Bihar Regiment

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= The Bihar Regiment


caption=Regimental Insignia of the Bihar Regiment
dates= 1942 - Present
country= India
allegiance=
branch= Army
type= Line Infantry
role=
size=17 Battalions
command_structure=
garrison=Danapur, Bihar
garrison_label=Regimental Centre
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto="Karam Hi Dharam (Work is Worship)"
colors="Jai Bajrang Bali (Victory to Bajrang Bali)""Birsa Munda Ki Jai (Victory to Birsa Munda)"
colors_label= War Cry
march=
mascot=
battles= Indo-Pak War of 1971
anniversaries=
decorations=2 Ashoka Chakras
battle_honours=Post Independence Haka , Gangaw and Batalik.Theatre honours="'Akhaura.
current_commander= Lieutenant General Rajeev Rai
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders= Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aulakh
identification_symbol=The Ashoka Lion
identification_symbol_label=Regimental Insignia
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=

The Bihar Regiment is a regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment can trace its origins back to the British Indian Army.

History

Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim influences intermingled to produce a soldiery which was traditionally arms bearing, disciplined and deeply religious. The Bihar Regiment claims its origins from the sepoy battalions raised in 1857 by Clive at Patna. These were formed by the men from the Bhojpur region of Bihar. Their success in combat had impressed the local ruler Mir Kasim, to begin raising units trained in western combat techniques. The Bihari battalions raised by Mir Kasim had not only done well, but beaten the British in some engagements [??] . The Bihari, or poorbia/purviah soldier thereafter continued to provide the backbone of The Bengal Infantry of the British.

The Bihar Regiment was formed in 1941 by regularising the 11th (Territorial) Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment, and raising new battalions. The Biharis were not considered good soldier material by the British after 1857 since the Rajputs, Bhumihar Brahmins and other Brahmins and Muslims of Bihar, who were widely recruited in the old Bengal Army, had taken a very prominent part in the Sepoy Rebellion. The Biharis were recruited once again after a long time as infantry soldiers only in the Second World War, because the manpower reserves of Punjab etc could not keep pace with the extremely heavy demands of the Burma Front. The Bihar Regiment is reported to consist half of the Adivasi groups like Santhal ,Ho , Oraon and Munda , while the rest are mainly Rajputs , Bhumihar Brahmins and other Brahmins.

On 15 December 1971 a Seaborne expedition was launched against Cox Bazar after reports of had reached Army HQ that some Pakistani troops were escaping into Burma that way. The Task force consisted of the HQ of 2 Artillery Brigade, the 1st Battalion, 3 Gorkha Rifles Regiment, 11th Battalion, Bihar Regiment and troops of support services.

Pakistan sponsored intruders crossed the L.O.C. in Kargil and entered the Indian Territory. "Operation Vijay" was launched by Indian Army to flush out intruders from the Indian Territory More than 10,000 Jawans and Officers serving in Bihar Regiment Center and other regiments were on the war front. In a well planned operation in the Batalik Sector, the soldiers of the Bihar Regiment, in a fierce fight with the Pakistan Army, captured Point 4268 and Jubar Ridge on night 06/07 July 99. 7th July 1999 is a red letter day when it was announced that Jawans of Bihar Regiment Center pushed back intruders from Jubar Hills and point 4268 in Kuker Thang area in Batalik sector.

References

[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Regiments/Bihar.html Bihar Regiment on Bharat-Rakshak]

[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/rgt-bihar.htm Bihar Regiment on Global Security]