The Indian solider was an essential support of the British Empire worldwide. Post 1858, the British redesigned the Indian army around the Martial Race Theory, in order to secure the Raj. Based on their loyalty towards the British, various Indian communities were deemed "martial races", characterized with qualities such as manliness and bravery. The Rajputs were a martial race and therefore, the Imperial Cadet Corps (ICC) and the Jodhpur Lancers emerged as important parts of the army.To reduce the expenditure of “Govt. Of India” Viceroy Lord Dufferin (1884-1888) introduced the scheme of imperial services, i.e. forces raised in and paid for by princely states. Sir Pratap’s Jodhpur’s regiment, the Jodhpur Lancers, joined in immediately.Polo in its modern form was introduced when Sir Pratap invited the Bengal Lancers to raise the Jodhpur Lancers. By 1899, the Jodhpur lancers were divided into 2 regiments- each made up of 8 squadron officers, 8 jamadars, 8 kote daffadars, and 1058...
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