'Martial Races of India' Deccani Musalmen of the Indian Army, Central Provinces, Bombay, 1944 (c)

Photograph, India, 1944 (c).

The Deccan is a huge area of central and southern India. Maratha converts to Islam from this area were known as Deccani Muslims. The name Deccan is an anglicised form of the Prakrit word 'dakkhin', itself derived from the Sanskrit word 'dak?i?a', meaning 'South'.

From a collection of photographs taken to illustrate the races recruited into the Indian Army and the geographical areas in which they originated.