The Bene Israel Jews of India have one of the most remarkable military traditions of any Jewish community in the diaspora. For over two centuries, Bene Israel men served with distinction in the British Indian Army, rising to positions of command and earning medals for bravery in conflicts across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Their military service not only shaped the community’s identity but also gave them a degree of social mobility and recognition that set them apart from other minority communities in colonial India.
Early Service Under the East India Company
Bene Israel men began enlisting in the forces of the British East India Company in significant numbers during the late 18th century. Their reputation for physical bravery, loyalty, and discipline made them prized recruits. By the early 19th century, entire units of the Company’s native infantry included substantial numbers of Bene Israel soldiers. The community’s willingness to fight under British command was partly pragmatic — military service offered stable income and social advancement — but also reflected a genuine sense of loyalty to the order that had given them opportunities.
David Haeem Divekar: A Hero of the Community
The most celebrated Bene Israel military figure is David Haeem Divekar, who served as Subedar (senior native officer) in the East India Company’s forces. Divekar is credited with securing the release of Jewish prisoners from Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, during the late 18th century conflicts. He is said to have identified the prisoners as Jews and appealed on their behalf, securing their freedom. Divekar is commemorated in a portrait from 1858 and is remembered as a hero in Bene Israel oral tradition.
World War I and World War II
Bene Israel soldiers served in both World Wars. During World War I, Bene Israel men fought in the Mesopotamian Campaign, the Gallipoli Campaign, and in the trenches of France. In World War II, many served in the British Indian Army’s campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and the Burma Campaign against Japan. Several received military decorations for gallantry. The wartime service of Bene Israel soldiers is documented in community records and in the Jewish military cemeteries across these theaters of war.
Officers and Leadership
By the 20th century, Bene Israel men were not just soldiers but commissioned officers. The community produced several high-ranking officers in the Indian Army, both before and after Independence. After 1947, Bene Israel officers continued to serve in the Indian Army and Air Force, with some reaching flag rank. This tradition of military service became a point of great pride for the community and a mark of their deep integration into Indian national life.
Legacy of Service
The military tradition of the Bene Israel reflects their broader story: a community that maintained its distinct Jewish identity while participating fully in the life of the nation around them. The names of Bene Israel soldiers appear on war memorials in India, Israel, and around the world. Their service is a testament to the possibility of being simultaneously fully Indian and fully Jewish.
For more about the Bene Israel community, see the Bene Israel section of this website.