1914: the Indian Army the largest volunteer army in the world

This year and this week have seen a great deal of activity to commemorate the effect of Wars on our nations in Europe and abroad, as well as the price paid by civilian and soldiers. In particular this year is significant for marking the centenary of the First World War. There were 37 million causalities’ from the War including the deaths of 16 million.

What many people remain unaware of is that of the 8.6 million soldiers that fought over 2.1 million were from the Indian subcontinent- troops alongside an Indian volunteer force from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka - Indian. The Indian Navy also made a great contribution, as did transportation and supplies: 170, 000 animals and 3. 7 million ton respectively.

So when there’s this surge in populist support for Muslim women to don poppy adorned hijabs, and cranky and racist outfits like UKIP and Britain First try and lay claim on the War and ‘our troops’, it’s worth remembering that we were all in this together from a very long time ago.

There are some Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill to commemorate the service that was given and the lives lost by the armed forces on the Indian subcontinent, as well as the Caribbean and Africa.

You can find out more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Gates_%28London%29

Ashok Viswanathan