USI-ICWA Joint
International Conference
On
The
Diplomatic Dimensions of Military History: Indian Armed Forces in France and
Flanders during WWI and WWII:
A
Brief Report
The contribution of the Indian soldiers to the Great
Wars was immensely significant to the Allied Victory. From fighting in trenches
during World War I to fighting along the coast of Dunkirk, Indian soldiers
displayed great courage and strength during the Great Wars. To honour and
commemorate the contribution of Indian soldiers, the United Service Institution
of India (USI) and Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) organized a joint
international conference on ‘The
Diplomatic Dimensions of Military History: Indian Armed Forces in France and
Flanders during WWI and WWII’ on 11 April 2023 at USI, New Delhi.
The aim of the conference
was to recall the bravery and professionalism of the Indian soldiers, without
whom the Allied victories would not have happened and its repercussions that
are relevant even today. During the First World War, India’s soldiers served
with honour in France, Belgium, Aden, Arabia, East and West Africa, Somalia,
Gallipoli, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Salonika, Russia, and even China. Without
the participation of the Indian Army the history of the war, and the world,
would have been very different. By the end of the war
in 1918, over 1.3 million Indians had served overseas with over 74,000
casualties.
In the Second World
War, the Indian Army contributed almost 2.5 million men by August 1945. It was
the largest volunteer army in human history. Indian soldiers were deployed in
the East against the Japanese and in The Middle East, East Africa, North Africa
and Italy against the Germans & Italians; yet the first Indian contingent,
called Force K-6, was despatched in 1940 to support the Expeditionary Force in
France.
The conference was graced by a number of prolific historians, academicians and diplomats. The proceedings of conference began with the Welcome Remarks delivered by Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM* (Retd), DG USI. He began by highlighting the role of the Indian soldiers during both the World Wars in enhancing global security. He relayed how Indian soldiers upheld the values of “namak, nishan, naam; ijjat and iqbal” while fighting for the Allied forces. This was followed by the Keynote Address delivered by Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh; DG ICWA. She spoke elaborately about the Indian soldiers who fought in the First World War, Most of these soldiers were deployed in the Ypres Salient in Flanders in Belgium and at nearby Neuve Chapelle in France during the period 1914-15. Indian soldiers had arrived in Europe at a critical period of the First World War and despite serious limitations in equipment and lack of training, as compared to the European soldiers, they were able to not only hold their section of the line, but also prove their valour and capabilities.
India’s contribution during the Great Wars not only
proved its mercenary capabilities but enhanced India’s position in the
international sphere. As a result of the contributions by
India to World War I, she was included in the delegation to the Paris Peace
Conference and became a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles signed on 28 June
1919. The Treaty of Versailles established the first multilateral
inter-governmental organization, the League of Nations. Membership of the
League of Nations also catalysed the establishment, of India’s first diplomatic
representation abroad, the Indian High Commission in London. The first Indian
delegations to the League of Nations General Assembly were led by the Indian
High Commissioner in London. Later, with the establishment of the United
Nations, India also became a founding member in 1945. At a time when the
multilateral system is facing unprecedented challenges, India’s contribution to
its creation a century ago needs to be recalled. India’s contribution to the
Great Wars found itself a host of allies to reckon with-the United Kingdom,
France and Belgium among others.
The
Conference was also graced by the Ambassadors to India from Belgium, France and
the United Kingdom to exalt the long relationship that India holds with these
countries. HE Mr Didier Vanderhasselt, Ambassador of Belgium to India in his
speech stated about the long diplomatic relation between India and Belgium of
75 years. He stressed on reinforcing this engagement through the political and
commercial ties. HE Ms Christina Scott, CMG, Deputy High Commissioner of the UK
to India began her speech by tracing the contribution of the Indian soldiers
during the Great Wars and went to speak about Victoria Cross winners like Rfn
Kulbir Thapa and Rfn Gabar Singh Negi who displayed conspicuous courage in the
field and led their team to victory. HE Mr Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador or
France to India, expressed his gratitude to the Indian soldiers for their
contribution during the Great Wars and acknowledged the growing relations
between India-France.
Interestingly, the
contribution of Indian soldiers during the First World War has been categorically
taught in French schools. Two such scholars who spoke at the conference were-
Mr Louis Teyssedou and Mr Jérôme Janczukiewicz. Mr Teyssedou had attended the
conference in person accompanied by 12 students and two teachers from Amiens,
France. The students had presented alongside Mr Teyssedou and engaged the crowd
with archival photographs that were observed through 3D glasses. Mr Jérôme
Janczukiewicz on the other hand spoke about the Indian Labour Corps (ILC) in
Eastern France, 1917-1919. The ILC went to Lorraine, near Nancy, to dig and
carry supplies to build a series of airfields for the Royal Flying Corps. The
study was made with the support of the pupils from Arthur Varoquaux Regional
School.
The experiences of the
Indian soldiers in European and the colonial discrimination of ‘Us’ vs. ‘Them’
had moved the Indian soldiers to rise above the caste, ethnic and religious
difference and fought the enemy as an unit.
The earlier military experiences of the Indian soldiers in Europe were
deliberated by Dr Dominiek Dendooven, a Belgian historian, who described the
Indian soldiers as rising above the military exploits and becoming agents of
chance to make India into becoming the nation it is today.
The evolution of
India’s diplomatic dimension since the end of the First World War was
deliberated extensively by Ambassador Asoke Mukerji and Dr Vineet Thakur.
Ambassador Mukherji spoke on ‘India and the Strategic Framework of the Western
Indo-Pacific’. He delved upon the drivers of India’s strategic interests in the
region between the Red Sea and the western Indian coast. Dr Thakur on the other
hand focused on the emergence of the Indian diplomacy in the aftermath of First
World War.
The conference also had
a discussion on ethics of war memorials and executing a plan to commemorate the
contribution of the soldiers. This session was addressed was Dr George Hay, who
discussed about the nature, causes and legacy of several examples of
commemorative practice.
The last session of the
conference was addressed by Dr Ghee Bowman, historian and author who has worked
extensively on the contribution of the Indian soldiers in the Second World War.
Speaking on ‘Indian Soldiers at Dunkirk’, Dr Bowman deliberated eloquently
about the first Indian contingent, called Force K-6, despatched in 1940 to
support the Expeditionary Force in France. In December 1939, 1723 soldiers of
the Royal Indian Army Service Corps stepped ashore at Marseille in the south of
France, to join the British Army. Almost all were Muslims from Punjab, who
would go on to be citizens of Pakistan after Partition. In the summer of 1940
after the German blitzkrieg, most of them escaped from France via Dunkirk and
St Nazaire, and some became Prisoners of War. Dr Bowman shared interesting
anecdotes about the soldiers who were part of the force through videos and
photographs. He highlighted how media at large has under-represented the Indian
soldiers in large stream media, like the 2017 film called Dunkirk. Dr Bowman
spoke about the collective memory and stories of men of Force K6 who fought
valiantly during WW2.
The persistent efforts
taken by scholars across the world have highlighted the valour and sacrifice of
the Indian soldiers in the western theatre during the Great Wars is admirable.
It shows how people around the world are increasingly becoming aware of the
enormous role played by India in preserving World Peace. The International
Conference, which is being organized jointly by the United Service Institution
of India and the Indian Council for World Affairs, provided an opportunity for
India to commemorate the military and diplomatic significance of the
contributions of thousands of soldiers. The conference has paved the way to strengthen
the strategic-cultural relations between India and France and enhance India’s
efforts for “reformed multilateralism”.