WW-I centenary: MEA’s project to highlight India’s role
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 4

The New Delhi-based United Services Institute, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, has undertaken a project to highlight the oft-forgotten role of India in World War-I. The project is part of the global commemorations being organised to mark the centenary of the war.

Then under the Crown, the British Indian Army had contributed a number of divisions and independent brigades to the European, Mediterranean and the Middle-East theatres during the war from 1914 to 1918.

Jody East

Of the 1.4 million Indian soldiers who had served overseas, 75,000 had died. The India Gate in Delhi had been built to commemorate the sacrifices of these troops.

Jody East, Creative Programme Curator of the Royal Pavilion and Museums, will be visiting Delhi and Chandigarh this month to give more information about the Indian Army’s role in the World War-I. She will also be addressing a select audience at the USI, a military think tank, and at Headquarters, Western Command, Chandimandir. This is among a series of activities being held in this regard.

At the centre of the commemorations is a unique palace located in Brighton on the southern coast of England that was built by King George between 1787 and 1823 in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century with the most extravagant chinoiserie interiors ever executed in the British Isles.

Initially built as a seaside retreat for the Prince of Wales, the most extraordinary manifestation of this vast palace -- named the Royal Pavilion -- was that it was converted into a hospital to treat wounded Indian soldiers.

Given its opulence, the Pavilion was partly used in imperial efforts to convince potential Indian recruits that their wounded countrymen were being well treated.

According to some historical excerpts, a series of photographs was produced showing the resplendent rooms that were converted into hospital wards. It was renamed, for some time, as the Kitchener Indian Hospital and the recuperating soldiers also received visits from Lord Kitchener, the erstwhile Commander-in-Chief, India, in July 1915 and King George V the next month who presented several soldiers with military honours.

In 1916, the Indian soldiers were moved on from Brighton after their redeployment in the Middle East and by that time, about 14,000 wounded Indian servicemen had passed through the town's hospitals.

There is a lasting legacy in the form of a large archway, erected in 1921, at the entrance to the Royal Pavilion grounds. It was a gift to the town of Brighton from the Princes and the people of India, commemorating the Indian soldiers treatment in Brighton military hospitals. It was opened officially by the Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh.

100 YEARS ON

* The British Indian Army contributed a number of divisions and independent brigades to the European, Mediterranean and the Middle-East theatres during the war from 1914 to 1918

* Of the 1.4 million Indian soldiers who had served overseas, 75,000 had died