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The Rajputana Rifles are the most senior rifle regiment of the Indian Army. They were formerly called the 6th Rajputana Rifles when part of the British Indian Army.

The name Rajputana Rifles is derived from the Hindi word Rajputana which was the old name of Rajasthan. It is based on the Sanskrit word Rajputra meaning son of a king.

A painting depicting members of the Rajputanta Rifles, of all ranks and uniforms. circa. 1911

The regiment was created in the 17th century when the East India Company recruited Rajputs to protect its operations. The impressive performance of the French local units which were composed of local recruits mixed with french officers, helped the company to decide that it needed to do something similar. In January 1775, it raised the first local infantry units; the 5th and 6th battalions of the Bombay sepoys. The 5th battalion performed superbly and was redesignated the 4th Regiment Native Infantry (Rifle Corps) in 1841. It thus became the first Rifle Regiment of the Indian Army.

In early 19th century the 4th Regiment Native Infantry was renamed as the 104 Wellesley’s Rifles. In 1921, the battalions finally took its current title, the 1st battalion of the Rajputana Rifles Regiment. As a result of this re-organization the following merged to forn the battalions of the Rajputana Rifles Regiment:

• 1st Battalion - 104th Wellesley's Rifles and then to 3RD BATTALION BRIGADE OF THE GUARDS
• 2nd Battalion - 120th Rajputana Infantry
• 3rd Battalion - 122nd Rajputana Infantry
• 4th Battalion - 123rd Outram's Rifles
• 5th Battalion - 125th Napier's Rifles
• 10th (Training) Battalion - 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment)

During these very times the regiment was involved in battles around the world.

It dropped the numeral in 1945 and was transferred to India when it became independent from the British Empire in 1947. In 1949, the 1st Battalion was elevated to the status of guards, becoming the 3rd Battalion, Brigade of the Guards.

In 1817 the 4th Battalion met the Marathas in Battle of Khadki. The defence earned the regiment the battle honor of "Khadki". In 1856–57 the 1st, 2nd and 4th battalions were together in the Persian theatre of operations. Captain J. C. Wood of 2nd battalion got the first Victoria Cross in the regiment for storming Reshire Fort. In the same battle Subedar Major Mohammed Sharief and Subedar Peer Bhatt were recommended for the Victoria Cross but were turned down as at that time the medal category was not open to Indians.

Soldier of Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre Band

In 1878–1880, during the 2nd Afghan war, 1st battalion marched 145 miles in 5 days from Quetta to Kandahar and laid siege to the city. In 1900–1902, the 3rd battalion was part of a force used to contain the Boxer rebellion in China.

The First World War saw the regiment fight in battlefields from France to Palestine. The 5th Battalion was in all theatres of the war and participated in General Allenby’s march to recapture Jerusalem. In this march the units got the better of their German and Turkish opponents and for this loyal service the regiment was honored with the title "Prince of Wales’s own".

•  United Kingdom - The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment; 5th Bn

• Rajputana Rifles on globalsecurity.org
• Rajputana Rifles - L. N. Subramaniam
• Stamp on Rajputana Rifles