• The inclusion of epaulette
  • Badges-exalted star of India
  • The sash
  • Capes
  • Breech pants
  • Sporty version of sherwani/achkan/bandh gala
  • Boots-knee length
  • Gloves
  • Jackets andwaist coat variations.
  • Shirts in variations
  • Turbans, caps and hats
  • Scarfs, kamarbandh, cuffs, buttons, belts, and shoes.

Uniforms have been an important part of the world history since the ages of the warsand annexation. Under the consolidation of theBritish raj, the entire resource of armiesand soldiers of the many small kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent were at theirservice. They demarked them as ‘regiments and issue ‘uniforms’ and attires that were aclever fusion of the local king’s outfit andregional flavor with a style that was largely‘British’ in effect.

Quote by Roberts F.M. (foreword)–“The army that now upholds the empire of Hindustan is basedon a systematic grouping of men by race and sept and clam, with a view to the fulldevelopmentof race efficiency. The careful grouping has been the subject of muchattention during the last twenty years, and has called for a thorough study of clans, andtribal systems of India. Rise of armies of India through their separate presidentialexistence,to one vast whole. This careful grouping has called for a thorough study ofthe clans and tribal systems of India, ending in a method of recruiting which isremarkable, and of a rank and file which is numerous and admirable. It was calculatedwell to prevent the decline of martial qualities. This helps understand that vastorganization by class and clan that are illustrated herein; it is necessary to trace the riseof armies of India through their separate presidential existence, to one vast whole.”

Order of the armies:-

  • The army of the Honorable East India Company
  • The army of the great Mutiny
  • The armies as transferred to the crown
  • The military clans and tribes-Indian army of today
  • The armies of the Feudatory states.

Research and words: MsGeeta Khanna, Author, Style of India

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