Thank you, Carlos, for recognizing the Indian heroes who gave their lives to liberate Europe during WW-II.
I believe the reason that recognition in India has been muted due to the assumed Gandhian philosophy of non-violence at any cost. --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Indian+war+veterans+revered+in+Italy&id=72710 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Sunday, May 8, 2005 (Rome): > > As Europe remembers the millions of people who were > killed in World War > II, in India the response to the 60th anniversary of > the Allied victory > over Nazi Germany has been muted. > > This is despite the fact that thousands of Indian > soldiers were killed > in the war against fascism. > > Kirpal Singh, the young sapper in The English > Patient may have been a > figment of Michael Ondaatje's imagination, but there > were thousands of > young Indians who were the real heroes during the > war. > > Forgotten heroes > > They are our forgotten soldiers, men who fought > thousands of kilometres > away from home for the liberation of another > country. > > Though there is still no memorial in India to honour > them, Indian > soldiers continue to be respected and remembered in > Italy, particularly > on days like April 25, the Liberation day in > Italy--when Nazi forces > were driven out of the country. > > For decades, school children in Italy have been > taught that Indian > soldiers in were fighting for the wrong side, the > British in the war, > and nationalistic politics at the time dictated the > manner in which > these soldiers would be honoured. > > 'The liberators' > > Going beyond the politics of the time, one may > remember stories of some > of the thousands of Indian soldiers who died > fighting in what were > among the most brutal military campaigns in history. > > Over 5000 Indians died fighting in Italy between > 1943 and 1945, and > were an integral part of the multi-national > coalition that won the > Italian campaign. > > In Italy, these men are considered liberators, and > Major General > Eustice D'Souza was one of them. The 84-year-old > General is now among > only a handful of Italy veterans still alive in > India. > > "We got four battle honours in Italy, one Victoria > Cross. Namdeo Jadav > got the Victoria Cross for outstanding gallantry," > said Major General > Eustice D'Souza. > > "There was another Naik Hari Lakde. The advance of > the whole division > was held up because of one German post with a > machine gun. This chap > crawled up through a gully or valley and pulled the > hot machine gun > with his bare hands and got rid of the Germans, his > hands were burnt." > > 'Hellish encounters' > > The Allied assault in Italy followed the Axis > surrender in North Africa > in May 1943, and began with an invasion of Sicily -- > the start of a > campaign that has been described as being a little > short of hell. > > The 4th, 5th, 8th and 210th divisions of the Indian > Army, fighting > under the legendary 8th Indian Army that had > defeated Rommel in North > Africa, fought northwards through the Italian > peninsula. > > These divisions liberated towns like Pescara, Terni, > Florence, Rimini, > Ferrara and Pisa. > > Though the Allied invasion struck a huge blow to > Italian > self-confidence, which resulted in Mussolini being > deposed, taking on > the German Army was an altogether different story. > > Battle of attrition > > The Indians had to fight through two main defensive > lines, the Gustav > line across the centre of the Italian peninsula and > the Gothic line > further north. > > Battles along these defences in places such as Monte > Cassino proved to > be a battle of attrition. The allies suffered huge > casualties while > taking on the Germans firmly lodged in secure > positions. > > The Indian soldiers, fighting for a host of > regiments which form some > of the most famed units in the modern day Indian > army, had all sorts of > roles. > > Most were common infantry soldiers and gunners, > while others were > sappers, drivers and medical attendants. Many were > only in their teens, > no older than 16. > > Clearly, even as the heroism of these men remains > largely ignored in > India, they are highly revered in Italy where they > served with valour > and pride. > -------------- > Jai Hind! > Carlos > > > >
