Khadki war cemetery, Pune, India[/caption]Just today I came across the Forever India pages of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and it appears to be the only separate country to be awarded this distinction - although that may be because other countries (Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa) make greater efforts in commemorating their fallen servicemen. These other countries, however, became independent much earlier than India and modern India and other countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Burma may seek to minimise their contribution to the defence of the Empire. The pages are a great resource to anyone interested in the Indian contributions.
This India section puts in context the great commitment and sacrifice of Indians in both World Wars in a variety of theatres. Some of the stories of heroism exemplified by holders of the Victoria Cross are very poignant and moving, as are excerpts of letters home.
The short video on the main page focuses mainly on the work of the CWGC, its cemeteries, short insights into the lives of Indian soldiers in WW1, the Chattri Memorial, about which we wrote a short blog and the Commonwealth Memorial Gate on Constitution Hill, again the subject of a blog. In another blog, a review of a lecture on Indian soldiers in World War 1, we offer some insights into the issues in managing soldiers of different religions. In this centenary year of the beginning of the World War 1 it is more important than ever that we remember the sacrifices of all servicemen.
In an article by Fergal Keane on the Basra Memorial, in modern day Iraq, where the deaths of 1,771 Indian soldiers are commemorated, he concludes with a quote from Plato: “only the dead have seen the end of war”.(http://nlwmemorial.tripod.com/nlwmemorial/pages/pagesmisc/basramemorialfergalkeane.htm)
http://www.cwgc.org/foreverindia/
http://www.indiainlondon.com/the-indian-army-in-world-war-1-national-army-museum/
http://www.indiainlondon.com/there-is-a-corner-of-a-foreign-field-that-is-forever-india-the-chattri-memorial-service-9-june-2013/ - the Chattri Memorial
http://www.indiainlondon.com/commonwealth-memorial-gates/
No comments:
Post a Comment