Ambedkar on number of Hindus in Indian Army

 

Ambedkar on number of Hindus in Indian Army

Dr Vivek Arya

Prior to India’s Independence and especially before World War II, the British Army was dominated by Muslims, who formed almost 50% of the force.High percentage of Muslims in Indian army was an alarming bell for thinkers like Ambedar. He states that the estimates that some people had was that the pre-war proportion of Muslims in the army was 60–70 per cent, while others pegged that number around 50 per cent. He goes on to state that even if one assumed it was the latter figure, 'it is high enough to cause alarm to the Hindus.

Elaborating further, Ambedkar writes clinically and bluntly:

The Indian Army today is predominantly Muslim in its composition ... the Musalmans who predominate are the Musalmans from the Punjab and the N.W.F.P. Such a composition of the Indian Army means that the Musalmans of the Punjab and the N.W.F.P. are made the sole defenders of India from foreign invasion. So patent has this fact become that the Musalmans of the Punjab and the N.W.F.P. are quite conscious of this proud position, which has been assigned to them by the British, for reasons best known to them. For, one often hears them say that they are the ‘gate-keepers’ of India. The Hindus must consider the problem of the defence of India in the light of this crucial fact. How far can the Hindus depend upon these ‘gate-keepers' to hold the gate and protect the liberty and freedom of India? The answer to this question must depend upon who comes to force the gate open. It is obvious that there are only two foreign countries, which are likely to force this gate from the NorthWest side of India, Russia or Afghanistan, the borders of both of which touch the border of India. Which of them will invade India and when, no one can say definitely. If the invasion came from Russia, it may hoped that these gate-keepers of India will be staunch and loyal enough to hold the gate and stop the invader. But suppose the Afghans singly or in combination with other Muslim states march on India, will these gate-keepers stop the invaders or will they open the gates and let them in? This is a question, which no Hindu can afford to ignore. This is a question on which every Hindu must feel assured, because it is the most crucial question ... Will they (the Muslim soldiers) respond to the call of the land of their birth or will they be swayed by the call of their religion, is the question, which must be faced if ultimate security is to be obtained. It is not safe to seek to escape from these annoying and discomforting be questions by believing that we need not worry about a foreign invasion so long as India is under the protection of the British. Such a complacent attitude is unforgivable to say the least.

Ambedkar's fears were shared even by British educationalist and member of the Council of India, who had served as the director of the University of London Institute in Paris, Theodore Morrison, whom he quotes as having said way back in 1899:

The views held by the Mahomedans (certainly the most aggressive and truculent of the peoples of India) are alone sufficient to prevent the establishment of an independent Indian Government. Were the Afghan to descend from the North upon an autonomous India, the Mahomedans, instead of uniting with the Sikhs and the Hindus to repel him, would be drawn by all the ties of kinship and religion to join his flag.

This view was raised on public platform by Veer Savarkar and mass drive was carried forward for Hindus to join the Indian Army and learn marial training and different warfare skills.

We all must thank the farsight vision of Ambedkar and Savarkar .In 1947 the Hindus soldiers were the biggest help to the Hindu refuges especially in NWFP, Sindh and Western punjab for their safe transport across the borders.