subs. phr. (Anglo-Indian).—One who enters the Indian Civil Service by examination. [From COMPETITION + Hindustani wallah, ‘a man’ or ‘person.’]
1863. G. O. TREVELYAN, Title, THE COMPETITION WALLAH.
1886. Illustrated London News, 9 Jan., p. 31, col. 3. It is quite certain that, if justice is ever to be done to India, our COMPETITION WALLAHS must not be encouraged to look upon it as a mere Tom Tidier’s ground, where they are to remain just so long as they require for picking up gold and silver (in the form of pension and savings).
