The Poona Horse

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The Poona Horse is an Indian army Regiment. Previously it was a cavalry regiment and now it is upgraded as a mechanized regiment. Along with many distinctions the regiment has won two Param Vir Chakras. Lt. Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore and 2nd Lt.Arun Khetarpal.

[edit] History

In accordance with the article VI of The Treaty of Poona between the British Governor-General of India Lord Hastings and Baji Rao II of the Peshwas, a cavalry regiment was raised on 15 June 1817. As per the treaty the force would be maintained by the Peshwa and was supposed to be permanently stationed in the territory of Peshwas. The interesting part of the treaty was that the force could have been used against the Peshwa by the British when necessary. The regiment was raised under the order of Mountstuart Elphinstone the Governor of Bombay.

The following are some of the extracts from the instructions issued for raising the force.

• Each Risaldar to have a Nishanburdar (standard bearer), a Nugaraburdar (Kettle-drummer) and a Karkun (orderly) at the expenses of the Government: each Jamadar a Karkun.

• Men of respectivity and family will be permitted, for the present, to recruit for promotion of the following terms: Risaldar to raise 500 horses, a Jamadar 100, and Daffadar 40.

• The men to be Sunis, Shaikhs, Moguls, Pathans, Scindians (Sindhis), Beloochis, Shiahs, Hindustanis, Brahmins, Rajputs, and Maharatta spearsmen - men of low caste not to be admitted – Mussalmans, especially Syuds, Sheikhs and Hindustanis to be preferred.

• No regular dress to be enforced: but if the men will consent to wear cloth angrikas or turbans and kummerbunds of uniform colour, they ought to be encouraged to do so: if not they must be required to wear some distinguishing mark in war, which must be often changed to prevent the enemy from taking it up.

• All sorts of exercises should be encouraged: good shots, good riders, swordsmen, pahalwans, &c., should be raised and receive presents. Nautches must be given to the native officers, the kanats to be open so that the whole Risalah may consider themselves entertained: on each occasion the officer can retire by 12 or 1 O’clock without giving offence, and he ought not to permit any indecency in his presence.

• Shorfs to be attached to divisions on conditions of lending money when required: the interest on no account to exceed 2 per cent mensem, the principal not to exceed two months’ pay.

• Gold or silver bangles will be presented to all who may particularly distinguish themselves in action, and other suitable rewards granted to those whose zeal for the service on other occasions may be deemed worthy of such consideration. A horse missing after an action is only to be paid for if the owner is wounded. All improvements are to be brought about by persuasion, and the greatest patience to be shown towards the faults that are to be eradicated.

• The native officers to be treated with utmost respect and attention, and the men with kindness and consideration: no private horseman to be struck on any account whatever. The principles of the service are to respect the prejudices of the native and to manage them by good treatment. As few direct orders as possible to be issued.