Why Was There No Tranfer Of Population?

[G.Subramaniam]

Changes in the Communal
Composition of the Indian Army
Area and Communities Percentage in 1914
Percentage in 1918 Percentage in 1919 Percentage in 1930
I. The Punjab, N.-W. F. P. and Kashmir
47 46.5 46 58.5
(1) Sikhs 19.2 17.4 15.4 13.58
(2) Punjabi Musalmans 11.1 11.3 12.4 22.6
(3) Pathans 6.2 5.42 4.54 6.35
II. Nepal, Kumaon, Garhwal 15 18.9 14.9 22.0
(1) Gurkhas 13.1 16.6 12.2 16.4
III. Upper India
22 22.7 25.5 11.0
(1) U.P.Rajputs 6.4 6.8 7.7 2.55
(2) Hindustani Musalmans 4.1 3.42 4.45 Nil
(3) Brahmins 1.8 1.86 2.5 Nil
IV. South India
16 11.9 12 5.5
(1) Mahrattas 4.9 3.85 3.7 5.33
(2) Madras! Musalmans 3.5 2.71 2.13 Nil
(3) Tamils 2.5 2.0 1.67 Nil
V. Burma
(1) Burmans Nil Negligible 1.7 3.0
This table brings out in an unmistakable manner the profound changes which have been going on in the communal composition of the Indian Army particularly after 1919. They are (1) a phenomenal rise in the strength of the Punjabi Musalman and the Pathan, (2) a substantial reduction in the position of Sikhs from first to third, ( 3) the degradation of the Rajputs to the fourth place, and (4 ) the shutting out of the U. P. Brahmins, the Madrasi Musalmans, and the Tamilians, both Brahmins and Non-Brahmins.
A further analysis of the figures for 1930, which discloses the communal composition of the Indian Infantry and Indian Cavalry, has been made by Mr. Chaudhari in the following table. 28[f.28] Communal Composition of the Indian Army in 1930 Class Areas Percentage in Infantry Percentage in Cavalry Excluding
Gurkhas Including Gurkhas
1. Punjabi Musalman Punjab 27 22.6 14.28
2. Gurkhas Nepal 16.4
3. Sikhs Punjab 16.24 13.58 23.81
4. Dogras North Punjab and 11.4 9.54 9.53
Kashmir
5. Jats Rajputana, U. P., 9.5 7.94 19.06
Punjab
6. Pathans N.-W. F. Province 7.57 6.35 4.76
7. Mahrattas Konkan 6.34 5.33
8. Garhwalis Garhwal 4.53 3.63
9. U. P. Rajputs U. P. 3.04 2.54
10. Rajputana Rajputs Rajputana 2.8 2.35
11. Kumaonis Kumaon 2.44 2.05
12. Gujars N. E. Rajputana 1.52 1.28
13. Punjabi Hindus Punjab 1.52 1.28
14. Ahirs Do. 1.22 1.024
15. Musalmans, Rajputs, Neighbourhood of 1.22 1.024 7.14
Ranghars. Delhi
16. Kaimkhanis Rajputana 4.76
17. Kachins Burma 1.22 1.024
18. Chins Do. 1.22 1.024
19. Karens Do. 1.22 1.024
20. Dekhani Musalmans Deccan 4.76
21. Hindustani
Musalmans
U. P. 2.38
Reducing these figures in terms of communities, we get the following percentage as it stood in 1930 :—
Communities Percentage in Infantry Percentage -in Cavalry
Including Gurkhas Excluding Gurkhas
1. Hindus and Sikhs 60.55 50.554 61.92
2. Gurkhas 16.4
3. Muhammadans 35.79 29.974 30.08
4. Burmans 3.66 3.072
These figures show the communal composition of the Indian Army. The Musalmans according to Mr. Chaudhari formed 36% of the Indian Infantry and 30% of the Indian Cavalry. These figures relate to the year 1930. We must now find out what changes have taken place since then in this proportion.
It is one of the most intriguing things in the Military history of India that no information is available on this point after 1930. It is impossible to know what the proportion of the Muslims in the Indian Army at present is. There is no Government publication from which such information can be gathered. In the past, there was no dearth of publications giving this information. It is very surprising that they should have now disappeared, or if they do appear, that they should cease to contain this information. Not only is there no Government publication containing information on this point, but Government has refused to give any information on the point when asked by members of the Central Legislative Assembly. The following questions and answers taken from the proceedings of
the Central Legislative Assembly show how Government has been strenuously combating every attempt to obtain information on the point :