This Armistice Day (November 11th), thousands across the country remembered the heroism and bravery of those who served in World War I. More than 1.5million soldiers from undivided India joined the army to serve for a country that wasn't their home. No one can underestimate the scale and significance of the British Indian Army, though it has not been talked about sufficiently in press or otherwise- for example in history syllabus for UK schools.
On 4th November, to commemorate the end of 100 years since World War One (WW1), a 10 feet statue of a Sikh soldier was unveiled in the town centre at Smethwick, in West Midlands. This new 'Lions of the Great War' monument is part of a community project and collaboration between the Gurdwara and the local Sandwell Council. The cost of the statue (£20,000) has been covered by Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick to honour the millions of men from the British Indian Army who served in the two world wars. Hundreds of people gathered at High Street, to witness the moment the finished sculpture, designed by Black Country sculptor Luke Perry, was revealed for the first time. It was met with rapturous applause as it was unveiled. But within days of unveiling and just couple of days before the Remembrance Day, the statue was vandalised with black ink and written "Sepoys no more". The term "sepoy" refers to Indian soldiers who served in the British or other European armies.
The words "of the Great War" from the statue's title was sprayed with a black line, while the words "1 jarnoil" had been graffitied on to the memorial. There was speculation on social media that the phrase could refer to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale - a controversial figure in Indian history considered by some to be a terrorist who wanted to create a Sikh state. He was killed in 1984 in a gun battle with the Indian army after his organisation occupied the famous Golden Temple complex in the city of Amritsar.
This incident showed the other face of our Britain's multicultual society. While one commemorated the contributions of Indian soldiers by a statue, the other completely disregarded and showed no respect for the significance of the statue and its inscriptions installed, to commemorate the pain felt by many South Asian families, who lost their dear ones during the WW1.
Smethwick statue vandalism
West Midlands Police reportedly said they were treating the incident as aggravated criminal damage. The force released the CCTV footage and officers were working with worshippers and management at the temple.
Superintendent Martin Hurcomb, from the Sandwell Police, said, “Officers are working closely with the congregation and management at the nearby Guru Nanak Sikh Temple as we understand that this attack has caused a lot of concern in the community.
“Work continues to try to understand the reasons behind what happened and identify whoever is responsible. I’d urge anyone who recognises the people in this CCTV to get in touch as soon as possible.
“Local officers continue to work closely with communities and have increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance and be on hand to answer any questions or concerns that people may have.”
Jatinder Singh, President of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick was extremely disappointed with the actions of the vandals but remained resolute.
He said, "There was some vandalism to the back wall overnight which is very disappointing. The graffiti was cleaned off and the matter was reported to the police. Working with the council we won't allow this vandalism to undermine the very strong message created by this new monument and the overwhelmingly positive reaction to its unveiling.”
The Sikh Federation (UK) also condemned the senseless and cowardly act of vandalism by a statement.
[Anyone with any information is urged to contact West Midlands Police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111].
Prince Harry and Marigold wreath to commemorate the Indian soldiers
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex just before November 11th said that bif he could, he would like to lay a wreath of marigolds in honour of the Indian troops who served in the war. Prince Harry’s remarks came as he made his annual visit to the Field of Remembrance outside Westminster Abbey. When he passed a plot marking the Indian troops who served in the war, Suraj Samant, 23, a youth representative on the Hindu Council UK gave the duke a small marigold bloom. It was a gesture whose significance was immediately recognised by the duke, who said that it was to honour the sacrifice of Indians during the war. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge laid a marigold wreath at India Gate in New Delhi in 2016. A campaign is under way for India to adopt the marigold as the nation’s flower of remembrance, to sit alongside the poppy as a symbol of the sacrifice made by India’s soldiers.
Khadi poppy and the Indian story
The Red “Khadi” Poppy & the Indian story was hosted by Lord Jitesh Gadhia at the London School of Economics on Friday 9th November, to remember the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Britain in World War 1 as the UK commemorates the centenary of the first world war.
Author Shrabani Basu, Major S S Gogna, Field Marshall Sir John Chapple and Dr. Mukulika Banerjee head of the South Asia Centre all came together to remember the forgotten soldiers by going back in history and talking about the conditions in which these soldiers were recruited in the army by the French and the English.
Lord Jitesh Gadhia on a sombre note said, “Sarojini Naidu once said remember the blood of my martyred sons. And today we shall.”
School students mark Armistice Day
Pupils at Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School (TIGHS) in Blackburn have marked Armistice Day by remembering the fallen heroes who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. The Olive School, Bolton, also had children's activities around the time, to commemorate the event.
Swaminarayan Pipe Band thanks the Armed Forces at the Whitehall Cenotaph
Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band London was one of only six civilian bands who had the honour of commemorating war heroes past and present, as part of the Nation’s Thank You procession along Whitehall (London, UK) on the Centenary of the Armistice.
During the procession, a special Wreath was laid at the world famous Cenotaph on Whitehall, on behalf of Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, global spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan.
The Band, based at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury (the world’s first eco-temple, located in northwest London) has a long history of participating in local Remembrance Parades, and its participation this Sunday is the climax of the temple’s 2018 Remembrance campaign; the community has been marking the Armistice centenary during its recent Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrations.
Members of the Band, proud British Indians, have been preparing for several weeks for this once-in-a-generation honour – looking forward in particular to remembering the contribution of the Indian Army to WW1.
The Wreath from Acharya Swamishree Maharaj was laid by trustee of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, Dr Mahesh Varsani. Speaking at the event, he said, “Acharya Swamishree Maharaj teaches us to always remember the sacrifices made for us by our forefathers, in every respect. It is a matter of great pride that our Band is able to honour all of the Armed Forces, and the very significant Indian contribution to the Great War. Remembrance is our opportunity as a society to recognise the sacrifice made by all soldiers, no matter their backgrounds. We all have a duty as citizens of the free world, as human beings, to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe is made up of 250 members around the world, including London, Greater Manchester, Kenya, USA and India.
Armistice centenary remembrance assembly at Neasden temple
A special assembly to pay tribute to soldiers from India and the Commonwealth who served during the First World War will be held at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly recognised as the ‘Neasden Temple’ – on Friday 16 November 2018.
This year marks the 100th anniversary since Armistice Day (11 November 1918) – the day when the War formally came to an end. To commemorate this occasion, the assembly will hold a programme of prayers, recitals and addresses that will be delivered by guests and representatives of various countries and faiths. The event coincides with National Inter Faith Week in the UK.
The Mandir also recently paid homage to the heroes of the First World War by installing a poppy display outside the Mandir. It was one of 14 locations selected by the Royal British Legion to display large poppies featuring moving messages from the First World War generation woven along threads that pointed to 20-ft installation at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
An interactive exhibition on the Role of Indian soldiers during The Great War (World War 1) the bus (owned by Golden Tours but loaned to the project) has brought to the participating community centres, a shared remembrance of their communities’ contribution in shaping the Great Britain of today. It was also present at the Diwali in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 28th October.
Jains at the Cenotaph
Many Jain communities participated in local Remembrance Day services. However for Jains, this was also a historic day. After several years of campaigning with the Jain All-Party Parliamentary Group, they were finally given a place at the Cenotaph alongside the other faiths and the Royal family. Bells were rung, two minutes silence was observed and Brahid Shanti was recited at Jain Derasars throughout the country. Many OneJAIN member organisations also participated in Remembrance Day celebrations locally.
Nemubhai Chandaria, Chair of the Institute of Jainology represented OneJAIN to pay respect to the fallen, on behalf of the UK's Jain community. The Cenotaph ceremony was followed by a remembrance service at Westminster Abbey in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.
