61st Cavalry (India): Difference between revisions

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2020}}

Today the 61st Cavalry is one of the limited number of unmechanised mounted cavalry regiments in the world, alongside such units as the [[Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment]] and the Presidential Cavalry Escort Battalion of the [[Kremlin Regiment]] of the Federal Protective Service.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.hu/TRANSCRIPTS/0203/10/sm.23.html ''Cossack Cavalry Acting in Russian Films''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721104513/http://edition.cnn.hu/TRANSCRIPTS/0203/10/sm.23.html |date=21 July 2011 }}. CNN (transcript), Aired 10 March 2002 - 11:58ET</ref> While a number of armies still maintain mounted units these are generally intended for parade and other ceremonial purposes. The Army of the People's Republic of China maintains operational mounted cavalry for frontier duties but these are believed to be of only squadron size.<ref>''Global Times'' 20 November 2009 and ''Xinhua News Agency'' 22 August 2011</ref>

The regiment recruits [[Rajput]]s, [[Maratha (caste)|Marathas]], and [[Qaimkhani]]s in equal numbers. This ratio was established on Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]'s instructions.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.defencenews.in/article/Explainer-Why-Is-the-Indian-Army%E2%80%99s-61-Cavalry-Regiment-Being-Downsized-830696|title= Explainer: Why Is the Indian Army’s 61 Cavalry Regiment Being Downsized?|date=2020-05-19|access-date=2020-11-03}}</ref>

The regiment has a strong [[polo]] tradition, producing some of India's best polo players.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=ehgWjh0tu7cAonYsGBioDw==&ParentID=xN+m2Ebx4sDsMS+7sBUzug==|title=Mounted Cavalry| access-date=2020-11-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2017/mar16-17/h16.htm|title= 61 Cavalry Bags the Army Polo Championship|date=2017-03-16| access-date=2020-11-03}}</ref> Members of the regiment have won 12 [[Arjuna Award|Arjuna awards]]—India's highest award for outstanding sportsmen—five times for polo and seven times for equestrian events.<ref>{{cite news|title=Subedar Sawant gets Arjuna Award for tent pegging|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/subedar-sawant-gets-arjuna-award-for-tent-pegging/article32438930.ece#:~:text=Subedar%20Ajay%20Anant%20Sawant%20from,prior%20background%20in%20equestrian%20sports.|access-date=26 August 2020|newspaper=The Hindu|date=26 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.uniindia.com/capt-rajpurohit-bags-gold-61-cavalry-team-silver-in-delhi-horse-show/sports/news/1551451.html|title= Capt Rajpurohit bags gold; 61 Cavalry team silver in Delhi Horse Show|date=2019-04-04|access-date=2020-11-03}}</ref>

*Colonel [[Ravi Rathore]], an Indian polo player and an Arjuna awardee. He has been the commandant of the 61st Cavalry and is the highest handicapped polo player in the Indian Army.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lost son, refused pension|author=Rajendra Sharma|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99nov09/head6.htm|newspaper=The Tribune|date=9 November 1999|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=An officer and a gentleman |url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19970615/16650283.html|access-date=7 September 2012|newspaper=The Indian Express (PTI Report)|date=15 June 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Hindu|title=Veterans, war widows battle for benefits|author=Chander Suta Dogra|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/veterans-war-widows-battle-for-benefits/article6432853.ece|date=22 September 2014|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref>