Martial Race Theory and Recruitment in the Indian Army during Two World Wars

Abstract

This chapter examines manpower mobilization for the Indian Army. It deals with four issues: which communities were recruited, the reasons for recruiting only certain communities, the actual mechanism of recruitment, and the measures undertaken by the imperialists to keep the colonial soldiers loyal. It also shows the shifts in the theory and practice of recruitment that enabled the colonial Indian Army to wage “Total War” instead of merely small wars. The chapter recounts how the Raj updated the martial race theory and replaced the regimental recruitment system with territorial or area recruitment. It refers to the armed forces that constituted the ultimate line of defense against both the internal and external threats of the British government in India.