Glory in Arms

India boasts of three principal Jewish communities, namely, the Bene Israel, Cochinis and Baghdadis. Among them, the Bene Israel have been the most Indianized of the lot. From a very early period, the Bene Israel Jews took an active part in the military and naval expeditions of the indigenous rulers like the Angrias and Shivaji. They also made their mark as soldiers and officers in the service of the English East India Company. Military service not only took them to different parts of India, but also to faraway places such as Afghanistan, Burma and Egypt. They served with utmost distinction and bravery in all the campaigns both within the country and abroad and British military records spoke highly of the valour of these soldiers. Despite their prowess, all was not smooth sailing for the Bene Israel, since British racial prejudice insisted on the maintenance of European and Eurasian troops. As a result, many of the Bene Israel Jews shifted to white-collar jobs in the civilian sector. When India attained freedom, many members of the Bene Israel community continued to serve with honour.