Centenary of the Armistice

More than a million Indian soldiers fought overseas in the World War I. They fought in the European, Mediterranean, Mesopotamian, North African and East African theatres of war. And some 62,000 of them died in these battles, countless more were injured. While the British built a monument, India Gate, in 1931 to commemorate the fallen soldiers, over time, the Indian soldiers were, for the most part, forgotten, most of all by their own country. India Gate became a memorial to the fallen soldier, not just the soldiers of the Great War. The centenary celebration of the Armistice should recall those soldiers India lost to the Great War.

India’s inclusion in the celebrations in Paris stands apart from the 50-year celebration of the Armistice, when the country’s contribution had been edited out. This historical recompense reflects recognition of India’s growing role in the world today. But it is not just the world that has made the correction. India too has recognised the heroic sacrifice made by its soldiers, fighting in strange lands far away from home, in inhospitable weather, for a country that had colonised it.

The memorial built by the government of India, at VillersGuislain in France, to commemorate the Indian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Cambrai marks India’s acceptance of its history. Restoring India to its rightful place in the history of the Great War is a reminder of the fact that dealing with big global challenges will require countries to work together.

The centenary of the Armistice marks a vital moment, especially for the West, as it struggles against the political forces of isolation and narrow nationalism. It is a moment to remind all about the need to strengthen international cooperation without sacrificing national identities and interests. From The Economic Times