Maratha Light Infantry

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Maratha Light Infantry
Marathali.gif
Regimental Insignia of the Maratha Light Infantry
Active1768–present
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Branch Flag of Indian Army.svg Indian Army
TypeLight Infantry
Role Light Infantry
Regimental Centre Belgaum, Karnataka
Nickname(s)Ganpats [1]
Motto(s)Duty, Honour, Courage [1]
War CryBola Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai (Hail Victory To Great King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj), or
Hara Hara Mahadev! (Hail Victory to the great God Shiva!), or
Jay Bhavani Jay Shivaji (Hail Victory to Godess Bhavani and Hail Victory to Great King Shivaji)
MarchSinhgad
Decorations4 Ashoka Chakras
3 Victoria Crosses
29 Param Vishisht Seva Medal
5 Maha Vir Chakras
15 Kirti Chakras
1 ACCL II
38 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
49 Vir Chakras
63 Shaurya Chakras
4 ACCL III
6 Yudh Seva Medal
470 Sena Medals
1 Shaurya Chakra & Bar
29 Vishisht Seva Medal
1 Padma Bhushan
1 Arjuna award and 8 Unit Citations.
Battle honours Naushera, Jhangar, Burki, Hussainiwala, Jamalpur, Burj, Suadih [2]
Commanders
Colonel of the regiment Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla AVSM, SC**, SM [3] [ non-primary source needed ]
Notable
commanders		General Joginder Jaswant Singh

The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It traces its lineage to the Bombay Sepoys, raised in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment in the Indian Army.

Contents

Recruitment

The class composition of the regiment was and is primarily formed by Maratha recruits from the former Maratha Empire. The men were mostly drawn from all over the state of Maharashtra, with some percentage from Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka including Coorg. [4] As of 2000, the recruitment pattern is as follows–

Tradesmen (clerk, sweeper, barber etc.) are recruited from all Indian classes. [5]

History

Pre-independence

From left to right: Subedar, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry; Sepoy, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry; Sepoy, 116th Mahrattas; Sepoy, 114th Mahrattas, by AC Lovett (1862-1919) Mahratta infantry lovett.png
From left to right: Subedar, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry; Sepoy, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry; Sepoy, 116th Mahrattas; Sepoy, 114th Mahrattas, by AC Lovett (1862–1919)

The Maratha Confederacy was a potent force in India from the 17th to 19th centuries. Their military qualities were brilliantly optimised in their historical campaigns against the Mughal Empire under the leadership of the Chhatrapati Shivaji and succeeding Maratha rulers. Maratha armies, comprising both infantry and light cavalry, and the Maratha Navy had dominated the military scene in India for three centuries. The 1st battalion of the regiment, known as Jangi Paltan ("the fighting unit"), was raised in August 1768 as the 2nd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys, to protect the British East India Company's possessions on the islands of Bombay.

The second battalion known as Kali Panchwin followed the next year as the 3rd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. These two battalions were at the forefront of virtually every major engagement fought on the west coast from Surat to Cannanore during the last quarter of the 18th century. Prominent amongst these were the historic battles of Seedaseer and Seringapatam, where in the words of Richard Wellesley their conduct and success were seldom equalled and never surpassed. [6]

The turn of the 19th century was witness to the expansion of the regimental group with the raising of the 3rd battalion as the 2nd battalion, 5th (Travancore) Regiment of the Bombay Native Infantry in 1797. The Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre was raised in March 1800 as the 2nd battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry; the 4th battalion in April 1800 as the 2nd battalion, 8th Regiment Bombay Infantry and the 5th battalion from the Bombay Fencibles as the 1st battalion, 9th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in December 1800.

In the second half of the 19th century, the battalions fought in various campaigns from the Middle East to China. In recognition of the gallant conduct of its detachments at the siege of Kahun and the defence of Dadar, in Baluch territory during the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1841, the Kali Panchwin was created Light Infantry. Later, this honour was also bestowed on the 3rd and 10th Regiments of the Bombay Infantry (present 1st battalion, Maratha Light Infantry and 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment respectively) for their gallantry in Sir Robert Napier's Abyssinian Campaign of 1867–1868. The regiment assumed the title 5th Mahratta Light Infantry 1922.

