The correct answer is: a) More loyal and “martial”.
The British East India Company began recruiting soldiers from Punjab in the early 18th century. The Sikhs of Punjab were seen as a particularly desirable group of recruits because they were known for their martial prowess and loyalty. The British were also attracted by the fact that the Sikhs were a relatively homogenous group with a strong sense of identity. This made them easier to control and less likely to desert.
The British Indian Army was largely made up of Punjabi soldiers for over a century. They played a key role in the British conquest of India and in the subsequent suppression of Indian rebellions. The Sikhs of Punjab continued to serve in the British Indian Army after Indian independence in 1947. They now form a significant proportion of the Indian Army.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
- Option b) is incorrect because the British did not find Punjabi soldiers to be easier to control than other groups of Indian soldiers.
- Option c) is incorrect because the British were aware that the Sikhs were a religious people and that they took their religion very seriously. They did not believe that the Sikhs were less prone to religious sensitivities than other groups of Indian soldiers.
- Option d) is incorrect because the British did not find Punjabi soldiers to be more skilled in warfare than other groups of Indian soldiers.