British and Indian officers of the 77th Moplah Rifles, Bangalore, July 1907

Photograph, India, 1907.

The Moplahs were a Moslem race from the Malabar coast and during the 19th century won themselves a somewhat undeserved reputation as violent troublemakers. An official report had labelled them 'a turbulent and fanatical community'. In 1902 the Moplah Rifles were raised as the Madras Army endeavoured to recruit more 'warlike' men into its ranks under the influence of the prevailing 'martial races' theory. This photograph was taken shortly before the regiment was disbanded in the aftermath of Lord Kitchener's reforms.

From a photograph album compiled by W Leith Ross, 1904-1907.