Photograph: Ranghar of the Indian Army, Eastern Punjab

Photograph: Ranghar of the Indian Army, Eastern Punjab, 1943-44. Ranghar was a term applied by Hindus to any Rajput who had, or whose ancestors had, converted to Islam. They were one of the Martial Races, certain Indian peoples thought by the British to possess a natural ability as soldiers. In reality the Martial Race theory was a clever British effort to divide the people of India for their own political ends. From a collection of photographs taken to illustrate the races recruited into the Indian Army and the geographical areas in which they originated

Ability Ancestors Certain Clever Converted Divide Ends Hindus Illustrate Maharashtra Originated Possess Punjab Rajput Reality Recruited Term Theory

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > NAM