6 - The Culture of the Indian Army, 1900–1947

Summary

The Indian Army faced fundamental changes to its identity in the first half of the twentieth century, from who served in its ranks to how they were recruited to who ended up commanding its formations. Unlike many other armies of the same era, it also faced challenging operations across the "spectrum of conflict," from internal security operations to high-end conventional war against peer enemies. Changes in recruitment, “Indianization” of the officer corps, and the ability of the army to adapt to the spectrum of conflict came to define a culture in the Indian Army that was distinct from that of its cousin, the British Army, or of other Dominion Forces. Indian Army culture rested on the firm foundation of its history and ethos, but it was also adaptable enough to deal with the changing environment that occurred outside its domains. The Indian Army faced significant challenges and experienced setbacks; however, during the Second World War, the army reformed and performed at the highest levels of professionalism, especially in 1944 and 1945. Its performance in that conflict was the high-water mark of the largest all-volunteer army in history.