The Indian Mutiny
- late 1800's
The infantry, previous to the
formation of a regular army by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was
considered an inferior service, and the only portion which
enjoyed any consideration was that composed of Akalis or
'immortals', a band of religious enthusiasts and warriors,
who were dressed in blue, and wore knife edged quoits round
their turbans, partly for show and partly for use as missiles.
These military devotees were generally the first to enter
a breach, but though they rendered excellent service, their
temper was lawless and uncertain and in times of peace they
enjoyed almost boundless licence.
Handbook for the Indian
Army Sikhs, Major A.G. Barstow, 2/11th Sikh Regiment, 1928
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