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From: alt.fan.jai-maharaj@googlegroups.com

Let us remember

Forced recruitment of Indian soldiers in WW1 mustn't be
forgotten

By Kishwar Desai
The Indian Express, indianexpress.com
November 9, 2018

[Caption] It was not uncommon for men to be forced,
coerced, bribed and even bought by agents. Recruitment was
not, especially in Punjab, a pleasant process.
(Representational image)

On November 11, Remembrance Day, we will commemorate the
Indian soldiers who fought in World War I. Many lost their
lives or were taken as prisoners of war, fighting for the
British. They had, ultimately, battled for the idea of
freedom, even if it was not their own. But there is a
darker side to this story, of forced recruitment and
racism.

A disproportionately large number of the soldiers were from
Punjab, which was continuously mined by the British for
able-bodied men. Many such men did not want to be part of
the war. The British valourised their sacrifice, but not
all were convinced about the war.

It was not uncommon for men to be forced, coerced, bribed
and even bought by agents. Recruitment was not, especially
in Punjab, a pleasant process -- 'agents' were rewarded by
money or honours or both. As the British set quotas for
different regions and special depots were set up, numerous
agents and title hunters sprung up. Lieutenant governor at
the time, Michael O'Dwyer was determined to win accolades
for his contribution to the World War. Rewards, he said,
“were such as would appeal to the Oriental mind, such as
Indian titles of honour from 'Raja' and 'nawab' down to
'Rai sahib' and 'Khan Sahib', robes of honour, swords of
honour, guns, cash rewards.” The grants could go up to
15,000 acres.

Continues at:

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/let-us-remember-indian-army-indian-armed-forces-remembrance-day-world-war-i-5438379/

Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.jai-maharaj

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