Three Maratha battalions distinguished themselves during the First World War (1914–1918) in the long drawn-out Mesopotamia campaign. The 117th Mahrattas (present 5th battalion, Maratha Light Infantry) was made into a Royal battalion for its conspicuously distinctive service during its campaign in Mesopotamia, particularly in the events leading to enemy capitulation after the bitter 146-day siege at Kut-el-Amara. The battalion was mostly composed of Marathas from the Khandesh region and Nashik district. For some unclear reasons even after winning, the regiment did not return to India. The 114th Mahrattas (present Regimental Centre) was awarded 28 gallantry awards for their performance in the battle of Sharquat, the highest earned by any unit in a single action. The other Maratha battalions, namely the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry and 116th Mahrattas also acquitted themselves in Palestine and Mesopotamia. The 105th lost its commanding officer in action (Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Richard Inglis Chitty at the battle of Jebel Hamrin, 1917).

The Second World War saw the Marathas at the forefront in almost every theatre of operations from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the deserts of North Africa, and the mountains and rivers of Italy. The war also saw the expansion of the regiment when thirteen new war service battalions were raised. Most of these were later demobilised after the war, whilst two were converted into artillery regiments. [1] During the war Naik Yeshwant Ghadge and Sepoy Namdeo Jadhav were decorated with the Victoria Cross in the Italian campaign, while 130 other decorations were awarded to the regiment. [7] The following battalions saw action during the war [8] –

Post-independence

Indian independence saw the regiment reverted to the original five battalions, with the 3rd Maratha Light Infantry converting to the airborne role and becoming the 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment in April 1952. With the integration of the erstwhile princely states, the 19th, 20th, 22nd battalions were amalgamated, from the state forces of Satara, Kolhapur, Baroda, and Hyderabad, with the regiment. The expansion of the Indian Army to meet the omnipresent threat to its borders has seen the regiment grow to its present strength of 18 regular battalions and two Territorial Army battalions whilst the period also saw the conversion of the 21st battalion into the 21st battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and the 115 Infantry Battalion (TA) being transferred to the Mahar Regiment.

Since independence, battalions of the Maratha Light Infantry have taken part in every Indian armed conflict — the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the Annexation of Junagadh, the Annexation of Hyderabad, the Annexation of Goa, the Sino-Indian War, the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, against the Chinese on the Sikkim watershed in 1956, Operation Pawan, the ongoing operations on the Siachen Glacier and in numerous counter insurgency operations. [9] [10]

Units

The Maratha Light Infantry consists of the following battalions - [11]

