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International Journal of Development in Social Sciences and Humanities

(By Aryavart International University, India)

International Peer Reviewed (Refereed), Open Access Research Journal

E-ISSN:2455-5142 | P-ISSN:2455-7730
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Paper Details

War and Race: Indian Sepoys During the First World War

Vol. 17, Jan-Jun 2024 | Page: 7-14

Dr. Suresh Shaktiram Gaikwad
Department of English, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India.

Received: 28-02-2024, Accepted: 10-06-2024, Published Online: 18-06-2024


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Abstract

This paper explores the complex dimensions of race among Indian sepoys during the First World War, beyond the binary of Indian soldiers and White Europeans, to highlight internal racial hierarchies within the sepoy ranks. It examines how the war influenced caste dynamics, focusing on recruitment practices shaped by the Martial Races Policy, which inadvertently reinforced the rigid structures of the caste system. The paper also contrasts the sepoys' interactions with Western civilians to their experiences in India, revealing supportive relationships in the West that contrasted with racial hostilities from British officers. It discusses internal racial diversity among sepoys and its implications for social dynamics and war experience, and examines how recruitment policies limited opportunities for lower-caste individuals, reinforcing traditional caste-based roles and hindering caste system disruption.

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