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Oblivious of History
by Lakshman Menon
The Sunday Guardian, 9 March 2014
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, the bloodiest war in history until then. Seventeen million soldiers and civilians perished; slaughtered on the battlefields, bombed, starved or of disease. The Germans prosecuted the war with ferocity. That they were eventually defeated was in no small measure because of the Indian army. An Allied victory was far from certain. Unremitting fighting and savage losses were the only certainties. And yet, 1,300,000 Indians, the largest volunteer army ever, signed up. They fought in every theatre; from Ypres to Gallipoli and North and East Africa. Eleven won the highest military honour of all, the Victoria Cross. But they didn't fight for honours. They fought for the honour. Indar Singh wrote home from the Somme in 1916: "It is quite impossible that I should return alive. (But) don't be grieved at my death, because I shall die arms in hand, wearing the warrior's clothes. This is the most happy death that anyone can die." Thousands of miles away from home, another Indian soldier wrote to his wife: "How many days is it since I was separated from you, star of my eyes? But you must realise that this is the time for brave men." Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, they made common cause; 64,449 of them died together. Few people who pass by India Gate in New Delhi know — or care — that their names are etched on it. Shamefully, India has never commemorated them. This would have been the case here too until the Indian-born peeress, Lady Flather, was instrumental in honouring them in the imposing Memorial Gates located at Hyde Park Corner. Tomorrow, as every year on Commonwealth Day, the British will gratefully gather to pay tribute to these valorous men. When will India?
