No martial races theory in British Indian Army

Could the British Indian Army have functioned effectively without the martial races theory ? What alternative ideas could've underpinned the recruitment of Indian soldiers in the service of the Crown, & with what potential PODs ?
 
Melvin,

You've got it backwards. The "Martial Races" theory was an after-the-fact excuse and not a before-the-fact reason.

The Company/Raj enlisted troops from those ethnic groups who fought the Company/Raj not because they were "martial" but as a way to co-opt them. When asked to explain why later, they couldn't admit to co-opting the groups involved so they came up with the "theory" which then took on a life of it's own.


Bill
 
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