Question answer session from the 1926 Council of StatesENLISTMENT IN THE INDIAN ARMY OF HINDU JATS FROM THE JULLUNDUR AND LAHORE DIVISIONS
The Honourable Rai Bahadur Lala Ram Saran Das, C.I.E. (Punjab: Non-Muhammadan): Is it a fact that in the Jullundur and Lahore Divisions of the Punjab the Hindu Jats can get enlistment in the Indian Army only with great difficulty?
The Honourable Mr. AH Ley (on behalf of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief): Hindu Jats from the Jullundur and Lahore Divisions are eligible for service in the Indian Army. It is, however, a fact that, apart from those who are Dogras, Hindu Jats are not taken into the Army in large numbers from these two civil divisions.
Q: Will the Government kindly state what is the number at present in the Indian Army of Hindu Jats, Sikh Jats and Muslim Jats, recruited from Ambala Division, and from districts in the Jullundur and Lahore Divisions? Is this number of recruits in the Indian Army, from the different sections of the Jat community in proportion to their respective populations?
A: The information desired by the Honourable Member in the first part of this question is not available, as our statistics do not show the numbers recruited by districts or divisions but by provinces. With regard to the second part, I may state that the extent to which the different castes and classes are enlisted in the Indian Army depends more on their suitability for service as soldiers, than on their total numbers.
Q: Will the Government kindly lay on the table a statement showing the number of soldiers in the Indian Army, recruited from each of the Hindu castes and tribes in each district of the Punjab?
A: I regret that I am unable to furnish the Honourable Member with the information which he desires, since as 1 have just stated in reply to the previous question, our recruiting statistics are not compiled to show the classes and castes by districts but by provinces as a whole: I lay on the table, however, a statement showing the total number of the various Hindu castes and tribes (other than Sikhs) serving in the Indian Army on the 1st January 1925, from the whole of the Punjab Province and I trust that this information will suffice for the Honourable Member's purpose.
DOGRAS (Brahmans 691, Rajputs 8191, Jats 739, other castes of Dogras 793) total: 10,414
PUNJABI HINDUS (Brahmans 604, Rajputs 1027, Jats 4941, Ahirs 1795, Gujars 387) total: 8754
RECRUITMENT OF MUHYAL BRAHMANS OF THE RAWALPINDI DIVISION FOR THE INDIAN ARMY
Q: Is it a fact that in the Rawalpindi Division for some time past the Muhyal Brahmans cannot now get enlistment in the Army? Will the Government kindly state why this is so?
A: The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part does not arise. The Honourable Member will be interested to learn that there are now more than half as many more Muhyal Brahmans serving in the Indian Army than was the case before the war.
RECRUITMENT OF PUNJABI HINDU REGIMENTS FOR THE INDIAN ARMY
Q: Is it a fact that in the Indian Army raised from the Punjab, we have regiments known under the names of "Punjabi Musalmans " and "Sikhs"? Is it a fact that in the regiments known as the "Punjabi Musalmans ", there are usually recruits from several Muslim castes and tribes, and similarly in the " Sikh " regiments there are recruits from several Sikh castes and tribes? Is it also a fact that there is in the Indian Army raised from the Punjab no regiment known under the name of " Punjabi Hindus ", and consequently Hindu Jats in the Jullundur and Lahore Divisions, Muhyal Brahmins and Hindu Khattris in the Rawalpindi, Lahore and Jullundur Divisions, and several other Hindu fighting classes in different parts of the province cannot get enlistment in the Indian Army? Will the Government kindly state why no " Punjabi Hindu " regiments as such are raised in the Punjab?
A: There is no regiment known under the name of "Punjabi Mussulmans". There is one regiment known as Sikhs, namely, the 11th Sikhs, but only three of its battalions are composed exclusively of Sikhs. Government do not propose to raise a "Punjabi Hindu" regiment as such.