History.     The recruitment of Biharis as soldiers of modern era dates back to the days of the British East India Company, which raised the ‘Bengal Native Infantry’ as a force. Despite being the youngest, it surpassed others in its valour and strength. It is to be noted with pride that the Biharis were much sought after by the East India Company. In fact, the 34th Sepoy Battalion formed during the tenure of Lord Robert Clive in 1758, was raised entirely from Bhojpur district. Similarly, the district of Shahabad and Munger were their other favourite recruitment areas. Their victories at home including those of Buxar, Karnatic and Maratha Wars and their laurels at Malaya, Sumatra and Egypt too were praiseworthy. The Bihari Soldiers, as part of the Bengal Native Infantry, gave a spectacular account of their valour and accumulated a number of honours and awards to their credit.

TROOPS OF BENGAL NATIVE INFANTRY DRESSED IN BRITISH ‘RED COATS’
SOLDIERS OF BENGAL NATIVE INFANTRY ON THEIR WAY TO REJOIN THEIR UNITS	OLD MAP OF BIHAR

‘BLESSING THE COLOURS’ OF 35 BENGAL LIGHT INFANTRY -1843	ONE OF THE INITIAL BIHARI WARRIOR RAISED BY ROBERT CLIVE	A BIHARI SEPOY OF THE BENGAL ARMY - 1845

1st War of Independence (Revolt by Babu Kunwar Singh and Birsa Munda).  During the first war of Independence (1857), the Bihari troops were the first to revolt against the introduction of greased cartridges and preferred being blown by the guns than to losing their faith. Similar was the fate of Sepoy Mangal Pandey. From the state two heroes emerged who fought against the British rule i.e Babu Kunwar Singh and Birsa Munda. Realising the potential and clear threat to their existence, as a policy the Britishers thereafter disbanded all eighteen Bihar battalions and ensured that no recruitment of Bihari’s was done by the British.

(a)     Birsa Munda (1875-1900).  A tribal and a folk hero, who belonged to the Munda tribe was behind the movement that rose in the tribal belt of modern day Bihar and Jharkhand during the British Raj, in the late 19th century, thereby making him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. His portrait hangs in the Central Hall of Indian Parliament and is the only tribal leader to have been so honoured.

(b)     Babu Veer Kunwar Singh (1777-1858).      One of the renowned leaders of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, belonged to a royal Kshatriya (kushwaha) house of Jagdispur, currently a part of Bhojpur district, Bihar state, India. At the age of 80 years, during India’s First War of Independence (1857), he actively led a select band of armed soldiers against the troops under the command of the East India Company. He was the chief organiser of the fight against British in Bihar. During the first War of independence, the soldiers at Danapur revolted against the imperial rule and elected him as their leader. Under his leadership the soldiers attacked Arrah house and later captured the town.

GENERAL ORDERS OF COURT MARTIAL OF SEPOY MANGAL PNADEY (NO 1446) HELD AT SIMLA	DEFENCE OF ARRA HOUSE AGAINST A LARGE BODY OF BIHARI SOLDIERS UNDER BABU KUNWAR SINGH, 1857

Second World War.    It was during the Second World War that soldiers from Bihar were once again recruited in the 19th Hyderabad Regiment. 1 BIHAR Regiment, which was raised on 15 September 1941, owes its origin to the 11/19 Hyderabad Regiment.

Crest of The Bihar Regiment.     The Bihar Regimental Crest was adopted from the three headed lions of Ashoka. Then Captain M Habibullah Khan Khattak, as Officiating Commanding Officer 1st Bihar Battalion (Later Major General in Pak Army) was instrumental in selection of the regimental crest in 1941. In 1945, then Governor of Bihar, Sir Thomas Rutherford when he visited 1st Bihar at Shillong was so impressed with the Regimental Crest, that he requested Lieutenant Colonel M Habibullah Khan Khattak, then Commanding Officer 1st Bihar’s permission to adopt the emblem for the Bihar Government. The Bihar Government then published gazette notification in May 1945 thanking Lieutenant Colonel M Habibullah & all ranks of 1st Bihar for giving permission to Government of Bihar to adopt the crest. Post Independence, Government of India too adopted the three headed Ashoka lions as Government of India Crest.

ASHOKA LION

Participation in Operations.

(a)    World War II (1941 to 1945).      During World War II, 1 BIHAR fought gallantly as part of the famous LUSHAI Bde and captured ‘HAKA’ on 19 October 1944 and ‘GANGAW’ on 11 January 1945. In recognition of the gallant actions, the Battalion was awarded two ‘Battle Honours’ namely ‘HAKA’ and 'GANGAW' and was also bestowed with the ‘Theatre Honour’ of BURMA. During the period, 2 BIHAR also operated in Malaya with distinction as part of the `ZIPPER FORCE' under Lieutenant Colonel (Later Lieutenant General) Sant Singh.

(b)    1965 and 1971 Operations.  Most of the battalions of the Regiment participated in the Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971 and accomplished their assigned tasks in a commendable manner. 10 BIHAR was awarded the Theatre Honour of `AKHAURA' for its gallant action in the Battle of Akhaura in East Pakistan in 1971. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel P C Sawhney was awarded Vir Chakra.

INDO - PAK WAR - 1965

(c)    OPERATION VIJAY.      1 BIHAR participated in ‘OPERATION VIJAY’ in the Batalik Sub Sector and was responsible for recapture of Jubar Hill and Tharu. For its valour, the unit was honoured with Chief of the Army Staff Unit Citation, Battle Honour ‘BATALIK’ and Theatre Honour ‘KARGIL’. Major M Saravanan and Naik Ganesh Prasad were awarded the Vir Chakra (Posthumously) for their gallantry act and the unit was awarded a total of 26 gallantry awards including four Vir Chakra, one Yudh Seva Medal, six Sena Medal, six Mention-in-Dispatches and nine General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command Commendation Cards.

CAPTURE OF THARU TOP

(d)    United Nation Mission.     1 BIHAR was the first Bihar Battalion to take part in United Nation peace keeping mission. The battalion was deployed in Somalia in 1993-1994. Later 10 BIHAR, 5 BIHAR and 14 BIHAR have also had the distinction of participating in United Nation peace keeping operations in Congo in 2004, 2009 and 2014 respectively.

(e)    Counter Insurgency Operations.     The Regiment has served with distinction in Counter Insurgency Operations. Lieutenant Colonel HUS Gaur and Lieutenant Colonel SS Rana were awarded Ashoka Chakra (Posthumously), the highest peace time gallantry award for their gallant action in Counter Insurgency Operations. 5 BIHAR, 8 BIHAR, 10 BIHAR, 14 BIHAR and 17 BIHAR have been awarded Chief of Army Staff unit citations while taking active part in Counter Insurgency Operations.

(f)    OPERATION PARAKRAM.     All battalions of the Regiment were mobilised for ‘Operation PARAKRAM’ in 2001.

(g)    OPERATION BLACK TORNADO.     Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan (parent unit 7 BIHAR) while operating with 51 SAG made the supreme sacrifice in the anti terrorist operation at Mumbai on 26 November 2008 and was awarded the Ashoka Chakra (Posthumously).

 BIHARIS PROVING THEIR METAL IN HARSH TERRAIN AT SIACHEN GLACIER