It's important to understand the Caste factor in India, how it operates in a military environment and how it effects the military espirit de corps. It is necessary to understand why certain specific groups of Indian soldiers will only eat what their own caste cooks and are reluctant to eat together.
By tradition, the castes allowed to undergo military training and service were Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
Wikipedia has a detailed page on Bhishma who led Kauravas in
World War 0.
Imparting military training was reserved only for Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Wikipedia has done a wonderful job explaining this.
If you look up Eklavya, and his story you will see how as a self taught archer was beguiled into loosing his thumb so he could no longer use his bow. He was forced to do this because of his low tribal caste since he could not acquire proficiencies in handling of weapons.
Guru Drona ( Look up Wikipedia) ensured that and the prince Arjun he was training would remain the best archer in the realm.
This concept of Kshatriyas and Brahmins being the only ones entitled to military training, was a severe handicap in India's military capabilities. Since only the Kshatriyas and Brahmins were divinely ordained to fight, the rest of the population were incapable and indeed disinterested in fighting. They felt it was " not their job".
When the Kshatriyas failed India failed.
There was no People’s Resistance. The colonial Indian Army under British tutelage was a mercenary force of Kshatriyas and other "martial races", a culture which it retains till today. The only time a real People's Army was attempted devoid of race, religion and culture was during World War 2 by the Subhas Bose called the The Indian National Army comprised of POWs taken by Imperialist Japan, Japan hoped to use the INA as a fifth column to penetrate British ruled India. The INA wanted to use Japan's armed forces to weaken the British into relinquishing India. Ironically post independence the Indian Army didn't like the INAs anti- colonial and pan- combat capabilities stance. The INA had within its ranks all castes including "low caste " Indian origin rubber plantation workers. It was no wonder that the INA was quickly disbanded and the officers and men dismissed and banned from joining the newly independent Indian Armed Forces.
One element of the INA that did rejoin their parent armed forces were those from the area now constituting Pakistan.
They joined the newly formed Pakistan Armed Forces. One reason was that the newly formed PA has no caste or martial law elements.
By tradition, the castes allowed to undergo military training and service were Brahmins and Kshatriyas.
Wikipedia has a detailed page on Bhishma who led Kauravas in
World War 0.
Imparting military training was reserved only for Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Wikipedia has done a wonderful job explaining this.
If you look up Eklavya, and his story you will see how as a self taught archer was beguiled into loosing his thumb so he could no longer use his bow. He was forced to do this because of his low tribal caste since he could not acquire proficiencies in handling of weapons.
Guru Drona ( Look up Wikipedia) ensured that and the prince Arjun he was training would remain the best archer in the realm.
This concept of Kshatriyas and Brahmins being the only ones entitled to military training, was a severe handicap in India's military capabilities. Since only the Kshatriyas and Brahmins were divinely ordained to fight, the rest of the population were incapable and indeed disinterested in fighting. They felt it was " not their job".
When the Kshatriyas failed India failed.
There was no People’s Resistance. The colonial Indian Army under British tutelage was a mercenary force of Kshatriyas and other "martial races", a culture which it retains till today. The only time a real People's Army was attempted devoid of race, religion and culture was during World War 2 by the Subhas Bose called the The Indian National Army comprised of POWs taken by Imperialist Japan, Japan hoped to use the INA as a fifth column to penetrate British ruled India. The INA wanted to use Japan's armed forces to weaken the British into relinquishing India. Ironically post independence the Indian Army didn't like the INAs anti- colonial and pan- combat capabilities stance. The INA had within its ranks all castes including "low caste " Indian origin rubber plantation workers. It was no wonder that the INA was quickly disbanded and the officers and men dismissed and banned from joining the newly independent Indian Armed Forces.
One element of the INA that did rejoin their parent armed forces were those from the area now constituting Pakistan.
They joined the newly formed Pakistan Armed Forces. One reason was that the newly formed PA has no caste or martial law elements.