61 Cavalry Explained: History, Heritage, and the Future of India’s Mounted Warriors

The story of the 61 Cavalry begins not on dusty parade grounds, but in the glittering courts and battlefields of India’s princely states. Before Independence, kingdoms like Gwalior, Jodhpur, Mysore, and Patiala maintained their own cavalry units—proud formations of lancers and horsemen who combined tradition, strategy, and sheer grit. With the abolition of princely autonomy in the late 1940s, these disparate mounted forces faced disbandment. But rather than see centuries of mounted military heritage fade into oblivion, India chose to forge them into something new.

In 1953, a new regiment was raised in Jaipur under the command of Lt Col Phulel Singh: the 61 Cavalry. This unit was the amalgamation of several horsed contingents—from the Gwalior Lancers to the Mysore Lancers, the Jodhpur/Kachhawa Horse, and others—preserving their lineage under a single banner.

From its inception, the 61 Cavalry was more than a ceremonial relic. It inherited 39 battle honours earned by its predecessor units on far-flung fronts—from the sands of the Middle East to the plains of Europe during the First World War—and stood as a testament to the role Indian horsemen played in global conflicts.

No chapter in this story resonates more vividly than the Battle of Haifa on 23 September 1918. Long before the 61 Cavalry was formally established, forebears from the Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers—later absorbed into the regiment—executed what has been described as the last successful cavalry charge in military history. In a stunning display of horsemanship and audacity, they charged entrenched Ottoman forces near the strategic port of Haifa in present-day Israel, helping secure a crucial Allied victory during the First World War.

Today, Haifa Day is commemorated annually, and in New Delhi, the Teen Murti Haifa Chowk stands as a tribute to these horse-borne warriors—statues of lancers forever frozen in a moment of triumph.

In an era dominated by drones, tanks, and infantry carriers, the very idea of mounted troops may seem anachronistic. But the 61 Cavalry has carved out a unique niche. While its wartime role today is largely ceremonial, the regiment retains training and organisational capability for internal security duties or support to civil authorities if required.

Each year on 26 January, the unit leads the Indian Army contingent in the Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path, New Delhi—a striking image of discipline and tradition where gleaming lances and polished uniforms evoke both pageantry and purpose. In 2024 and 2025, this horsed contingent proudly led the parade before armoured columns and mechanised formations—a reminder of India’s military heritage standing shoulder to shoulder with its modern forces.

Under the regimental motto ‘Ashvashakti Yashobal’—roughly translated as ‘Horse power is supreme strength’—the cavalry celebrates both the physical strength and symbolic power of mounted units.

Beyond ceremonial duties, the 61 Cavalry maintains a vibrant sporting tradition. Polo, long associated with cavalry culture, remains a core part of regimental life. Members of the unit have excelled nationally and internationally, bringing home numerous awards and honours in equestrian sports.

This sporting prowess is more than just competition; it reinforces the bond between rider and mount, hones discipline, and keeps alive techniques that echo back to the days when battlefield success hinged on horsemanship.

However, the future of the 61 Cavalry has not been without debate. In recent years, discussions have surfaced about potentially converting the regiment into an armoured unit with tanks—a move aimed at aligning it more closely with modern military requirements. Critics argue that such a transformation would erode a unique historical legacy that has been preserved for decades.

Even amid these debates, the horses—treasured as troopers in their own right—may find new roles in equestrian training or ceremonial functions if organisational changes take place. Whatever path the Army takes, preserving the heritage of the 61 Cavalry in public memory and national identity remains a priority for veterans and military enthusiasts alike.

In a world where traditional cavalry has all but vanished from battlefield strategy, the 61 Cavalry stands as a rare testament to endurance—not just of a regiment, but of values, heritage, and the bond between soldiers and their mounts. It is a reminder that while technology reshapes the face of warfare, the spirit of the warrior—whether on iron tracks or living hooves—endures.

The 61 Cavalry is more than a unit; it is India’s mounted chronicle—galloping through history, heritage, and into an uncertain, yet storied future.

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