Recently, I attended a Shiv Jayanti celebration evening (a Hindu auspicious day) at the Maratha Mandal in Dollis Hill (community centre for the Maratha Britons originating from Maharashtra in India).
I would like to add my thanks to Robert Blackman, MP for Harrow, for taking time from his very busy schedule to attend the evening event.
My special thanks to Mr Blackman for paying tribute to the largest number of troops of the Indian army to volunteer, of which the Marathas formed a very large portion; the first to come to the rescue of Great Britain in its darkest hours.
More than one million Indian troops in the First World War and more than two million in the Second World War had fought across Europe, North Africa. Middle East, near and far East.
Readers may like to use search engines, such as google, and type in Indian soldiers in the First and Second World Wars to obtain further information.
Unfortunately, history lessons in schools often overplay the downside of our colonial rule, at the expense of the larger positive chapters of history.
The Second World War in particular is significant in history of humanity.
It was not a European war or war between ‘white people’ as some misguided people often say, but a global war of good over evil — the Holocaust breaking unimaginable limits of evil.
The massive contribution of the Indian Army to fight against evil has been acknowledged by our fine British Army, Her Majesty the Queen and many countries, including the Italian and the German people for their freedom from evil.
It is time the Indians themselves honour and remember their own brave predecessors.
The annual Remembrance Day should be a very proud and a special day for Indian Britons in all places of worship and communities. Today, the Indian Army stands in fourth place in the world in power and number. The Marathas form a large portion of its, army, navy and air force.
Lining up a high-ranking speaker for the next Remembrance Day should not be a mammoth task for any community with Indian roots.
Raj Durve
High Street, Brampton
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