Formation of citizens’ armed forces, which provide, to the youth engaged in civilian professions, opportunities and facilities for military training and thereby constitute a reserve of trained manpower for ‘effective national defence in the event of an emergency’ is the direct result of the changed nature and character of modern war.
Modern warfare (termed in military terminology as the fourth generation warfare) has not only greatly extended the area of conflict and the impact of fighting but it has completely wiped out the traditional difference between the ‘actual fighting lines and civilian population in the rear’. Entire areas and entire people have become the objective of warfare today. Since no country can afford to maintain regular armed forces, large enough to effectively meet the changes posed by modern warfare, the answer has been the formation of citizens' armed forces, described variously as second line of defence, part-time auxiliaries, territorial armies, citizen armies, auxiliary forces, militias, reserve forces, national guards, etc.
In India, the Territorial Army constitutes a vital component of Indian army which provides to the working youth, military training to develop their personality, built up character and create a reserve of trained manpower, necessary for the rapid expansion of regular army in the event of an emergency.

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Contents

Preface and Acknowledgement —Pgs. 9

Foreword —Pgs. 15

List of Tables —Pgs. 17

Abbreviations —Pgs. 18

1. Introduction —Pgs. 19

2. The Concept of Amateur Soldiery —Pgs. 26

3. Development of Part-Time Forces under the English —Pgs. 38

4. Part-Time Forces After 1857 —Pgs. 51

5. Amateur Soldiers between the Wars —Pgs. 75

6. Brief Histories of the AF(I) Units, 1940 —Pgs. 120

7. The TA Since Independence —Pgs. 144

8. Volunteer Forces Medal and Awards —Pgs. 155

9. Appendix —Pgs. 163

Appendix - I

Rules for Government and Public Sector

Undertaking Employees While Joining

Territorial Army —Pgs. 163

Appendix II

Territorial Army Act, 1948 —Pgs. 169

Appendix III

Indian Territorial Force Act, 1920

Indian Territorial Force Rules, 1921

ACT No. XLVII of 1920 —Pgs. 179

Appendix - IV

Madras Volunteer Guard —Pgs. 223

Appendix V

Song of the Madras Volunteers Guard —Pgs. 225

Appendix VI

Topical Song of the Lumsden’s Horse —Pgs. 227

10. Bibliography —Pgs. 229

Index —Pgs. 235

A part-time army major in the Territorial Army Surender Singh has served for more than a decade on active military service including tenure with the Special Forces. He holds Masters Degree in Defence & Strategic Studies from the Punjabi University, Patiala and is pursuing Masters in Military Psychology from the Defence Institute of Psychological Research. He is also a member of India's leading strategic think tanks such as United Service Institution of India, Centre for Land Warfare Studies and Centre for Joint Warfare Studies. This is his first book.
In his civil profession, he is a freelance writer and documentary film maker.