most appropriate single word description of the Indian army including cavalry. Honorable East India Company (HEIC) welded Indians of different religions and ethnicities into a first rate fighting force officered by the British.
The author traces the evolution of Indian cavalry regiments from its earliest days with details about organization, equipment and brief summary of battle honors. He then describes in detail changes in cavalry over almost two hundred years. This book is not about individual regimental histories but rather a summary of changes seen over two centuries. This is supplemented by detailed illustrations of regimental badges.
The segment on ethnography of Indian cavalry is most informative and provides details of recruitment of different religious and ethnic groups in Indian cavalry. In Pakistan there is a general perception that somehow the British favored non-Muslims in recruitment but the facts do not support this perception. The author provides detailed tables of different religious and ethnic communities recruited in cavalry. When the Great War ended in 1918, Indian cavalry consisted of one hundred and fifty seven squadrons and out of these eighty seven were Muslim squadrons. When Second World War ended there were almost equal numbers of Hindus and Muslims in armored corps.
Pathan recruitment in cavalry also provides an interesting window. Some Pathan tribesmen resisted British encroachment in their traditional independent homelands and earned respect. However, somehow a perception was created that all Pathans resisted British rule whereas in fact a majority of Pathans welcomed the peace brought by the British after the anarchy in the aftermath of the disintegration of Afghan and later Sikh rule. They were incorporated in colonial economy and represented beyond their numbers in civilian and military bureaucracies. Pathans were considered a ‘martial race’ and over represented in armed forces including cavalry. They numbered less than one percent of the Indian population but in cavalry in 1918, there were twenty six Pathan squadrons (including six squadrons of Derajat Pathans and four Multani Pathan squadrons). By the end of Second World War in 1945, Bengal with a population of over 60 million had only thirty five Bengalis (with only one Bengali Muslim) in the whole Indian armored corps. The Pathan homeland of North West Frontier Province (N.W.F.P.) with total population of about 3.5 million had 1,082 Pathans serving in cavalry regiments.
Author provides details of division of Indian armored corps at the time of partition in 1947 when Muslim elements were allotted to Pakistan and non-Muslim elements to India. He traces the exchange of individual squadrons in great detail. This was the most painful time for cavalry as comrades who fought and died together for over two hundred years were divided between two independent armies. Another partition occurred when in 1971 East Pakistan emerged as independent Bangladesh after a painful and tragic civil war. Only a small number of Bengalis were serving in Pakistan armored corps. In early 1960s, some armored regiments had five percent Bengali Muslims. An elite old cavalry regiment Probyn’s Horse had about twenty five percent Bengali Muslims by 1970. By the time of India-Pakistan war of 1971, only four newly raised armored regiments; 29 Cavalry, 30 Cavalry, 32 and 33 Cavalry had significant Bengali component (29 Cavalry had 50 percent Bengali Muslims and 30, 32 and 33 Cavalry 25 percent Bengali Muslims). Of these armored regiments only 29 Cavalry was stationed in East Pakistan. Bengali elements of 30, 32 and 33 Cavalry were disarmed and later repatriated to Bangladesh; however tragedy struck 29 Cavalry and regiment suffered a fratricide not seen since the days of mutiny of Bengal army in 1857. Large numbers of Bengali personnel including two officers were killed by their comrades in the regimental lines in Rangpur.
The Army is eulogized by the general public for its services but it consists of human beings with all their weaknesses and failings. The author while documenting the history of individual cavalry regiments also includes cases of mutiny and serious discipline problems. Post independence armor regiments of Indian and Pakistan armies have maintained an excellent record of professionalism and discipline but there are many cases of indiscipline. 16 Cavalry is one of the oldest cavalry regiments of Indian army. In August 2012, when a soldier of 16 Cavalry committed suicide after refusal of his leave, there was tension between soldiers and officers of the regiment. Angry soldiers surrounded the officer’s compound ensuing in verbal altercation indicting a serious breach of discipline. After a court of inquiry, commanding Officer (CO) Colonel S M Prakash, several officers and JCOs were posted out of the regiment in May 2013. The new CO and his team were not yet settled in the saddle when tragedy hit the regiment. In September 2013, 16 Cavalry camp was attacked by three Kashmiri militants who were able to get entry into the officer’s mess but luckily all officers were at the gun cleaning site after morning physical training. CO Colonel Avin Uthaiya chased the militants with his tank while Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the regiment cornered the militants. Colonel Uthaiya was severely wounded while Second-in-Command Lieutenant Colonel Bikramjeet Singh and three other ranks were killed. Soldiers from 9 Para and 2 Sikh finally cleared the area killing all three attackers.
In 1994, one of Pakistan’s oldest cavalry regiment 19 Lancers was involved in an unfortunate incident. 19 Lancers was part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia. There was altercation between some soldiers of 19 Lancers and another old infantry battalion of Pakistan army 5 Frontier Force (FF) Regiment that degenerated into an ugly incident. Later, when both regiments came back to Pakistan several officers and soldiers were punished or eased out. CO of 5 FF was posted out and his career ended but CO of 19 Lancers Lieutenant Colonel Sikandar Afzal survived because he was on leave at the time of the incident. He later rose to Lieutenant General rank.
The appendix about selection of Indian state emblem of Ashoka lions that was the brainchild of an Indian officer Captain (later Lieutenant General) Habibullah Khan Khattak is a great historical nugget. Habibullah nick named ‘Biboo’ was commissioned in 5/10 Baluch Regiment and during Second World War was involved in raising of 1 Bihar Regiment. He suggested the change of regimental insignia of two rivers to Ashoka lions. Army Adjutant General rejected the recommendation but Biboo wrote directly to C-in-C Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck and got it approved. He incorporated the new insignia when he commanded 1 Bihar. This was later adopted as state symbol of Bihar government and at independence state emblem of India. Biboo opted for Pakistan and in 1947-48 conflict between India and Pakistan, he was initially appointed CO of 4/10 Baluch Regiment operating in Kashmir. This appointment was changed and he was appointed GSO-1 of 7 Division. 1 Bihar ended up fighting against 4/10 Baluch and few 1 Bihar soldiers became prisoners of war. Biboo narrowly missed leading a Baluch battalion against his former comrades of 1 Bihar. When Biboo became aware of 1 Bihar POWs, he visited his former comrades and found his batman Jhala Alaoun among the lot. He ordered Jhala to get into the jeep and brought him to his house in Peshawar where Jhala was a pampered guest until he was repatriated back to India. Biboo rose to Lieutenant General rank, served as Chief of General Staff (CGS) and Chief of Staff (COS) and in 1959 retired prematurely at the age of forty six. If he was not retired, he would have most likely replaced General Muhammad Musa as C-in-C. His son Ali Kuli Khan rose to Lieutenant General rank, served as CGS and Corps Commander and was the front runner for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) position in 1998 but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chose General Pervez Musharraf and the rest, as they say, is history.
The author’s extensive research spanning over several years has produced a valuable work on Indian cavalry. This book is a must read for anyone interested in Indian cavalry and should be part of every military library in India and Pakistan.
Acknowledgement: Author thanks many officers of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladesh armies for their valuable input with special thanks to Lieutenant General ® Ali Quli Khan for the information about his father. Major ® Agha H. Amin’s works on history of Indian army especially ethnography is a very good source for students of military history.
