Mazhabi - Reputation As Soldiers

Reputation As Soldiers

Over the years, the Mazhabi Sikhs acquired a reputation as fine and formidable soldiers. The British recognised them as "once a redoubtable foe of the English, and now one of the finest soldiers in the British army". The Mazhabis are highly regarded for their determined resolve to complete the assigned tasks against all opposition; and were deployed in various military campaigns in India and abroad. The British were greatly impressed by their superior physique and the martial and religious fervour imparted by Sikhism. The corps of Mazhabi Sikhs became famous for their fighting reputation and discipline. In addition to their soldiering reputation, the Mazhabis were also known for their loyalty and it was noted that during their service with the army, they never once betrayed the trust placed in them. The British noted that during the First World War, the Mazhabi Sikh soldiers reached a "remarkably high standard" and that their contribution to the war surpassed that of the Jatt Sikhs. Whilst the Mazhabi Sikhs were an important part of the British Indian Army; British Army Regiments carried attached Mazhabi Sikh platoons. The Welch Regiment carried a Mazhabi Sikh Platoon from 1933. Major-General A.E.Barstow described the Mazhabi Sikhs as "...extremely good soldiers." and goes on to mention that the Sikh Pioneer Regiments, "...have a proud record of service in many campaigns." Historically they have fought battles for Guru Gobind Singh and the Mazhabis formed the majority of Akali Nihang ranks, even throughout the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh also enlisted them in large numbers for the existing misls, and in the irregular corps.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh had a great admiration for their bravery and enlisted the Mazhabis extensively into the Khalsa Army which he nurtured into an excellent instrument of war. Being afraid, however, to form them into separate corps, Maharaja Ranjit Singh attached a company of Mazhabis to the existing battalions (misls). During his reign, the Mazhabi Sikhs were generally stationed on the Peshawer border, where constant fighting against invading Islamic Afghan and Pashtun forces gave them the opportunity to show their bravery and endurance.

Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir raised a corps of Mazhabi Sikhs in 1851. The British also recognised the great fighting qualities and prowess of these soldiers in the Anglo-Sikh Wars. The stubborn and sustained resistance offered by them and their ability to maintain themselves frugally amazed them. The British had admiration for the mazhabi as they made capital soldiers. The British raised the first Corps of Mazhbi Sikh Pioneers, the fore bearer of the Sikh Light Infantry, in 1850. During the British Raj, they were initially recruited for a coolie corps meant for road construction. In 1855 there were only 1500 sikh soldiers, most of them were mazhabis. In 1857, 12,000 Mazhabis were listed for the 23rd, 32nd and 34th Pioneer Regiments. They were deployed at the Siege of Delhi, Siege of Lucknow and Capture of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The raised Pioneers were a splendid Corps and displayed remarkable valour in the field. They earned a high reputation as soldiers, and became a significant component of the British Indian Army. In 1911, there were 10,866 Sikhs in the Indian army, out of which 1,626 were Mazhabis; They had been reduced to 16% of their original enlistment numbers back in 1857.

The first world war would see a rise their enlistment numbers as the Mazhabi sikh pioneers, 23rd Sikh Pioneers, 32nd Sikh Pioneers and the 34th Sikh Pioneers were developed into three battalions each. The mazhabi sikh pioneers performed well during the great war. The 1/34th Sikh pioneers won the title of "Royal" during the Great war. The unit armourer and blacksmith made a highly burnished screen, proudly displaying the magnificent achievements of the Mazhabi Sikh Pioneers as epitomized in their Battle Honours. The 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers presented this screen to his majesty King George V of the United Kingdom in 1933. The Mazhabis, along with the Ramdasea Sikhs, were recruited to form the Mazhabi and Ramdasea battalions, that were later merged to form the Sikh Light Infantry in 1941 for the World War II.