How many Muslim soldiers remained in the Indian Army after 1947 partition? The answer is...
The partition of India in 1947 is one of the most significant events in Indian history. It led to the creation of two independent nations: India and Pakistan. It is to be noted that the partition was the result of political and religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims, fueled by decades of British colonial rule and the demand for a separate Muslim state by the All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. But have you wondered how many soldiers crossed over into Pakistan?
When India and Pakistan were divided, not just land and people, but entire cities, towns, streets, and neighborhoods that once belonged to undivided India were split between the two newly formed nations. To ensure the security of both India and Pakistan, the military also had to be divided. According to the ABP News report, at the time of partition, around 260,000 Hindu and Sikh soldiers chose to stay in India, while approximately 140,000 Muslim soldiers moved to Pakistan and became part of its armed forces. As a result, about two-thirds of the Indian Army remained with India, while one-third joined the military ranks of Pakistan.
The division of the country was done primarily on the basis of religion — Pakistan was created for Muslims, while India remained home to Hindus and Sikhs. However, people were given the freedom to choose which country they wanted to live in. The same principle applied to the division of the Indian Army.
The partition of soldiers was based on two factors. The first was religion — soldiers were divided between India and Pakistan based on their faith. The second was personal choice — soldiers were given the freedom to decide whether they wanted to serve in the Indian or Pakistani army.
It is believed that before partition, Muslims made up around 30 to 36 percent of the Indian Army. However, after the division, the percentage of Muslim soldiers in the Indian Army dropped significantly, with only about 2 percent remaining.
You may have heard many stories of bravery from the Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army. This regiment also had a unit of Muslim soldiers. When the country was partitioned, this group of Muslim soldiers moved to Pakistan and joined its army. They were later merged into the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army.
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