What % of Sikhs make up the Indian army ? What % of seats are maximum allowed for Sikhs newly entering army?

Question

Sikhs make up 1.87% of the Indian population and yet they were a majority in the Indian army at one point. They have the most medals awarded per person since WWI, WWII and countless other battles (eg. Sarangati battle: 21 Vs 10,000). They were also the only ones to control Afganisthan at one point.

They are also athletic people. When all players were Sikhs on the Indian field hockey team, they brough home 4 straight olympic medals. (However the Indian govt has quotas for gettin players from diff states so now the team ranks low). They also produced alot of runners, marathon runners, wrestlers (one is in WWE : 7'3, 400 pounds of muscle).

So I was wondering if Sikhs are still keeping their warrior identity and comprise most of the Indian army today?

Answer 1

It's foolish to believe one community is more warrior like than another. Everyone is capable of fighting provided they recieve the right kind of training.The british used the Martial races theory to recruit people (Divide and rule) to do their mercenary work filling people with a false sense of pride about themselves so they could serve british interests better and fight against their own indian brothers! To take pride in being called a "martial race" by the british is to accept that you are stupid, because the british used the illiterate to furthur their own cause! The minute somebody revolted they were not "martial" anymore! What made these "martial" people suddenly non warrior like? Please read up on the martial races theory!
Sikhs do join the indian army just like everyone else provided they meet physical requirements! India still retains the tags for the regiments based on caste just to maintain the regimental history. General JJ Singh a sikh served in the maratha Infantry during all his service.
Regarding medals the PVCs are pretty random and i don't see Sikhs necessarilly outshining anyone else. The most PVCs have gone to the Grenadiers! VCs also going to Hindus, Sikhs, Gurkhas, muslims alike!
FYI the wrestler Dalip Singh is a Hindu from Himachal not that being large means you can fight better! Gurkhas are one of the smallest people and proven to be excellent fighters. As for Lisa all the Sikh Gurus were Khatris. Jats aren't the only fighters amongst Sikhs. Sikhism is a peaceful religion that later developed a martial character but only to fight for what is right! Not to boast of their military might! Sikh means a "disciple" of the guru! To learn something one must first be humble! An Indian should be proud of all Indian soldiers!

Answer 2

Sikhs In Indian Army

Answer 3

According to a 1994 estimate, Punjabis (Sikhs and non-Sikhs) comprised 10 to 15 percent of all ranks in the Indian Army, although the state contained less than 3% of the country's population. The Indian government does not release religious or ethnic origins of the military personnel, but a 1991 report by Tim McGirk estimated that 20 percent of Indian Army officers were Sikhs.

Answer 4

Honestly a real Sikh doesn't give a fk about numbers and don't care about the award or prize. Sikhs have been defending India for the longest time. Sikhs have no caste so don't give me no Khatri and Jatt bs, they are all warriors, that's what Guru Gobind SIngh ji made them. Hindus now a days I've met try taking the glory away from Sikhs saying that they didn't do this that but we all know India is here today because of the Sikhs. I am not a SIkh myself I am a white person but I live in an area in Canada where there a lot of Sikhs and some Hindus and most Hindus I've met kind of try taking the glory away from the SIkhs. And honestly what I've seen is most sikhs don't even care about what people think, they know what their ancestors have done and they don't care about the applause, that's what I love about SIkhism.

Answer 5

Sikh Population In India

Answer 6

I do not have the exact figures to hand but in British India most of the army was recruited from the north west after the hindu brahmin army of the Company revolted during the Mutiny. Out of the northwest the majority was recruited form the Punjab and majority of these were the Muslims and then the Sikhs. The situation was that the hindu provinces were paying for a muslim army. At independence the Muslim army left to join Pakistan leaving the Sikhs in India. This meant that the Sikhs who were under 2% of the population numbered nearly 25% of the Indian army at this time. The Sikh's have always had love/hate relationship with the British as we do respect them but value our independence.

Answer 7

I am married to a Sikh and lived in India with a Sikh family and have learned alot about the culture and people. As for your statement about Sikh's being warriors that is not totally correct. Not all Sikh's are considered as warriors. They have different caste systems and the Jatt Sikh's are the caste of warriors. In regards to rather they are still keeping thei identity as warriors I would say it is uncommon that you will find a Jatt Sikh crrying the pride of being a warrior.
My husband a Jatt Sikh just recently became a US citizen and just is enlisting in the US Air Force...not a warrior kind of person at all and I have only known one Jatt out of the MANY I know that pride themselves in the identity of being a warrior and that person is a villager in Punjab India (where Sikh's originate from.

Answer 8

Ive heard that 49% of the Indian army is Sikh, but I'm not sure if this is up to date.

Answer 9

The Sikh's NEVER controlled Afghanistan historically. They had a number of 'expeditions' into Afghanistan with the British but generally stayed on their side of the hindu kush (modern day pakistan).

I am basing my comments on fact.

Answer 10

Qualified Sikhs must be given the priority in the military and sports activities in India so that they ca perform well and must not be limited, it is for the good of India anyway.