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Regimental
Headquarters: Saugor, Madhya Pradesh.
Regimental
Insignia: A pair of crossed Vickers medium machine
guns, mounted on a tripod with a dagger. The dagger was initially
the Pillar of Koregaon, where the combined British and Mahar
troops defeated the overwhelming Maratha Army. The pillar
was subsequently removed and was replaced with a dagger.
Regimental
Motto: Yash Sidhi (Success & Attainment).
Battle Cry:
Bolo Hindustan Ki Jai (Say Victory to India).
The Mahars, the hardy inhabitants
of Western and Central India have a long and glorious martial
tradition. The distinguished service rendered by them was
recognised and rewarded by the formation of the Mahar Regiment
during World War II. The First Battalion of the Mahar Regiment
was raised on 1st October 1941, and the 2nd and 3rd followed
soon. In October 1946, the Regiment was chosen for conversion
as a Medium Machine Gun Regiment. The training Centre of the
Regiment was shifted from Arangaon to Saugor on 1st December
1948. The expansion of the Regiment started in 1956 with the
amalgamation of the Ist, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Border
Scouts. From the same time, the recruitment to the Mahar Regiment
has been opened to all classes of the country. The Regiment
has grown from strength to strength and is, today, one of
the largest in the Indian Army. In 1963, the Battalions of
the Regiment were converted to standard Infantry Battalions.
The units of the Regiment participated
in World War II in Burma, Persia and Iraq (PAI Force). After
independence, the units of the Regiment have participated
in all our wars with enviable valour and distinction. Detachments
of the Regiment acquitted themselves admirably in peacekeeping
operations in Korea and Congo. Units of the Regiment also
did creditable work in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in duties
in aid of civil power.
The Regiment was awarded battle
honours for the battles of Asal Uttar, Kalidhar, Jaurian-Kalit
and Tilakpur- Muhadipur in the 1965 conflict against Pakistan.
During the 1971 conflict with Pakistan, several Battalions
of the Regiment took part in action in different theatres
with great distinction. The battles of Parbat Ali, Sehjra,
Thanpir, Harar Kalan and Kaiyan in Western Sector and Shamsher
Nagar, Maulvi Bazar, Sylhet and Chittagong in Eastern Sector
deserve special mention. The Officers and men of the Regiment
won many gallantry awards including two Param Vishisht Seva
Medals, three Maha Vir Chakras, two Ati Vishisht Seva Medals,
twenty-four Vir Chakras, four Shaurya Chakras and several
other awards. The Motto "Success and Attainment"
motivates the Mahars never to rest content till success is
attained.
In recognition of the distinguished
services rendered by the Regiment in War and Peace, the Chief
of the Army Staff awarded a hackle and certain special insignia,
and the President honoured the Regiment, by presenting Colours
on 3rd February 1970.
17 and 18 Mahars, the two youngest
Battalions of the Regiment raised on 1 July 1979 and 1 January
1981 have the honour of being presented Colours on 9 November
1981 at Saugor (M.P.) by the Chief of the Army Staff, General
K.V.Krishna Rao, PVSM, who is also the Colonel of the Mahar
Regiment.
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