Santosh k Sharma

Regimental IX by Santosh K Sharma presents a sweeping panorama of British Indian Army regiments assembled in a magnificent display of imperial military pageantry. The horizontal composition showcases a diverse array of soldiers—both mounted cavalry and standing infantry—adorned in distinctive regimental uniforms spanning vibrant crimsons, ochres, emeralds, and indigos. Each figure is meticulously rendered with careful attention to cultural variations in headwear, from elaborate turbans to colonial helmets, while red and white pennants flutter above the formation against a misty sky.

About Regimental IX by Santosh K Sharma

This ceremonial military portrait draws direct inspiration from the historical collections displayed at the prestigious Polo Lounge in Delhi's Imperial Hotel. The painting functions as a visual catalog of the British Empire's multiethnic fighting force at its zenith, emphasizing how uniform design served as both practical identification and psychological projection of imperial authority. The artist captures the careful cultural calculations evident in these uniforms—how they incorporated indigenous elements while maintaining British military standards, creating a visual language of colonial power. The warm golden light bathing the scene enhances the theatrical quality of this military spectacle, preserving a momentous historical representation of how Britain's colonial presence in India manifested through carefully choreographed displays of martial splendor.