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AI Overview
Under the British administration, the swearing-in (attestation) of Indian troops in 1878 was a formal, sacred military ceremony designed to bind the recruit to the British Crown, replacing the earlier East India Company oath. The process was steeped in religious and traditional solemnity.
The manners and customs of this enlistment process included:
- The Enlistment Oath: Recruits were required to make a formal declaration to serve "faithfully and truly" and to obey all commands of the officers set over them. Following the General Service Enlistment Act, they also had to pledge to serve overseas by land, sea, or air.
- Religious Swearing: Reflecting the Indian Oaths Act, the attestation involved a solemn religious affirmation. Hindu soldiers were sworn in on the water of the Ganges, while Muslim soldiers swore upon the Quran.
- Ceremony of the Colours: The oath-taking was conducted in front of the assembled regiment and the regimental colours, which represented the unit's izzat (honour). The recruit was typically marched before the colours and had to touch or salute them as a symbol of their loyalty.
- Attestation before a Magistrate: The recruit would formally sign or make a thumbprint on their attestation papers in the presence of a British Commanding Officer acting as a magistrate.
- The "Eat their Salt" Tradition: Deeply rooted in indigenous military culture, the oath included a traditional promise of loyalty directly tied to the namak (salt) the sepoy received from the British.
Further Exploration: British Indian Army History
If you are looking into the historical context of the late 19th-century British Indian Army, let me know if you would like to explore:
- The class-based recruitment policies shifted after 1857.
- The impact of the Indian Arms Act passed in 1878.
- The specific wording of the Articles of War governing soldier discipline.
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