World Wars and India’s Sacrifice, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• India contributed 1.5 million soldiers to World War I, with 74,000 fatalities.
• For World War II, India raised the largest volunteer army of 2.5 million, suffering 87,000-89,000 casualties.
• Despite significant sacrifices, India observes Remembrance Day with ambivalence, unlike many Commonwealth nations.
• Japanese forces bombed Indian cities like Vizag and Kolkata in 1942-43 and attempted a land invasion of India in March 1944.
• The Indian National Army (INA), led by Subhas Chandra Bose, was formed with Japanese support, primarily from Indian Prisoners of War.

Detailed Insights:

• India's ambivalence stems from fighting for British freedom while its own aspirations for independence were suppressed under colonial rule.
• The involvement of Imperial Japan, an Asian power, as an adversary complicated India's stance, despite Japan's brutal expansionist agenda.
• The Indian National Army (INA) was initially formed by Captain Mohan Singh in 1942 from Indian PoWs captured by Japan after the fall of Singapore.
• Subhas Chandra Bose re-formed and expanded the INA in July 1943, establishing a provisional government in exile.
• The Burma Campaign involved over 700,000 Indians, comprising 87% of the multinational force fighting against Japanese forces.
• Second-Lt Premindra Singh Bhagat was the first Indian to receive the Victoria Cross in World War II for gallantry in East Africa.
• Japanese bombings directly impacted India, with Vizag harbour attacked on April 6, 1942, and Kolkata bombed in December 1942 and 1943.
• Despite Japanese attempts to incite revolt, Indians largely chose not to trade British rule for Japanese occupation.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Remembrance Day: An annual memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries to honor armed forces members who died in the line of duty.
• Indian National Army (INA): An armed force formed by Indian nationalists during World War II in Southeast Asia with the aim of overthrowing British rule in India.
• Victoria Cross: The highest military decoration awarded for valor "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces in various Commonwealth countries.
• Burma Campaign: A series of battles fought in the British colony of Burma (now Myanmar) during World War II, primarily between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan.