http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Indian+war+veterans+revered+in+Italy&id=72710 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, May 8, 2005 (Rome):
As Europe remembers the millions of people who were killed in World War II, in India the response to the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany has been muted.
This is despite the fact that thousands of Indian soldiers were killed in the war against fascism.
Kirpal Singh, the young sapper in The English Patient may have been a figment of Michael Ondaatje's imagination, but there were thousands of young Indians who were the real heroes during the war.
Forgotten heroes
They are our forgotten soldiers, men who fought thousands of kilometres away from home for the liberation of another country.
Though there is still no memorial in India to honour them, Indian soldiers continue to be respected and remembered in Italy, particularly on days like April 25, the Liberation day in Italy--when Nazi forces were driven out of the country.
For decades, school children in Italy have been taught that Indian soldiers in were fighting for the wrong side, the British in the war, and nationalistic politics at the time dictated the manner in which these soldiers would be honoured.
'The liberators'
Going beyond the politics of the time, one may remember stories of some of the thousands of Indian soldiers who died fighting in what were among the most brutal military campaigns in history.
Over 5000 Indians died fighting in Italy between 1943 and 1945, and were an integral part of the multi-national coalition that won the Italian campaign.
In Italy, these men are considered liberators, and Major General Eustice D'Souza was one of them. The 84-year-old General is now among only a handful of Italy veterans still alive in India.
"We got four battle honours in Italy, one Victoria Cross. Namdeo Jadav got the Victoria Cross for outstanding gallantry," said Major General Eustice D'Souza.
"There was another Naik Hari Lakde. The advance of the whole division was held up because of one German post with a machine gun. This chap crawled up through a gully or valley and pulled the hot machine gun with his bare hands and got rid of the Germans, his hands were burnt."
'Hellish encounters'
The Allied assault in Italy followed the Axis surrender in North Africa in May 1943, and began with an invasion of Sicily -- the start of a campaign that has been described as being a little short of hell.
The 4th, 5th, 8th and 210th divisions of the Indian Army, fighting under the legendary 8th Indian Army that had defeated Rommel in North Africa, fought northwards through the Italian peninsula.
These divisions liberated towns like Pescara, Terni, Florence, Rimini, Ferrara and Pisa.
Though the Allied invasion struck a huge blow to Italian self-confidence, which resulted in Mussolini being deposed, taking on the German Army was an altogether different story.
Battle of attrition
The Indians had to fight through two main defensive lines, the Gustav line across the centre of the Italian peninsula and the Gothic line further north.
Battles along these defences in places such as Monte Cassino proved to be a battle of attrition. The allies suffered huge casualties while taking on the Germans firmly lodged in secure positions.
The Indian soldiers, fighting for a host of regiments which form some of the most famed units in the modern day Indian army, had all sorts of roles.
Most were common infantry soldiers and gunners, while others were sappers, drivers and medical attendants. Many were only in their teens, no older than 16.
Clearly, even as the heroism of these men remains largely ignored in India, they are highly revered in Italy where they served with valour and pride.
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Jai Hind!
Carlos
