Chamar Regiment: History, Formation, Battle of Kohima and Current Status

Updated: August 2026 | Written by Himanshu Singh

The Chamar Regiment is an important part of India's military history, especially the history of soldiers from communities that received less attention in many older accounts.

The regiment was raised during World War II on 1 March 1943. It was formed mainly through recruitment from the Chamar community and served in the British Indian Army.

The regiment later served in the Burma Campaign and its 1st Battalion took part in the Battle of Kohima in 1944.

The regiment did not continue after the war. It was disbanded in 1946 as part of the wider demobilisation of the wartime Indian Army.

This article explains the history of the Chamar Regiment, its formation, military service, Kohima connection, awards, important soldiers, disbandment and the later demand for its revival.

Chamar Regiment: Quick Facts

What Was the Chamar Regiment?

The Chamar Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army during World War II.

It was formed along community lines from the Chamar community. This was part of the wider wartime recruitment system used by the British Indian Army.

The regiment is therefore an important subject when studying the military history of the Chamar community and the broader history of Indian soldiers during the Second World War.

When Was the Chamar Regiment Formed?

The Chamar Regiment was raised on 1 March 1943.

It was initially assigned to the 268th Indian Infantry Brigade. The brigade was connected with the Indian armoured divisions during the early period of the regiment's history.

Later, the Chamar Regiment became associated with the 23rd Indian Infantry Division and was sent towards the Burma theatre.

Chamar Regiment During World War II

World War II created a huge demand for soldiers in the British Indian Army. Several new units were raised to increase the strength of the army.

The Chamar Regiment was one of these wartime units. It was formed mainly from the Chamar community and later became involved in operations against Japanese forces in the Burma theatre.

The National Army Museum records that the regiment fought against Japanese forces in Burma as part of the 268 Indian Brigade and was associated with 15 Corps.

Chamar Regiment in the Burma Campaign

The Burma Campaign was one of the toughest theatres of World War II for Indian and Allied soldiers.

Soldiers had to operate in difficult jungle and mountain conditions. Disease, heavy rain, poor roads and long supply lines made military operations extremely difficult.

In mid-1944, the regiment's 1st Battalion was committed to the Burma Campaign and fought Japanese forces in the Nagaland area.

This brought the regiment directly into one of the most important battles fought on India's eastern frontier: the Battle of Kohima.

Chamar Regiment and the Battle of Kohima

The Battle of Kohima was fought in 1944 in present-day Nagaland.

The battle became a major turning point in the Japanese advance towards India. Japanese forces had moved towards India's north-eastern frontier, while Allied and Indian forces fought to stop the advance.

The 1st Chamar Regiment took part in the Kohima campaign. The regiment's participation is also reflected in the historical record of its battle honour.

The fighting in this region was extremely difficult because of the mountainous terrain, jungle conditions and intense combat.

Awards and Decorations of the Chamar Regiment

The regiment and its soldiers received several military decorations during the war.

Historical records associated with the regiment list Military Medals, Military Crosses, British Empire Medals, Burma Stars, Pacific Stars and Mentions in Dispatches.

The exact awards are important because they provide documentary evidence of the military service and recognition received by soldiers of the regiment.

Havildar Bhagat Ram: A Chamar Regiment Soldier

One of the best documented soldiers of the Chamar Regiment is Havildar Bhagat Ram.

The National Army Museum records that Bhagat Ram was a Chamar from Chinihar village in Kangra district in the Himalayan region.

He served with the 1st Battalion, Chamar Regiment and received the Military Medal.

His medal group includes the Military Medal, 1939–45 Star, Burma Star and British War Medal.

The award of his Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette on 12 July 1945.

Chamar Regiment Badge and Identity

Surviving military objects also provide evidence about the regiment's identity.

The National Army Museum has a brass shoulder title marked "Chamar Regt", dated to the 1943–1946 period.

The regiment's insignia is also associated with a bison, which is described in the historical record as the traditional animal associated with the Chamar community.

Why Was the Chamar Regiment Disbanded?

The Chamar Regiment did not continue as a separate regiment after World War II.

It was disbanded in 1946 as part of the wider demobilisation that followed the end of the war.

This is an important point because the old article described the regiment as being disbanded in the early 1920s after World War I. That information was incorrect for the documented Chamar Regiment of 1943–1946.

The available museum record directly describes its end as part of the wider post-war demobilisation.

Chamar Regiment and Mahar Regiment

The Chamar Regiment is sometimes discussed together with the Mahar Regiment because both are connected with the military history of communities that were treated differently under colonial recruitment policies.

However, the two regiments had different histories and should not be treated as identical.

The Chamar Regiment was a World War II-era regiment raised in 1943 and disbanded in 1946.

The Mahar Regiment has a separate institutional history and continues in the modern Indian Army.

Chamar Regiment and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is an important figure in the history of equality, social justice and the rights of oppressed communities in India.

However, it is important to separate documented facts from later claims.

The Chamar Regiment was a British Indian Army unit raised in 1943 during World War II. There is no need to claim that Dr. Ambedkar personally formed or commanded the regiment.

Ambedkar's wider work for equality can certainly be studied alongside the social and political history of Dalit communities, but the formation of the Chamar Regiment was a military decision made during World War II.

Related:
Dalit History in India

Demand to Revive the Chamar Regiment

The history of the regiment did not end with its disbandment. After independence, there have been demands to re-establish the Chamar Regiment.

One important documented development came in 2017.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) wrote to the Defence Ministry seeking consideration of the revival of the Chamar Regiment.

According to contemporary reporting, three former servicemen from Haryana approached the Commission and provided documentary evidence that they had served in the Chamar Regiment between 1943 and 1946.

The revival demand is therefore a later political and social development. It should not be confused with the historical fact that the original regiment was disbanded in 1946.

Is the Chamar Regiment Active Today?

No. The historical Chamar Regiment is not currently an active separate regiment of the Indian Army.

The original regiment existed from 1943 to 1946 and was disbanded after World War II.

There have been later demands for its revival, including the NCSC-related development in 2017, but a demand for revival is not the same thing as an officially active regiment.

Chamar Regiment: What Is True and What Is Not?

Final Answer: What Is the History of the Chamar Regiment?

The Chamar Regiment was a real military unit of the British Indian Army during World War II.

It was raised on 1 March 1943, served in the Burma theatre and its 1st Battalion took part in the Battle of Kohima in 1944.

Soldiers of the regiment received military recognition, including Military Medals and other decorations. Havildar Bhagat Ram is one particularly well-documented example.

The regiment was eventually disbanded in 1946 during the wider demobilisation after World War II.

There is no separate Chamar Regiment in the present Indian Army, although demands for its revival have been raised after independence.

The history of the regiment is important because it records the contribution of Chamar soldiers to India's wartime military history and gives a better understanding of the diverse communities that served in the British Indian Army.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chamar Regiment

Read More on Jatav and Chamar History

Written by Himanshu Singh

Researcher & Writer on Jatav, Chamar and Dalit History. Writing educational and awareness-based content with a focus on historical records, equality and social history.