The Jat Regiment is one of the most powerful regiments of the Indian Army. They stand true to their motto: Unity and Valour. Jats have known to be a warrior community since the Mughal times. They were then recruited by the British which eventually paved their way into the Indian Army. Founded in 1795, Jat Regiment is one of the longest-serving and most-decorated regiments.

Here are some amazing facts about the Jat Regiment that will only make you feel prouder about them:

• They were first inducted for Calcutta Native Militia.

British had recruited the Jats in 1795 as part of the Calcutta Native Militia. This went on to be known as the Bengal Army.

• In 1857, the British formed the 14^th Murray’s Jat Lancers under the name Jat Horse Yeomanry.

Jat Lancers was a cavalry regiment having 250 sepoys and 150 sowars (cavalrymen) who fought for the English East India Company during the revolt of 1857.

• After 1860, there was a substantial increase in Jat recruitment in the British Army.

All the men in the 14^th Murray’s Jat Lancers were Jats thus making it an all Jat Regiment. The regiment received a battle honor and a theatre honor in their Afghan campaign of 1878-79.

• The official Regiment was created in 1897.

It was created as infantry units from old Battalions of the Bengal Army. It was also the time when the British started recruiting soldiers according to their ‘martial class’.

• In January 1922, the 9^th Jat Regiment was formed by merging four active battalions and one training battalion.

The 1st Battalion was raised as the 22nd Bengal Native Infantry in 1803. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were raised in 1817 and 1823 respectively. All three battalions had distinguished records of service, including the winning of many honors during World War I.

• The numeral 9 stood for their regimental hierarchy in the British Indian Army.

Even though the numeral 9 was dropped from the name post-Independence, it is still used in the insignia.

• Until 1947, Jats won 19 battle honors and 2 Victoria crosses.

Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honors system. It is awarded for valor “in the presence of the enemy” to the members of the British Armed Forces.

• They served in wars even after Independence.

Following Indian independence from the UK in 1947, the Jat Regiment served in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the conflicts with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, and in Sri Lanka and Siachen.

• In 1965, 3 Jat crossed Ichhogil Canal.

Under Lt Col Desmond Hayde, 3 Jats crossed Ichhogil Canal and captured Dograi right up to Batapore-Attocke Awan, advancing towards Lahore.

• Apart from Jat Lancers, Jats have also been recruited 6^th Jat Light Infantry, 10^th Jats, 2^nd Lancer, 12^th Pioneers, and 48^th

• Post-independence, they have won five battle honors, eight Mahavir Chakra, eight Kirti Chakra, 32 Shaurya Chakras, 39 Vir Chakras, and 170 Sena Medals.

There’s a reason why it is known to be the most decorated regiment.

• They have 23 regular battalions, 4 Rashtriya Rifles battalions, and 2 reserve battalions.

• Although it hasn’t yet been awarded a Param Vir Chakra but Colonel (late Brigadier) Hoshiar Singh Dahiya of 3 Grenadiers was a Jat.

Colonel Hoshiar Singh was awarded Param Vir Chakra for his gallantry in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

• Only three battalions of the Jat Regiment are not from the Jat community.

The 12^th, 15^th, and 20^th battalions are the ones that have members from other communities as well. Otherwise, all the battalions have soldiers from the Jat community.

• Late Captain Anuj Nayyar of Kargil war was a Jat.

Captain Anuj Nayyar, known for his heroic action in the Kargil war 1999, was from Jat Regiment. He was posthumously honored with Maha Vir Chakra.

• The 21^st Battalion of Jat Regiment has been awarded Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar 2010.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEFCC) Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, an annual award, recognizes initiatives by those who have the potential or have made a significant impact in the protection of the environment.

• They have its own helpline called ‘Maujiram helpline’.

This helpline was launched in June 2013 by Jat Regiment Centre.

• Their regimental center is in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.

• The Jat soldiers of the 43^rd Bengal Native Infantry carried the gates of Somnath Temple back to India after the Battle of Kabul in 1842.

After the Battle of Kabul (1842), Governor-General Lord Ellenborough had commanded Major General William Nott, who was driving British-Indian forces, to obtain a set of ornate gates known as the Somnath Gates, which had been robbed from India by the Afghans and fixed at the tomb of Sultan Mahmud II. A whole sepoy regiment, the 43rd Bengal Native Infantry—which later became the 6th Jat Light Infantry after the Indian Rebellion of 1857—was tasked with bringing the gates back to India.

• They have also contributed to UN missions in Korea and Congo.

Wishing more power to the Jat Regiment. May they continue to fight valiantly for the country! We salute you.

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