BattalionRaising DateRemarksReferences
1st Battalion1768Nicknamed the Jangi Paltan (the fighting unit). Raised as 2nd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys in 1768. Re-designated 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1796, 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 3rd Regiment of Bombay (Light) Infantry – 1871, 3rd Bombay Light Infantry in 1901, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903 and 1st Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922. Present designation in 1945. Battle honours – Mysore, Seedaseer, Seringapatam, Beni Boo Ali, Punjab, Mooltan, Goojerat, Abyssinia (pre-independence), Jamalpur (1971 war). [12] [13] [14]
2nd Battalion 1768Nicknamed the Kali Panchwin and the Ashok Chakra Paltan. Raised as 3rd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys in 1768. Re-designated 1st Battalion, 3rd Bombay Native Infantry in 1796, 5th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 5th Bombay Native (Light) Infantry in 1841, 5th Bombay (Light) Infantry in 1885, 5th Bombay Light Infantry in 1901, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903 and 2nd Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922. Battle honours – Mysore, Seedaser, Seringapatnam, Beni-Boo-Ali, Siege of Kahun, China, Afghanistan, Burma, Mesopotamia, Kut El Amara, Baghdad, Palestine, Nablus, Sharon, Abyssinia, Keren, North Africa, Siege of Tobruk, Gubi (pre-independence) and Hussainiwala (1965 war). [15]
4th Battalion1800Raised as the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Re-designated 16th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 16th Bombay Infantry in 1885, 116th Mahrattas in 1903. Battle honours – Afghanistan 1879–80, British East Africa 1901, N.W. Frontier, India 1914–15 '17, Mesopotamia 1914–18, Tengnoupal, Shangshak. [16]
5th Battalion1800Raised as Bombay Fencible Regiment in 1800. Re-designated 1st Battalion, 9th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1803, 17th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 17th Bombay Infantry in 1885, 117th Mahrattas in 1903 and 5th Royal Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922. Was designated Royal in recognition of its exemplary service in Mesopotamia in World War I, a rare honour for a single battalion. Battle honours – Shaiba (pre-independence), Battle Honour Suadih and Theatre Honour East Pakistan during 1971 war. [17] [18]
6th Battalion1962Raised at Mardan in 1940 by Lieutenant Colonel E Ross Magnetty, earned the battle honour Tengnoupal. Disbanded in 1947. Re-raised in 1962 by Lieutenant Colonel VK Menon at Belgaum. [19]
7th Battalion1963Re-raised under Lieutenant Colonel ML Dixit at Belgaum. [20]
8th Battalion1963Raised 1941 by Lieutenant Colonel LMC Bellamy in Belgaum. Converted to 4th Mahratta Anti-Tank Regiment in 1942. Re-raised in Belgaum in 1963. [21]
9th Battalion1964Nicknamed the Ashok Chakra Paltan after the award to Colonel Vasanth Venugopal. [22]
11th BattalionNicknamed Aakramak Akraa [23]
12th Battalion1982
14th Battalion 1971Initially raised as the 14th/5th Mahratta Light Infantry on 1 February 1941, at Ambala by Lieutenant Colonel E.S. Storey-Cooper, disbanded in 1945 following the end of the Second World War. Re-raised in 1971 at Belgaum by Lieutenant Colonel RK Dutt. [10]
15th Battalion1966Raised by Lieutenant Colonel GS Dubhashi at Babina. Won the battle honour Burj and the theatre honour Punjab during the 1971 war. Called the Mahavir Chakra and Ashok Chakra Paltan following the awards to Sepoy Pandurang Salunkhe and Lieutenant Navdeep Singh. [24]
16th Battalion1966Nicknamed Ashok Chakra Paltan after Colonel NJ Nair, who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra in 1994 [25]
17th Battalion1962Raised by Lieutenant Colonel AO Kersey in 1941 at Belgaum. Battle honour Ru-Wya during the Burma campaign. Disbanded after World War II. Re-raised by Lieutenant Colonel E D'Souza in 1962 at Belgaum. [26]
18th Battalion1976Raised by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ahmed Zaki
19th Battalion1949From Kolhapur State Forces. Raised as Kolhapur Fusiliers in 1845, redesignated as Kolhapur Infantry in 1846, renamed as Rajaram Rifles in 1941. After the merger of Kolhapur state with Union of India, became 19th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry (Kolhapur). [27]
22nd Battalion1853Nicknamed the Hyderabadis, raised by Raja Rameshwar Rao of Wanaparthy Samsthanam, later became 4th Regiment of Hyderabad City troops and subsequently named Raja Paltan. Merged under 2nd Hyderabad State Infantry in 1948, joined the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment as 22 Maratha Light Infantry in 1953. [27] [28] [29]
23rd BattalionNicknamed Teevra Teivees
24th Battalion
25th Battalion
26th Battalion1988Raised in 1942 by Lieutenant Colonel HS Pearson at Belgaum. Demobilised in 1946 after the war. Re-raised in 1988 by Lieutenant Colonel AB Sayyad. [30]
Territorial Army Battalions
101 Infantry Battalion (TA)1918Raised at Karwar as 2/103 Maharatta Light Infantry. Has undergone several transformations before being finally re-raised and re-designated as 101 Infantry Battalion (TA) Maratha Light Infantry in 1949 by Lieutenant Colonel B Dubal. Located at Pune. [31]
109 Infantry Battalion (TA)Located at Kolhapur, Maharashtra
Former units
2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)1797Raised as 2nd Battalion, 5th (Travancore) Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Re-designated 10th Bombay Native Infantry in 1818, 10th Bombay Native (Light) Infantry in 1871, 10th Regiment of Bombay (Light) Infantry in 1885, 10th Bombay Light Infantry in 1901, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903, 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922 and finally 3rd Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry [32]
10th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment 1949Formerly 20th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry. Raised from 1st and 2nd Battalion of Baroda State Infantry. Absorbed into Indian Army and 20th and 21st Battalion of Maratha Light Infantry; later they were amalgamated to form 20th Battalion. It was re-designated 10th Battalion (Baroda). Battle honour Bejai. [27] [33]
21st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)1985Raised as 21st Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry. Converted to Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) in 1996. Nicknamed Waghnakhs. [34]
Rashtriya Rifles [35]
17 Rashtriya Rifles1994Raised by Colonel RS Nagal, operational in Banihal sector
27 Rashtriya Rifles1994Raised by Colonel B Ahobkirk at Belgaum, serving in areas south of the Pir Panjal Range
41 Rashtriya RiflesRaised by Colonel SV Chaudhari at Belgaum, deployed in North Kashmir
56 Rashtriya Rifles2000Raised by Colonel PK Singh at Belgaum, stationed in North Kashmir

