History / Genesis

'Home Guards' as a voluntary organization of citizens was raised in the United Kingdom during World War II for local defense. This was replicated in India in December 1946 where Home Guards were raised in Bombay (Mumbai) to assist the police in controlling Civil disturbances and communal riots prevalent at the time. Subsequently, the concept of a voluntary citizen force auxiliary to the police for maintenance of law and order and for meeting emergencies like landslides, floods, fires, famine etc. was adopted by several other States. The Chinese aggression of 1962 prompted the Centre to advise the States and Union Territories to merge their existing voluntary organizations into one all-India voluntary force known as the 'Home Guards'. Maneck Jehangir Bhikaji or "Mac" to his foreign friends and CG (Commandant General) to his fellow countrymen, the great friend, philosopher and guide of the common man organized the Citizen Voluntary force, not only in aid of Govt. administration for maintaining law and order, but also for providing an atmosphere of discipline in public life in Bombay, which was at that time reeling under communal tension. The organization so founded by him was re-christened as Home Guards on 6th December, 1946 when late Morarji Desai was Chief Minister of erstwhile undivided Bombay State. Since inception, he headed this Organization as Commandant General. The same Home Guards Organization was recommended by the Govt. of India in 1962 for augmenting Civil Defence resources and now more than 4:11 lakhs Home Guards are on the roll throughout India performing multi-ferrous jobs apart from being auxiliary to the Police, like various socio-economic developmental activities, adult education, health and hygienic program, blood donation, tree plantation, protection of weaker sections, Civil Defence activities and disaster relief etc. to name a few.