The 200 years of history of the battalion commences with its raising at Badgaon on 30 Nov. 1798 as 1/16 Bengal Native Infantry. In the course of the next 152 years, this designation was to be altered eight times - in 1824 as 33rd Bengal Native Infantry, in 1861 as the 4th Bengal Native Infantry, in 1885 as 4th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, in 1890 as 4th (Prince Albert Victor's) Bengal Infantry, in 1897 as 4th (PAV) Rajput Regiment of Bengal Infantry, in 1921 as 2/7th Rajputs, in 1945 as 2nd Battalion The Rajput Regiment (PAV) and finally as 2nd Battalion The Rajput Regiment in 1950.

In 1803, a mere five years after its raising, the battalion fought its first battle at the pass of Leswaree ousting the French from North India. The battle honour 'Leswaree' was conferred on the unit. Thereafter, the unit participated in numerous campaigns, the battles of Kalenjra, Kalunghar, Nahun, Rampore and Gwalior being the most prominent. The seize and  capture  of  Bharatpur  Fort  alongside 1 Rajput in 1825 earned the battalion its second battle honour 'Bharatpur'.

The battalion earned its third battle honour 'Kabul 1842' operating as the vanguard of the British Expeditionary Force during the First Afghan war. During the period 1845 to 1846, the unit was again in the forefront of the First Sikh War, where it earned its fourth and fifth battle honours - 'Ferozeshah' and 'Sobraon'. The sixth battle honour - 'Afghanistan 1870-80' was conferred on the unit during the second Afghan war. Thereafter, for its impressive performance in the upper Burma Campaign, the seventh battle honour 'Burma 1885-87' was awarded.

During the first World war, the battalion served in Mesopotamia, Basra, Tigris, Abadi and various places in the Middle-East. During the Second World War, the unit moved into Burma. The watershed of its achievements here was the capture of Point 551, a feature occupied by the Japanese, which had halted the advance of 26 Infantry Division. In honour of the battalion and its valiant action, Point 551 was renamed Rajput Hill, and the battalion awarded its eight battle honour ­ 'Point  551'.

1947 saw the unit involved in controlling post-partition unrest in J&K. The high­light of this era was the capture of Pir Badesar and Point 3606 in Oct 1948. In Oct 1962, the battalion fought the Chinese against great odds' in the Dhola Sector. The casuality figures of 4 officers, 7 JCOs and 270 OR killed in this action is an imprint of its valour and gallantry. In 1965, the battalion moved into J&K and captured Ziarat and Ring Contour in the Tithwal Sector.

In 1971, the battalion cleared the Belonia Bulge, captured Choudagram and advanced to Chandpur, thereby earning its ninth battle honour 'Belonia'. During the period 1972-1998, the unit was constantly deployed in combatting militancy in the North East, Punjab and J&K.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a special commemorative stamp on 2nd Battalion of The Rajput Regiment (Kalichandi).

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India