Affiliated units

The following units are affiliated to the regiment [1] [36] –

Regimental Centre

The regimental centre has been in Belgaum, Karnataka, since 1922, which was part of the Bombay Presidency at that time. [37] The centre's history comes from the conversion of the 114th Mahrattas to the 10th (Training) Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry. This unit itself traces its origins to 1800 when it was raised as the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. [11]

Battle slogan

The battle cry of Maratha Light Infantry is बोला श्री छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज की जय ("Bola Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai (Say Victory to King Chhatrapati Shivaji)"). [38] It replaced the battle cry – Har Har Mahadev (Victory To Lord Shiva) during the Second World War. [8]

Maratha Light Infantry Regiment marching contingent, Republic Day parade, 2009 The Maratha Light Infantry Regiment marching contingent passes through the Rajpath during the 60th Republic Day Parade-2009, in New Delhi on January 26, 2009.jpg
Maratha Light Infantry Regiment marching contingent, Republic Day parade, 2009

Marching style

The soldiers of Maratha Light Infantry have a quick march speed of 140 steps in a minute, while a standard pace for a quick march is 120 beats per minute with a 30-inch step. [38] The regiment has won the best marching contingent twice at the Republic Day parade. [11] On the occasion of the 221st Bastille day celebrations, a unit from the Maratha Light Infantry led the parade on the Parisian boulevard of Champs-Élysées on 14 July 2009, when the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the guest of honour of the ceremony. [39]

A Jawan of 14 Maratha Light Infantry 14MARATHAJawan.jpg
A Jawan of 14 Maratha Light Infantry
Banner of the 5th battalion, Maratha Light Infantry Maratha Light Infantry Indian Army.jpg
Banner of the 5th battalion, Maratha Light Infantry

Regimental insignia

The regimental insignia consists of a bugle and cords with a pair of crossed swords and a shield, mounted by the Lion Capital of Ashoka. The bugle represents the light infantry mode of combat by skirmishers, controlled by orders issued on the bugles. [40]

Uniform

The uniform consists of a green beret (common to all infantry units in India), which has the regimental crest and a red and green hackle. The two-coloured hackle has a history. During 1788, the Bombay Army was reorganised into the 1st and 2nd Brigades. Red plumes adorned the headgear of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Brigade. The Marathas and the 1st Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry fought alongside each other in the Mesopotamia war as part of the same brigade. The British Army Light Infantry regiments wore green hackles during this time. As a symbol of this association, the green portion was added to the red, thus forming the present red and green hackle. The working dress does not have the hackle. The Regiment initially had a unique lanyard around the neck with ends in both front pockets. This was changed to the standard lanyard in 2002. This green lanyard is worn on the left shoulder. The exception is the 5th Battalion of the regiment, which wears a blue lanyard on the right shoulder, as an honour for the title "Royal", for its outstanding operations in Mesopotamia in World War I. [41] The rank epaulettes consist of the words MARATHI LI in capitals. In ceremonial dress, the regimental crest is present in addition to the regimental title. [11]

