Freed Posted April 23, 2006 Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 GurFateh ! While looking at some pictures of old soldiers My Wife asked a question - Why are the Soldiers Turbans so large pre and during World War 1 then get smaller around WW2 then are larger again post independence. If you look at the pictures the turbans are very large - they don't appear to be the 'double' sewn together modern turbans that we see today - are the soldiers just wearing large 'under turbans' or were they just extra long turbans - also the chakra they are wearing is a round circle . My relatives in the Indian Army only wear a 'Fifty' not a full keski or under turban and the chakar they wear is oval (turban shaped) not a circle. Is this down to cost ? I guess kitting out soldiers with very long turbans must be expensive - or is it another reason ? is it just the vagaries of fashion - please post your ideas !! In the WW1 pictures the turbans are large and tall - In the WW2 pictures the turbans are smaller - like the Punjab Police starched blue 'Jhalar' or fringe turban (also known as the 'African' turban) Then post independence the Sikh regiment turban is larger - but not the large Patiala sewn together type. Hope this is not too 'Anoraky' / Nerdy a question - anyone know the reason ? Veterans of the 1857 'Indian Mutiny' honoured at the Delhi Darbar 1903 (All fine specimens of Punjabi Babey - Balle Baba tere !!!) Note the large turbans - larger than modern styles The 15th - note the very large turbans and round chakars The 36th Sikh - 1917 The 14th Sikh Light Infantry - note the British Officers are also wearing Large Turbans and Chakars (albeit without beards) World War 2 WW2 - Naik Nand Singh VC Machine gunner WW2 Note the Turbans are smaller Post Independence Rattray Pipers Sikh Regiment Note the Turbans are larger , though not as large as WW1 - the Chakars are oval shaped to fit the Dastar. Anyone who has any ideas as to why the turban size has changed - Fashion / cost / ease of tying etc - please post your ideas ! Could it be that the earlier soldiers tied their hair into Kesgi / Keski like Nihangs do -to create Boongas. a practice that later soldiers didn't do ? Actually I've just had another thought could it be War-Time rationing of cloth - or was that just in England not India ? Your input greatly appreciated ! Many Thanks Ranjit Singh 'Freed' 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2006 Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 freed, i think you are defaniately a right person to ask this question. would u have a picture of baba karam singh ji hoti mardan wale and baba jawala singh ji harkhowaley they were in the army in 35 regiment i suppose. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singhji Posted April 23, 2006 Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 N30 S!NGH, I have seen the Picture of Baba Karam Singh Jee, but I cant remember where I saw the picture. Baba Jagjit Singh Jee speaks of this picture as well. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freed Posted April 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2006 Dear N30 Singh Sorry I haven't got a picture of Baba Karam Singh ji or Baba Jawala Singh Ji - I have got one of Baba Attar Singh Reru Sahib Vale - I think I have posted it before. Baba Karam Singh Hoti Mardan joined the Corps of Guides in 1846, which was later reorganized as 5th (Guides) Battalion of the 12th Frontier Force Regiment - you can read about it here : http://www.mardan.com/history.html Hope that helps 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akaali Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 dastaar styles have gotten very small, look nowadays at the african style dastaar, super small compared to those first ones, im thinking its just fashion, small is in nowdays except for the nihungs 8) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vijaydeep Singh Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Gurfateh inital Sikhs has their berad and moustaches more like Rajpoots/other warriers of Rajsthan.Just a comment. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Vijaydeep singh ji, it's interesting you mentioned that, i made a thread while back regarding: Rajasthani culture/hertiage link with sikh hertiage? http://www.sikhawareness.com/sikhawareness...opic.php?t=6815 May be you can shed some light on this topic veer ji? Thanks in advance. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singh47 Posted April 25, 2006 Report Share Posted April 25, 2006 Maybe it is the Rajputs who resemble the Singhs. BTW, I think the dastar of the WW1 veterans looks really nice. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vijaydeep Singh Posted April 28, 2006 Report Share Posted April 28, 2006 Gurfateh Regarding Turbans. Das read in Bhangu book that Malwa was under Rajputs of Rajsthan and malwa itself was extension of desert(Before the Panth was made). Then another thing was that these Rajputs i punjab later wewre overun by Muslims and most became Muslim(like Tulsidas became Shek ChAK,who was fore father of Rai Kalla).And other people may mnaitianed the simlar Turbans.Even Rajput Muslims or say Gujars or Jaats of POK had similar turbans but not neatly tied. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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