Overview The
Mahar community of
Maharashtra, also known as Kathiwale (men with sticks), Bumiputera (sons of the soil), and Mirasi (landlords), by tradition has the role of defending village boundaries from outsiders, invading tribes, criminals, and thieves. They were also responsible for maintaining law and order throughout the villages as administrators. Mahar served in various armies over several centuries. Under Islamic rule, Mahars served as soldiers in various armies of the
Deccan Sultanates,
Bahmani Sultanate, and the
Mughals. The
Maratha king
Shivaji Maharaj recruited a number of them into his army in the 17th century. They served as guards in hill forts and as soldiers. The Mahar along with the Koli and Marathas defended the fort of Purandar from Dilirkhan's Moghul army in 1665. Later during Peshwa rule Shidnak mahar saved the life of his commander Parshurambhau Patwardhan during the
Battle of Kharda in 1795. During the colonial period, large numbers of Mahars were recruited for military duties by the
East India Company and the
British Raj. The
Battle of Koregaon (1 January 1818) is commemorated by an obelisk known as the Koregaon pillar, which was erected at the site of the battle in 1821 and by a medal issued in 1851. The pillar featured on the Mahar Regiment crest until the
Independence of India; it is inscribed with the names of 22 Mahars killed at the battle. The victory pillar serves as focal point of Mahar heroism. The Mahar began their service to the East India company around 1750. Between 20 and 25 per cent of the British
Bombay Army were Mahars. Their conduct as soldiers was praised by many
British officers. Mahars were a vital component of the
British Marine Battalion. In the East India Company Army they participated in various wars including
Second Anglo-Maratha War,
Third Anglo-Maratha War,
Second Anglo-Sikh War and
Second Afghan War.
Raising of the Mahar Regiment When in 1892 the Government of India issued orders banning the recruitment of the Mahars in the Indian Army,
Subhedar Ramji Sakpal took a leading part in protesting against these unjust orders and approached the ever- helping
Ranade to draft a petition appealing to the Government of India to rescind the unjust orders. A few years later, Bhim came across a copy of this petition in the bundle of his father's old papers. There were many attempts by the leaders of the Mahar community to persuade the Government to let them serve in the Army once again. Petitions to this effect were drafted by ex-soldiers such as
Gopal Baba Walangkar in 1894 with the help of
Mahadev Govind Ranade, and Shivram Janba Kamble in 1904. These petitions were supported in principle by the politician and social reformer
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who was opposed to the Martial Races theory. They were also supported by the
Indian National Congress, who were also opposed to the recruiting policies of the Army. The shortage of men at the outbreak of the
First World War in 1914 forced the Government to begin more broad-based recruiting, and the Mahars were at last allowed to enlist in the Army. One battalion of Mahar troops, the
111th Mahars was raised in the June 1917. However, the battalion did not see much service during the War, and in 1920 it was merged with the
71st Punjabis and was disbanded in March 1921. World War II forced the British to broaden their recruitment and the Mahar Regiment was raised in 1941. In October, the Army gave in, and the 1st battalion of the Mahar Regiment was raised in
Belgaum under Lieutenant Colonel H.J.R. Jackson of the
13th Frontier Force Rifles and Subedar Major Sheikh Hassnuddin. ==Class composition==