History of indian army

Military Traditions in India

India has a rich military history and tradition dating back several millennia. The earliest known reference of armies is found in the Vedas and the epics Ramayana and Mahabaratha.

One of the most influential scriptures on Hindu Dharma, the Bhagvad Gita, is written as a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield just before the start of the Kurukshetra war. In it, Krishna explains to Arjuna his duties as a warrior and a prince.

The Arthashastra is a political treatise written in the 4th century BCE by Kautilya, on statecraft, economics and military strategy.^[4][5] Classical Indian texts on archery in particular, and martial arts in general are known as Dhanurveda.

There have been numerous powerful dynasties in India, including the Magadha Empire, Shishunaga dynasty, Nanda dynasty, Maurya Empire, Satavahana dynasty, Kushan Empire, Gupta dynasty, Harsha Empire, Pandyan Kingdom and Chola dynasty, Chera dynasty, Pratihara Empire, Pala Empire, Rashtrakuta Dynasty, the Rajputs, the Yadavas, Vijayanagar Empire, Chalukyas and Pallavas, Mughal Empire, Maratha Empire, etc.

British Indian Army

Main article: British Indian Army

A Military Department was created in the Supreme Government of the East India Company at Kolkata in the year 1776, having the main function to sift and record orders relating to the Army issued by various Departments of the Govt of East India Co.^[6]

With the Charter Act of 1833, the Secretariat of the Government of East India Company was reorganised into four Departments, including a Military Department. The Army in the Presidencies of Bengal, Bombay & Madras functioned as respective Presidency Army till April 1895, when the Presidency Armies were unified into a single Indian Army. For administrative convenience, it was divided into four Commands viz. Punjab (including the North West Frontier), Bengal, Madras (including Burma) and Bombay (including Sind, Quetta and Aden).

The British Indian Army was a critical force in the primacy of the British Empire in both India, as well as across the world. Besides maintaining the internal security of the British Raj, the army fought in theaters around the world - Anglo-Burmese Wars, Anglo-Sikh Wars, Anglo-Afghan Wars, Opium Wars in China, Abyssinia, Boxer Rebellion in China. It is no coincidence that the decline of the British Empire started with the Independence of India.

First and Second World Wars

In the 20th century, the British Indian Army was a crucial adjunct to the British forces in both the World Wars.

1.3 Million Indian soldiers served in World War I (1914-1918) for the Allies after the Britain made vague promises of self-governance to the Indian National Congress for its support. Britain reneged on its promises after the war, following which the Indian Independence movement gained strength. 74,187 Indian troops were killed or missing in action in the war.^[7]

In World War II (1939-1945), 2.582 Million Indian soldiers fought for the Allies, again after British promises of independence. 87,000 Indian soldiers died in the war.

India gained its Independence, in part due to the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in the two World Wars.

Inception

Upon independence and the subsequent Partition of India in 1947, the British Indian Army was divided between the newly created nations of Republic of India and Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Four Gurkha regiments were transferred to the British Army, while the rest were incorporated into the Indian Army.

Post-Independence

India has faced numerous threats and challenges to its security, both external and internal, since her independence, and the Indian Army has been called in to service, which it has rendered with the highest tradition of sacrifice and valour.

The early years after Independence, presented a number of challenges. Acute poverty imposed a number of resource constraints on the Indian Army. Unlike Pakistan, which signed the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), in order to gain economic and military aid from United States and Great Britain, India decided to abstain from taking sides in the Cold War, and founded the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). All of the growth of the Indian Armed Forces has been achieved with dignity and self-financing.

While most other developing nations have faced numerous constitutional crises, the professionalism and respect of the Indian Army for the Constitution of India has been one of the most stabilizing forces and an underlying strength of Indian Democrac