Posted on 06/17/2015 1:49:20 PM PDT by the scotsman
'The numbers are staggering: up to three million Bengalis were killed by famine, more than half a million South Asian refugees fled Myanmar (formerly Burma), 2.3 million soldiers manned the Indian army and 89,000 of them died in military service.
South Asia was transformed dramatically during the war years as India became a vast garrison and supply-ground for the war against the Japanese in South-East Asia.
Yet, this part of the British Empire's history is only just emerging. By looking beyond the statistics to the stories of individual lives the Indian role in the war becomes truly meaningful.
Has the massive South Asian contribution to the World War Two been overlooked?
In some ways, it hasn't. Everyone has heard of the Gurkhas and many people have heard something of the role of Indian soldiers at major battles like Tobruk, Monte Cassino, Kohima and Imphal.
The Fourteenth Army, a multinational force of British, Indian and African units turned the tide in Asia by recapturing Burma for the Allies. Thirty Indians won Victoria Crosses in the 1940s.
Increasingly, for both the World War One and Two, the contribution of soldiers from across the Empire-Commonwealth has been coming to light.
But what about all the other people who were caught up in the war?.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
There is a lot to be said in favor of India over the last 60 years.
Do you mean the same India that enjoyed a strong strategic, military, economic and diplomatic relationship with the USSR during the Cold War?
Yep. They are in so many ways against China.
Still no reason to hand out H1-B’s and offshore our high tech to lesser professionals.
And Poke ee Stan.
The reality is that at the same time there was considerable agitation in India for independence, which was achieved shorty after the War, and post-War writers have focused on that story.
If I recall correctly, wasn’t there a Battalion made up of Indian volunteers, in the Waffen SS? I believe they were called the Tiger Bn., they weren’t an armor unit, so don’t confuse them with the Tiger Tank. Also at the time there was an anti British liberation unit fighting for independence in India. I don’t think the Indians were fighting for the Allies because they hated the Axis, it was more of a I’ll fight for you, but you must give us our independence afterward.
..my dad was in the China Burma India Theatre in 44-45
What a loon! Most of the companies that our offshoring are doing so because a very large portion of their revenue is coming from abroad. The reason is simple: the fastest growing markets are outside the U.S. You build where the market exists. The process of turning to those who can produce a product or service at a lower marginal cost is called “comparative advantage,” and it’s the key ingredient to an efficient and productive economy.
The Indian Army in WWII was the largest volunteer army in history.
What a loon yourself, your excuse doesn't stand the merest scrutiny. Does code somehow work differently when run in India or China? Localization isn't sufficient, C++ has to be actually typed in by a Chinese or Indian national in their own countries?
What rot.
25+ years in software business I can tell you off-shoring does not produce a better product, only a cheaper one. India is the worst. Theoretical knowledge, but no ability to translate that to real world products. Eastern Europe is better than they are.
Market schmarket their work product sucks and so does any support from over there. I shudder to think we are integrating 3rd world p.o.s. into our defense, medical, and aerospace industry.
True.
They are only growing because in one of two cases we gave them the technology or they stole it. Not for us they would all still be crapping in the streets, oh wait, they still are.
Despite the poverty, its a country I would love to go to.
It has a fascinating history and culture.
The British, Bernard Montgomery as an example, are always
taking credit for what other people do. We should have
liberated them after the war of 1812. We could have probably
avoided WWI and WWII without their arrogance.
Correct, the article is referring to the knowledge of the average ‘punter’ as we Limeys say, in the UK, US and around the world. Hell, the Canadians get too often sidelined, let alone the Indians and other Br Empire troops.
I got sent one time for work, when they told me I was going back I quit. It was the most miserable place I have ever been and I have been to some shiite holes like Subic Bay, Mehico, and central America.
I don’t think it has been forgotten as much as India didn’t want to honor it as they should because it was as a subordinate colony, at the height of the independence movement, and with no say so, that its participation even took place. They completely forget that most of them served with pride and courage and never regretted it.
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