Thread by @VishnuNDTV

1. India's fight against fascism in WW-2 was a battle against a genocidal force that represented the greatest evil known to humanity. The cause was an international one in which 87,000+ Indians were killed in an effort endorsed by our freedom fighters.

https://twitter.com/KanwalSibal/status/1484952641210060800

2. India fielded the largest volunteer force in history - men who returned 4000 war decorations and 18 Victoria Crosses for gallantry. To simply refer to these men as cannon fodder without looking at their spectacular military successes is unfair.

3. Feeling nostalgic about military traditions that have defined the Indian Army for generations is NOT synonymous with justifying colonialism. History is not always black and white. One needs to accept its strands. Doing so doesn't make us weaker.

4. There is no end to shunning the colonial legacy of our fighting forces. Why ban `Abide With Me,' while allowing the Beating Retreat to continue? Does that not hark back to a colonial past?

5. Should we rename some of our greatest regiments and re-number some of our largest Corps? Shall we shun the Chetwode Hall and the Indian Military Academy which also hark back to a colonial past?

6. Shall we return the 1 lakh pounds given to us by the Govt of Sudan in gratitude for the defence of their country by Indian soldiers?

7. Shall we request the government of Belgium to cease the daily ceremony at Menin Gate which honours Indian soldiers (among other) who defended Belgium in World War One?

8. Shall we tell the French to never again invite us for Bastille Day celebrations to honour our defence of their country in both World Wars because we now want to `shun' our colonial legacy?

9. Shall we cease going to Russia to celebrate their Victory Day over Germany in World War 2. The Marathas, the Grenadiers are just some of the finest regiments with a colonial history who have marched in Moscow?

10. Shall we demolish the chhatri at Brighton in the UK which commemorates the cremation of Indian soldiers in World War 1?

11. There are more than 300 war memorials around the world maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which honour the Indian dead from both World Wars.

12. Shall we tell the Israelis to stop feeling grateful for the liberation of Haifa by the Jodhpur Lancers and Mysore Lancers who were from a princely states?

13. Never destroy the heritage of our forces. They are a pillar of strength. Revisionism won't get us anywhere. Which isn't to suggest we don't adapt, add and modify martial traditions. But to whitewash the colonial legacy of our armed forces is to dishonour the dead.

* by `who returned,' I mean `who were honoured with.'