Rajput Regiment

The Rajput Regiment
The Rajput Regiment Insignia
Active	1778 – Present
Country	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Line Infantry
Size	20 Battalions
Regimental Centre	Fatehgarh, Uttar Pradesh
Motto(s)	Sarvatra Vijay (Victory Everywhere)
War Cry	Bol Bajrang Bali Ki Jai (Victory to Lord Hanuman)
Decorations	1 Param Vir Chakra, 1 Ashoka Chakra, 5 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, 7 Maha Vir Chakras, 12 Kirti Chakras, 5 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 58 Vir Chakras, 20 Shaurya Chakras 4 Yudh Seva Medals, 67 Sena Medals, 19 Vishisht Seva Medals, 1 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal, 1 Padma Shri
Battle honours	Post Independence Naushera, Zoji La, Khinsar, Madhumati River, Belonia, Khansama and Akhaura
Insignia
Regimental Insignia	A pair of crossed Katars (कटार) flanked by 3 Ashoka leaves on either side
Tartan	Rajput

Post Independence

The Rajput Regiment is a regiment in the Indian Army that is composed primarily of the Rajput, GurjarBrahmin, Bengali, Muslim, Jat, Ahir, Sikh and Dogra clans from India. During the Second World War, the class composition of the regiment was 50% Rajput and 50% Muslim.

The association of the Rajputs with the British Indian Army started in 1778, when the 3rd Battalion was raised as the 31st Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. Two other battalions the 1st and 2nd were raised in 1798. The 3rd Battalion fought against Hyder Ali and captured Cuddalore. It was after this battle that the crossed daggers (also known as katars) as a badge was granted in recognition of gallantry, this since has been adopted as the badge by the Rajput Regiment. The 1st Battalion fought at the battle of Delhi (1803), which broke the power of the Marathas at the Imperial court. This battalion was in action again at the siege of Bharatpur (1805), of the 400 men who went into the assault at least 50 percent became casualties.

The 1st and 4th Battalions participated in the British campaign against the Gurkhas. All the Rajput Battalions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and the 5th) fought against the Sikhs in the Anglo-Sikh wars. The 5th Battalion captured three Sikh standards at the battle of Gujarat. The 1857 mutiny was mostly confined to the Bengal infantry regiments, during which the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Rajputs were temporarily disarmed. The 1st Battalion was at Saugor and stood firm while guarding the treasury and the arsenal. For its role it was awarded the title of Light Infantry. The Regiment of Lucknow, which later became the 16th Battalion, then the 10th Battalion contributed to the successful defence of the Lucknow Residency. It won two Victoria Crosses and every Sepoy in the regiment was also awarded a medal. The 1st Battalion in 1876 achieved a rare honour by becoming the Queen's Own as well as the Royal regiment.