2nd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment (Kalichindi)

November 30, 1998

2nd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment (Kalichindi)

A commemorative postage stamp on the Bicentenary of the 2^nd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment (Kali chindi), an Indian Army infantry regiment :

Issued by India

Issued on Nov 30, 1998

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a special commemorative stamp on 2^nd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment (Kalichandi).

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sudha Chowdhry
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall size : 4.06 x 2.73 cms.

Printing size : 3.71 x 2.38 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated stamp paper in sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.

Stamps Printed : 0.7 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About :

The 200 years of history of the battalion commences with its raising at Badgaon on 30 November, 1798 as 1/16 Bengal Native Infantry. In the course of the next 152 years, this designation was to be altered eight times – in 1824 as 33^rd Bengal Native Infantry, in 1861 as the 4^th Bengal Native Infantry, in 1885 as 4^th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, in 1890 as 4^th (Prince Albert Victor’s) Bengal Infantry, in 1897 as 4^th (PAV) Rajput Regiment of Bengal Infantry, in 1921 as 2/7^th Rajputs, in 1945 as 2^nd Battalion The Rajput Regiment (PAV) and finally as 2^nd Battalion The Rajput Regiment in 1950.
In 1803, a mere five years after its raising, the battalion fought its first battle at the pass of Leswaree ousting the French from North India. The battle honour ‘Leswaree’ was conferred on the unit. Thereafter, the unit participated in numerous campaigns, the battles of Kalenjra, Kalunghar, Nahun, Rampore and Gwalior being the most prominent. The seize and capture of Bharatpur Fort alongside 1 Rajput in 1825 earned the battalion its second battle honour ‘Bharatpur’.
The battalion earned its third battle honour ‘Kabul 1842’ operating as the vanguard of the British Expeditionary Force during the First Afghan War. During the period 1845 to 1846, the unit was again in the forefront of the First Sikh War, where it earned its fourth and fifth battle honours – ‘Ferozeshah’ and ‘Sobraon’. The sixth battle honour – ‘Afghanistan 1870-80’ was conferred on the unit during the Second Afghan War. Thereafter, for its impressive performance in the upper Burma Campaign, the seventh battle honour ‘Burma 1885-87’ was awarded.
During the First World War, the battalion served in Mesopotamia, Basra, Tigris, Abadi and various places in the Middile–East. During the Second World War, the unit moved into Burma. The watershed of its achievements here was the capture of Point 551, a feature occupied by the Japanese, which had halted the advance of 26 Infantry Division. In honour of the battalion and its valiant action, Point 551 was renamed Rajput Hill, and the battalion awarded its eighth battle honour – ‘Point 551’.
1947 saw the unit involved in controlling post-partition unrest in J&K. The highlight of this era was the capture of Pir Badesar and Point 3606 in October 1948. In October 1962, the battalion fought the Chinese against great odds in the Dhola Sector. The casualty figures of 4 officers, 7 JCOs and 270 OR killed in this action is an imprint of its valour and gallantry. In 1965, the battalion moved into J&K and captured Ziarat and Ring Contour in the Tithwal Sector.
In 1971, the battalion cleared the Belonia Bulge, captured Choudagram and advanced to Chandpur, thereby earning its ninth battle honour ‘Belonia’. During the period 1972-1998, the unit was constantly deployed in combatting militancy in the North East, Punjab and J&K.