Approximately 1.4 million Indian soldiers served in World War One, and over 74,000 of them lost their lives. They were mainly from Punjab, the North-West Frontier, Rajasthan and the hills of Garhwal and Nepal. The Queen missed the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London as she has sprained her back. Buckingham Palace said the monarch, 95, was "disappointed" not to attend the event.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid a wreath at the Cenotaph as people across the country and overseas took part in the Act of Remembrance.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said, “Yesterday it was an honour to place a cross in the Constituency Garden of Remembrance to commemorate the Green Howards Regiment and all those who have served in our Armed Forces. Today and forever we will remember them.”
Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care laid a wreath and said, “An honour to join Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph. We pray that we may be worthy of the sacrifice made on our behalf.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said, “I am truly humbled by the brave sacrifices of our armed forces. We are in their debt and it is a true privilege to come together, stop, remember and honour those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said, “I was honoured to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph this morning on behalf of the brave men and women of our security and intelligence agencies who sacrificed so much for our country. We will remember them.”
On behalf of The Queen, a wreath is laid by The Prince of Wales at the Cenotaph as part of the National Service of Remembrance. Further wreaths are laid by The Duke of Cambridge, The Earl of Wessex, Princess Royal and on behalf of The Duke of Kent.
Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Cenotaph symbolises the unprecedented losses suffered during WWI and is now the National focal point of Remembrance. The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Countess of Wessex, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence viewed the Service from the balcony.
Zarah Sultana MP tweeted: “This morning, at the War Memorial Park, I laid a wreath in memory of all those from Coventry and around the world who have lost their lives in war.
In their memory, we strive to build a more peaceful world.”
Lord Rami Ranger also tweeted: “We are indebted to those who gave up so much for us.”
Sharing a photo on Remembrance Day with his mother, RAF Engineer Manjeet Ghataora
said, “First time I’ve been to a Remembrance Service with my mum.. Made me feel even prouder to be there.”
According to a Times of India report, a website called http:// www.punjabww1.com/- has been launched by the UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) and the University of Greenwich, London. It will comprise a digital version of the 3,20,000 Punjabi soldiers who fought in WWI that have been lying in the Lahore Museum in Pakistan unresearched.
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‘Honour without benefit is useless! We will remember them!’
Yam Gurung (retired Gurkha soldier) said, “We have been remembering veterans on the remembrance day.
“It is now 207 years of Gurkhas in the British army facing continued disparity, dehumanising, exploiting alienation, scandal and great betrayal by the UK government against the Gurkha soldiers and their families from Nepal.”
He mentioned how they were forced to stage a hunger strike un-to-death in the 21st century at 10 Downing Street.
Despite that, he said that the Metropolitan police continued intimidation, and bullying, from the first day of the hunger strike by the discretion of the MoD.
Gurung added, “I am a senior citizen and a first Gulf war veteran. Working until 14 August ‘20 to pay my mortgage and other bills and I again become the victim of "white supremacy" and lost my job.
He further added, “I now rely on the food bank. I did approach SSAFA and other organisations, but there is ignorance and penny pinching by the UK government.
Gurung cited poor accommodation, poor heating system and share accommodation as major setbacks.
He added that more than 100 Gurkha veterans died because of the Covid-19.
According to Gurung, the British government have indeed used the Gurkhas as a diplomacy currency in the international markets and collected a huge revenue from the respected Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong now from the oil-rich state of Brunei. They have also collected huge revenue, showing the hardship pictures of the Gurkhas to rich nations across the globe.
“But the second world war veteran like Mandhoj Thapa and others are forced to take shelter in cowshed back home in Nepal,” Gurung said.
He stated that neither the UK nor the Nepal government has got authentic records of the killed or the wounded Gurkha soldiers from Nepal. Yam grieves the treatment received by the British towards Gurkhas, including their last rites.
“Honour without benefit is useless! We will remember them!” Yam Gurung said.
