Yesterday was the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2
Could you name this country from the war?
9th largest fighting force - 2.5 mil soldiers
~90k dead
~35k wounded
~68k PoWs
One of the very few countries active in European,African & Asian theaters of battle
Could you name this country from the war?
9th largest fighting force - 2.5 mil soldiers
~90k dead
~35k wounded
~68k PoWs
One of the very few countries active in European,African & Asian theaters of battle
India's major role in WW2 is never discussed in India. And barring some references to it within UK, the world has long forgotten our contribution
But it is interesting to compare some numbers.....
But it is interesting to compare some numbers.....
Indian casualties
1962 war: 1400
1965 war: 3000
1971 war: 4000
IPKF: 1200
Kargil: 600
JK insurgency: 5500
The sum of what we have lost in the major conflicts of the Indian Republic is less than 20% of what we lost in WW2
1962 war: 1400
1965 war: 3000
1971 war: 4000
IPKF: 1200
Kargil: 600
JK insurgency: 5500
The sum of what we have lost in the major conflicts of the Indian Republic is less than 20% of what we lost in WW2
6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust
3 million Bengalis killed in 1943 famine - direct consequence of British policies
We see 1-2 blockbuster films on the Holocaust every year. Every kid on the planet knows about it.
How many people even in Bengal know about 1943?
3 million Bengalis killed in 1943 famine - direct consequence of British policies
We see 1-2 blockbuster films on the Holocaust every year. Every kid on the planet knows about it.
How many people even in Bengal know about 1943?
The Japanese occupied Andaman from 1942 till 1945 - a significant duration by any definition
~10% of the local population perished during this period
How much do we know of life in the islands during that time?
~10% of the local population perished during this period
How much do we know of life in the islands during that time?
I arrived at 2 conclusions observing how we treat major historical events
We are unique in our ability to forget pain - much faster than other societies - forget WW2, watch how we suppressed memories of Partition itself - then after a while it is as if they never happened
We are unique in our ability to forget pain - much faster than other societies - forget WW2, watch how we suppressed memories of Partition itself - then after a while it is as if they never happened
Secondly, it will take deaths in hundreds of millions to permanently shake a large and poor country like India - death in millions is just another year for us
