Mewar Bhil Corps

The Mewar Bhil Corps is a state armed police force of the Rajasthan Police.[1] The Corps was originally raised by the British Indian government as a military unit along similar lines as units such as the Merwara Battalion and Malwa Bhil Corps.[2] The Corps operated as a regular unit of the British Indian Army until 1938; since then it has been maintained as a para-military force.[1]

Mewar Bhil Corps
Mewar Bhil Corps Insignia
Active1841 – present
Country India
BranchIndian Army, Rajasthan Police
TypeLocal Corps
DecorationsUnknown

As of 2015, the sanctioned strength of the Corps was 773 personnel.[3] It is organized, along with 7 battalions of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary under an Assistant Director General of Police for Armed Battalions.[4]

History

The Mewar Bhil Corps was established in 1841 under the command of Captain W. Hunter,[5] with its headquarters at Kherwara.[6] The reasons for raising the Corps were two-fold: (a) to provide employment to members of the Bhil tribe, thus ensuring their "good behavior" and (b) to police the "difficult hill country" of Mewar.[7]:249

Organization

As of 1891, the Corps had five officers - Commandant, Assistant Commandant, Adjutant, Wing Officer, and Medical Officer (of which the 2nd in command was stationed in Kotra, the others in Kherwara).[2] The Commandant was also entrusted with political charge of the Bhomat region, also known as the Mewar Hilly Tracts.[5] This officer acted as First Assistant to the Mewar Political Agent.[5] The Assistant Commandant of the Mewar Bhil Corps was located in Kotra and acted as the Second Assistant to the Mewar Political Agent.[5]

Until the 1930s, regular military officers used to be appointed to the Corps; after that time, officers in the Indian Army Reserve were appointed because of the paucity of regular officers.[7]

Size of the Corps

The initial strength of the Corps was 4 companies, which was increased to 10 companies in 1844, of which 3 companies were stationed in the village of Kotra (in present-day Kotra tehsil).[6][2] In 1861, the Corps was reduced to 8 companies, 6 at Kherwara and 2 at Kotra.[2] As of 1891, a detachment of the Corps was stationed in Udaipur as an escort to the Resident of Mewar).[2] As of 1932, the strength of the Corps was 633 ranks.[7]:250

Expenses

It was raised at a cost of Rs. 120,000 of which the Mewar State paid Rs. 50,000 and the remainder by the British Indian Government.[8] In the early decades, the Mewar State contributed Rs. 50,000 annually for the upkeep of the Corps but, in 1883, it was arranged that instead of the payment, the British Government should take revenues from the villages in the Mewar portion of Mewara.[9][7] As of 1932, the annual expense of the Corps was Rs. 2.29 lakhs.[7]

Engagements

The Mewar Bhil Corps' primary function was to maintain the internal security in Mewar State, such as providing guards for residences at Mount Abu and Udaipur,[10] and was never pressed into active service in a war.[2][7] The following were the Corps' better known engagements in matters of internal security.

1857 Rebellion

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Mewar Bhil Corps remained loyal to the British.[8] One wing of the 1st Bengal Cavalry was stationed at Kherwara cantonment, which was a cause of concern to the British as the other wing of the cavalry in Nimach had revolted.[11] Captains J.C. Brooke and R.M. Annesley who were the Commandant and second-in-command respectively, arranged for the Mewar Bhil Corps to shut the passes leading out of Kherwara and keep the Bengal Cavalry in check.[11]

1875 Bagore Rebellion

In a dispute about succession to the rulership of Mewar, the jagirdar of Bagore, Sohan Singh, claimed the right of accession instead of Sajjan Singh and openly rebelled against the Maharana.[8] On 18 September 1875, 275 men of the Mewar Bhil Corps were dispatched along with the Maharana's troops to Bagore.[8] Sohan Singh surrendered without a shot being fired.[8]

Transition

In 1950, Mewar Bhil Corps was transferred to the Rajasthan Police.[1]

References
  1. "Rajasthan Armed Constabulary" (PDF). Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. Showers, H.L. (1891). "The Meywar Bhil Corps". Journal of the United Service Institution of India. XX: 87–95.
  3. "Rajasthan Police: Sanctioned Strength as of 01-01-2015" (PDF). Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  4. "Rajasthan Police Organization Chart". Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  5. Vashishta, Vijay Kumar (1978). Rajputana Agency, 1832-1858 : A Study of British Relations with the States of Rajputana. Jaipur: Aalekh Publishers.
  6. Singh, C.S.K. (1995). The Sound of Drums: Tribal Movement in Rajasthan 1881-1947. New Delhi: Manak Publications (P) Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 81-85445-90-7.
  7. Report of the General Purposes Sub-Committee of the Retrenchment Advisory Committee, Part III. Calcutta: Government of India. 1932.
  8. Gupta, R.K.; Bakshi, S.R. (2008). Rajasthan Through the Ages: Marwar and the British Administration. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. ISBN 978-81-7625-841-8.
  9. Report of the Special Committee. Calcutta: Government of India Central Publication Branch. 1930. pp. 62.
  10. Report of the Federal Finance Committee, dated 28th March, 1932. His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1932. p. 201. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  11. Sahai, Munshi Jwala (1902). The Loyal Rajputana. Allahabad: Indian Press.
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