Books by splitShops

A Handbook of the Fighting Races of India - Paperback

$24.46

Tax not included.
Shipping calculated at checkout.

In stock

Order Note:

Purchase Information

Shipping charges, applicable taxes, the final order total, and available payment methods are shown during checkout before payment. Delivery timing varies by item and fulfillment origin. Standard U.S. returns are by mail for eligible new, unopened items within 30 days of carrier delivery. Customers pay standard return shipping; there is no restocking fee. Approved refunds are issued within 5 business days after the return is received and inspected. Standard exchanges are not offered.

Cindi Book items have a flat $9.99 shipping charge. Shopify Collective items use shipping rates set by the supplier. Orders containing items from different fulfillment sources may include more than one shipping charge. Your full shipping total is shown at checkout before payment.

Return eligibility is subject to the full policy. Opened, read, or unsealed books with broken seals or visible wear are final sale. Digital downloads, gift cards, and personalized products are non-refundable. Original shipping charges are not refunded for standard returns. Contact us within 7 days of delivery about damaged, defective, or incorrect items.

by P. D. Bonarjee (Author)

From the late nineteenth century, the Martial Race theory shaped the recruitment policy. It outlined that some Indian men, because of their 'caste' or ethnic group affiliations, were more 'suitable' soldiers and should be targeted for recruitment. Within the British Indian Army, the 'martial' groups included Gurkhas (mostly from Nepal) and Sikhs and Muslims from Punjab.

With certain modifications, this theory remained operational to the first decade of the twentieth century. The construction of the 'martial races' enabled the British to play-off different communities against each other to prevent the emergence of a unified anti-British sentiment among the colonised.


A detailed review of the Native Army intended to give the raw British officer an indication of the fighting material and capabilities of the Indian Army after the Presidency armies were abolished in 1895. The races discussed in the book are: Pathans, Baluchis, Punjabi Mahomedans, Sikhs, Gurkhas, Dogras, Jats, Aboriginal Tribes, Garhwalis, Hindustani Mahomedans, Rajputs, Mahrattas, Fighting race of South India and Miscellaneous Tribes. This is the standard work on the subject containing much of value on the so-called martial races.


Number of Pages: 246
Dimensions: 0.52 x 8 x 5 IN
Publication Date: August 21, 2024

Pay with

  • Amazon
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Visa

Available payment methods and your final total are shown at checkout before payment.

$24.46