This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.
Gurpreet Kaur,
- Principal, Department of History, Tapacharya Hem Kunwar R/O Jain Girls College, Raman Mandi (Bathinda), Punjab, India
Abstract
The recruitment of Punjabi soldiers into the British Indian Army during the First and Second World Wars represents a significant chapter in the military and colonial history of South Asia. Punjab emerged as one of the principal recruiting regions of the British Empire, contributing hundreds of thousands of soldiers to overseas military campaigns. This large-scale recruitment was influenced by several factors, including the British doctrine of “martial races,” economic incentives, local political structures, and colonial administrative policies. This paper examines the causes, methods, and consequences of Punjabi military recruitment during both World Wars, focusing on its social, economic, and political implications. It explores how colonial authorities used recruitment policies, financial rewards, land grants, and local leadership networks to encourage enlistment among Punjabi communities. The study also investigates the experiences of soldiers and their families, highlighting the opportunities military service created for employment, social mobility, and economic advancement. At the same time, recruitment strengthened British colonial authority by fostering loyalty among selected communities and integrating local elites into imperial structures. The paper argues that military recruitment transformed Punjabi society by influencing rural economies, social relationships, political awareness, and community identities. Ultimately, Punjabi military participation reveals the complex relationship between colonial power, economic opportunity, and social change in twentieth-century Punjab.
Keywords: war, Punjab, Soldiers, British
References
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2. Tan Tai Yong, The Garrison State: Military, Government and Society in Colonial Punjab, 1849–1947 (New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2005), p 67.
3. Kaushik Roy, “Military Loyalty in the Colonial Context: A Case Study of the Indian Army during World War I,” The Journal of Military History 67, no. 2 (2003): p.498.
4. Kaushik Roy, Indian Army and the First World War (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2018), p.103.
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OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal
| Volume | 16 | |
| 03 | ||
| Received | 07/10/2026 | |
| Accepted | 17/10/2026 | |
| Published | 27/10/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 20 Days |