The Deccan Koli Corps was an irregular regiment of the British government's Bombay Army, formed in 1857 by Captain General Nuttall. In 1857, people from the Koli, Ahir, Dhangar, Gurjar and Bhil castes in the Deccan, Khandesh Hyderabad state regions revolted against the British government, causing significant difficulties for the government. The Koli rebellion was particularly fierce, and the British government was unable to control the Koli rebels. Therefore, the British government devised a plan to raise an army of Kolis from the Deccan region to fight against other Kolis. The Deccan Koli Corps was subsequently formed, but later it was decided that the Deccan Koli Corps would be used against rebels of other castes, as the Kolis themselves might rebel against the government. In 1861, the number of Koli soldiers in the Deccan Koli Corps was 700.
The chief of the Deccan Koli Corps was Naik Javji Bamble, the son of Hiraji Bamble, whose late father was also named Javji Bamble (a Koli Mansabdar and Deshmukh in the Maratha Empire during his time). The Deccan Koli Corps had two headquarters: one in Ahmednagar and the other in Nashik. Well-known bandits and outlaw from the Koli caste were given officer positions in the Deccan Koli Corps.
In 1857, the Deccan Koli Corps was sent to Akola, Pune, and Nashik districts because the situation there had deteriorated significantly due to the rebels. However, Captain Nuttall stated that the Kolis proved themselves to be born warriors, successfully suppressing the rebellion. But in 1858, rebellions broke out again in Nashik, Khandesh, and the Hyderabad state, and the Deccan Koli Corps was sent to suppress the rebels there. In April-May 1859, another rebellion broke out, and to suppress it, the regular forces were withdrawn and the Deccan Koli Corps was sent. On July 5th, the Deccan Koli Corps surrounded the area where the ten main leaders of the rebellion were hiding and shot them dead, including the son of the chief leader of the rebellion. In October 1859, a rebellion broke out in the Hyderabad state, and regular forces and cavalry were sent to suppress it, but ultimately, the Deccan Koli Corps had to be deployed because they were skilled in fighting in wild and hilly areas. In 1860, regular forces were withdrawn from all areas and replaced by the Deccan Koli Corps because the Deccan Koli Corps was proving successful everywhere, and the Deccan Koli Corps was awarded the Mutiny Medal. In 1861, a Koli rebellion broke out in Akola, and the chief of the Koli rebellion was a relative of Javji Bamble (head of the Deccan Koli Corps). However, the main leader of the Koli rebellion was shot dead by the Bombay Regiment, which led to Javji Bamble, the head of the Deccan Koli Corps, attacking the Bombay Regiment contingent. Because of this incident, the Deccan Koli Corps was disbanded.
Arms and dress: Their arms consisted of fusils with bayonets, black leather accoutrements, dark green twisted turbans, dark green cloth tunics, dark blood-colored waistcloths worn to the knees, and sandals.
Disbandment: The Deccan Koli Corps (DKC) was disbanded in March 1861. The disturbances in the area were about to end, so the regular troops were withdrawn from the area and replaced by the Deccan Koli Corps because the Deccan Koli Corps was performing better than the regular local corps. The Deccan Koli Corps proved more effective, but in 1861, some of the Koli soldiers revolted against British rule, and the Deccan Koli Corps was disbanded.
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