Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Hammers on 23 February 2009, 08:49:27 PM
-
I recieved a mixed bag of Indian soldiers today for my NWF board and a few of them are not very useful. Could anyone tell me what these are supposed to be? They are listed as 'Fanatic Swordsmen' but look like some kind of juggler circus act.
(http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/INDIA/2/6b.jpg)
-
Hi Hammers,
They are suppose to be Akali zealots during the Sikh Wars an are armed with Charka throwing Quoits.
They carried spare quoits in the headdress.
Helen
-
... In other words, a Circus juggling act... (rimshot)
I kid, I kid...
Scott Pasha
-
The earliest use of Akali as a title appears with the name of Naina Singh, an eighteenth century Nihang warrior and a junior leader in the Shahid misl. Akali Naina Singh is credited with introducing the tall pyramidal turban common among the Nihangs to this day. Akalis became prominent as an organized force under Akali Phula Singh (d. 1823), one time ward and disciple of Naina Singh. Phula Singh`s Akalis formed the crack brigade in Maharaja RANJIT Singh`s army as well as the custodians of the nation`s conscience and morals. After the occupation of the Punjab by the British in 1849, Akali regiments were disbanded and, military service being their only career, their numbers dwindled rapidly.
From a Sikh Wiki. A purely Sikh concept, they were part of the Sikh army, so you wouldn't want them in a generic NWF tribal force. Probably not much use to you unless you are gaming Britain's wars with the Sikhs, or Sikh campaigns against their neighbours. As the quote above suggests, no real historical use for them after 1850 or so (no longer a Sikh state or army for them to be part of), except perhaps as pulp henchmen or something.
You can see the quoits stored on the outside of their distinctive turbans on your picture. I wonder if in their spare time they practiced by trying to land the things on each other's heads? The quoits briefly regained popularity in the 1960s, when Goldfinger's henchman Oddjob had one sewn into his hat.
-
I have seen a discovery program about these guys.
I can’t remember the presenters name but he is on every military history program, a weapons expert. Small guy the exact opposite of what you would expect from a stuffy Prof, really down to earth.
The weapons were like razor sharp frizz bees. Very cool and very deadly at close range. I don’t know how the guys manage to throw them with out loosing their fingers. The guy demonstrating them had them every where. Around his turban, around his wrist and hanging from his belt. His rate of fire was pretty amazing as well.
I think they would make very cool villians or sidekicks in a pulp game.
-
So many wondrous things upon God's green earth. You live and learn.
I have five of them which I are up for grabs. Gratis; giving priority to those kind folks below trying to educate my dense self.
-
So many wondrous things upon God's green earth. You live and learn.
As you say, I didn't know I had "Amazing Brothers" ::)
meow,
Matt oh !
-
Given my new insight in the matter, the new subject title is probably more correct.
-
You mean Mike Loades of course...
http://www.sikhnet.com/daily-news/weapon-masters-investigating-deadly-sikh-chakr
http://www.mikeloades.co.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=43
The chakkar are not only used as throwing weapons, but when worn around the upper and lower arms can be used as lethal weapons in close quarter fighting using a variety of martial art like sweeps and grapples. For a taster of the few exponents of the Akali martial arts tradition see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zictTAHybqQ