Regimental colours

Till the First World War, each unit had its own colours. In 1922, with the creation of the Maratha Group, the Red, Black, and Grey colours of the 114 Marathas (which became the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre) were adopted as the regimental colours. [40]

Battle honours

The regiment has 56 battle honours to its credit, 14 predating the World War I and spanning wars in Afghanistan, China, Burma and British East Africa. [38] The list of battle honours is evidence to the long history and valour of the regiment. Some of these honours have been declared repugnant after the independence of the country. [1]

Pre-independence

Post-independence

Gallantry awards

Pre-independence

1914–1921 [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57]

Victoria Cross
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
  • Captain William Burgess Benton. 105th Mahratta Light Infantry
  • Captain Kenneth Edward Cooper, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
  • Captain Charles Aubrey Pogson, 117th Mahrattas
  • Captain Arthur Wilfred White, 117th Mahrattas
  • Captain Douglas Kerr Joseph Chisholm, 114th, attd. 116th Mahrattas
  • Second Lieutenant Cyril Vincent Heron-Jones, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
  • Jemadar Dattairao Khanvilkar, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
  • Subedar Dhanjirao Khanvilkar, 114th Mahrattas
  • Jemadar Keshao Talekar, 114th Mahrattas
  • Subedar Sakhram Powar, 114th Mahrattas
  • Jemadar Sitaram Sellar, 117th Mahrattas
Order of British India
Indian Order of Merit
Indian Distinguished Service Medal
Indian Meritorious Service Medal
Croix De Guerre (French)
Croix de guerre (Belgium)
Médaille militaire (French)
Bronze medal for military valour (Italian)
Order of Karageorge, 4th Class (with Swords)
Officer of the Order of the Crown of Romania
Order of El Nahda, 3rd Class (Kingdom of Hejaz)

1922–1938 [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65]

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Albert Medal

1939–1947 [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] [75] [76] [77] [78] [79] [80] [81] [82] [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94] [95] [96] [97] [98] [99] [100] [101] [102] [103]

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
  • Major (temp) Nalinkumar Dhirrajlal Nanavati
  • Major (temp) Richard Radcliffe
  • Major (temp.) Paul Henderson Chase
  • Major (temp.) Noel James Millington Pettengell
  • Captain (temp. Major) Raymond Denis Teall
  • Captain (temp. Major) James Robert Charles Lawrence
  • Captain (temp. Major) Niall Vincent Holland
  • Captain (temp. Major) William Miller Mackay
  • Captain PMW Doyle
  • Captain John Alan d'lssa-Boomgardt
  • Captain AJ Oldham
  • Captain Harold Stanley Richmond
  • Lieutenant Padamsing Thapa
  • Lieutenant Ashley Fletcher Story Wilson
  • Lieutenant John Harford Powell
  • Subedar Nanasahib Surve
  • Subedar Shrirang Lawand
  • Subedar Ganpatrao Patil
  • Subedar Khandu Dalvi
  • Subedar Ramchander Shinde
  • Subedar Shripat Vishwasrao
  • Subedar Mohammad Umar
  • Subedar Dhakojirao Shinde
  • Jemadar Laxuman Desai
  • Jemadar Baburao Khanvilkar
  • Jemadar Jairam Mahadik
  • Jemadar Eknath Kaple
  • Jemadar Sitaram Maske
  • Jemadar Tukaram Parab
Indian Order of Merit
Indian Distinguished Service Medal
Military Medal

Post-independence

Ashok Chakra
Maha Vir Chakra
Kirti Chakra

Notable officers

Chief of Army Staff
Vice Chief of Army Staff
Army Commanders
Others

Sporting achievements

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Tyagi, Vidya Prakash (2009). Martial races of undivided India. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN   978-8178357751.
  2. ↑ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army".
  3. ↑ "Maj Gen Hitesh Bhalla, SC**, SM,VSM, ADGMO, IHQ, #NewDelhi has taken over as 14th Colonel of the Regiment of Maratha Light Infantry & will be assuming Colonelcy of Regiment from 01 June". 17 May 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
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