In Delhi, I once saw a scuffle break out and a Sikh man being beaten, unable to defend himself. It was strange because you are always told that Sikhs are warrior people and so you expect them to be good fighters.

The East India Company (EIC) saw itself displaced from India in 1857 after the uprising. The Queen appropriated all of the assets of the EIC and India moved from the Company Raj to the British Raj. While they did this, the British officers were keenly aware of the regiments that caused the uprising.

Hence they created a class system and racial profiling within the army where they promoted those who were loyal as the warrior people and sidelined the people who were part of the uprising.

Many of the soldiers who had risen against the British were from United Provinces (what is Uttar Pradesh today) and Central Provinces (what is Madhya Pradesh today).

Even today the regiments from Uttar Pradesh are called the Rajputana Rifles (Rajputs are from Rajasthan) and the Dogra Regiment (Dogras are from the hills). The Unit from Fatehgarh is called the Sikh Light Infantry. The unit from Varanasi and Lucknow is called the Gorkha Rifles (again a clan from the hills). Another unit in Lucknow is called Sikkim Rifles.

Oh also, Uttar Pradesh contributes the largest number of soldiers to the Indian army.

Shame that we still carry this colonial baggage!