Punjab Regiment (India)
The Punjab Regiment of India was formed from the 2nd Punjab Regiment of the British Indian Army in 1947
Prior to independence and partition there were a number of "Punjab regiments" in its fold these were amalgamated to form two regiments: the 1st Punjab Regiment, and the 2nd. At the onset of independence in 1947, the 1st Punjab Regiment being predominantly a Muslim regiment went over to the newly-raised Pakistan army, while the 2nd Punjab Regiment was retained in the Indian Army. There were transfers of troops between the regiments and other regiments to
History
The Punjab Regiment is one of the oldest in the Indian Army. It traces its origins to 1761 when the first battalion was raised at Trichinopoly. The first four battalions of what later became the 2nd Punjab Regiment and finally the Punjab Regiment, were raised during the hostilities in the Carnatic in south India between 1761 and 1776. The numbers and titles of the battalions changed during the successive reorganisations of the Madras Presidency Army and later of the Indian Army during the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries. The names changed from Coast Sepoys to Carnatic Battalions to Madras Native Infantry to The Punjab Regiment.
In 1951, four battle experienced battalions of the former princely states of Punjab, joined the Regiment. These were a battalion each from the Jind and Nabha State Forces and the First and Second Battalions of Patiala Infantry. They are now designated as the 13, 14, 15 and 16 Punjab. Additional battalions were raised since 1963. In recent years, the Punjab Regiment has contributed towards UN Peacekeeping Operations by sending two of its battalion overseas i.e. in Gaza and Angola (3 and 14 Punjab respectively). The Regimental Centre was first raised at Loralai and was shifted to Multan in 1922, Meerut in 1929 and its present location in Ramgarh, Bihar in 1976.
Battle of Longewala
During the Battle of Longewala, 'A' company, roughly 120 soldiers, of the 23rd Battalion, held an entire Brigade of the Pakistani Army at bay. The battle was fought in the deserts of Longewala. The unit had to fight throughout the night of December 5th, 1971 as the Indian Air Force did not have night attack capabilities. The company commander, Major (later Brigadier) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, was decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award in India.
Regimental Insignia
The regiment is perhaps the only infantry insignia of a naval vessel, a Galley, anywhere. It was awarded to 69th Punjabis (later 2 Punjab) in recognition of the readiness to serve overseas, after the battalion had fought in eight overseas campaigns by 1824.
