AUM
WORLD WAR I CENTENARY
CELEBRATIONS-2014
By Brigadier
Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The First Great War it was. Fought
globally as the major European belligerants had colonies in other continents
too, the war came to be known as the World War I. The people and the Military
were tired of this prolonged Trench warfare wherein everything underwent a
change. The cavalry regiments felt cheated as the gallant horsemen now had no
chance to lead a cavalry charge at the gallop where the opposing infantry was
overwhelmed by the enormous mass of horse flesh, equipment steel and, of
course, the human body guided by the human mind. The full throated battle cry of trained horsemen at the
gallop with their lances poised for a kill was soon going to be a fascinating
event of the past.
The
innovative trench warfare was going to establish the Infantry once again as the
Queen of Battle and simultaneously relegate the royal horsed cavalry to pages
of history. Their role was reduced from battle field to tattoo grounds where
they drew appreciation in the form of full throated battle cries the recording
of which was of immense use for a later day regimental reunion.
It
was in World War I that the last act of chivalry in a mounted attack on the
infantry trenches was seen and heard of. Naib Risaldar Badlu Ram Saheb of the
Deccan Horse led a cavalry charge at the gallop against the Turkish infantry in
trenches and yet won laurels and success. He was decorated with a Victoria
Cross and many more gallantry medals shone on the chests of cavalry officers
and sowars. Thereafter those fine men and brave beasts faded away into the
pages of military history to be read and recorded by junior officers preparing
for promotion examinations. Of course, their names were recalled, remembered
and narrated to the local audiences whose ancestors had dedicated themselves to
preserve, protect and defend the honour of the cavalry regiment concerned with
their life.
Indeed
it was a lifelong bond written in blood and preserved as a part of regimental
history that came alive on each regimental day.
WORLD
WAR II DESCENDED
World
War I was fought by both sides to stop such wars in future. It was said that
men and animals would not be slaughtered by the enemy sabres on the battle
field in future. But that was not to be. When World War I was over, armistice
was celebrated and the Treaty of Versailles was signed, it paved the way for
the next war that came with a bang in 1939. It changed the global scenario in
many respects. Thereafter the nations never sat in peace; they always prepared
for war. Sometimes it was a cold war and sometimes a shooting war.
Nevertheless, it was war and came to be known as World War II.
The
friend of World War I became a foe in the World War II. They fought against
each other with vehemence never witnessed before. War is a War and not a joke.
Once a nation declares a war, there is no going back on it. A belligerent
nation stops just for the Remembrance Ceremony. The hell breaks loose again
thereafter. Let us take a look at the names of Nations of Europe who were on
the side of the Central Powers and those who were with the Allied Powers.
CENTRAL
POWERS
The
German Empire – Germany located in Europe was the main cou
ntry and its empire that extended to other continents besides Europe’
The
Austro-Hungarian Empire ; The Ottoman or
the Turkish Empire,
The
Kingdom of Bulgaria.
ALLIED
POWERS
The
Triple Entente – on ground that meant The British Empire and that extended to
all the Continents known to the Mankind and the Sun never set on the British
Empire.
The
Republic of France
The
Russian Empire spread over Europe and Asia. While the World War I was going on,
there was a Bolshevik Revolution led by Lenin and the monarchy was abolished,
the Royalty exiled and the Empire was renamed as the USSR (Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics) in 1917 and it withdrew as a belligerent power.
ITALY, Imperial Japan,
Belgium, Serbia, Monte-Negro, Greece, Romania and Czechoslovakia.
The
United States of America too entered the Great War as an Associate Power in 1917.
The
array of Nations on both sides was impressive and awe inspiring. However, it
was the entry of America into the war that made a material difference to the
capability of the Allied Powers to wage war. No wonder, within a year
thereafter the Central Powers collapsed and sued for Peace. The Treaty of
Versailles was signed and of all defeated belligerents, it was the German
nation that was forced to eat the humble pie. No self-respecting nation would
have accepted those funny conditions that Germany was subjected to. Thus the
foundation of World War II was laid and it was just a matter of time before a
World War began again in 1939.
The
great Strategist of all times , Chanakya was of the opinion that enough escape route
should be given to the enemy forces so
that they do not counter-attack and take the easy exit route. However, at the
end of World War I the Central Powers were humiliated and, therefore, they
vowed for revenge to retrieve their lost self-respect. The self-respecting German
nation kept its word. The rest is history.
HIGHLIGHTS
OF WAR
Waging
war is not like cracking a joke. It is a serious business and must be treated
as such. Many unfortunate soldiers lose their life and limbs. Psychologically
speaking, a soldier sustaining a grievous battle injury where he could have
lost his life, is not the same man as he was when he went into action. Even a
walking-wounded has to be treated humanely and treated with concern. A nation
that does not treat its wounded soldiers with heartfelt sympathy or does not
Honour the War Dead appropriately will never see Light at the end of the
tunnel. It is the sacred duty of the Nation to treat the battle casualties well
and rehabilitate them in life and society lest they become rogue elephants and
behave as such.
The
Battle of Somme was the watershed of the four year world war I. It began on
July 1, 1916 and officially ended in July 1919 when Germany signed the Treaty
of Versailles.
The
British nation has been celebrating the Armistice Day with reverence, pomp and
show that it deserves. Those who laid down their lives for the defence of the
free democratic world were as many as TEN MILLION MEN whose departure from the
mundane world was termed as Military Deaths. As many as 20 million men were
wounded.
It was on 11th November 1920 that
the grand ceremony had taken place at the Cenotaph, the Whitehall on 11
November 1920. All nations all over the world observe two minutes silence at 11
AM on 11th November every year in Remembrance of the World War I
Dead and Departed who made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of the country.
INDIAN
SPIRITUAL TOUCH
As
many as 53 grievously war wounded Indian soldiers were evacuated from the
battlefields in Europe to the Kitchener
Hospital in the United Kingdom. They were cremated in Brighton,UK and a Chhatri
was raised in their Remembrance and as a mark of respect to them. In 2010 the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission raised a screen wall there near the traditional
Chhatri in the Hindu Crematorium and all 53 names of the War Dead were engraved
there. Great care was taken to cater to the religious requirements of the
departed soldier and nothing was done to hurt the religious feelings of the
living Hindus and Sikhs.
In
New Delhi, India an edifice was erected within the municipal limits of the
Imperial zone and the reputed architect of the new British capital in India,
Lutyens was entrusted with the task of raising a suitable war memorial to the
Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in World War I and the Third
Anglo-Afghan War. A magnificent blueprint was drawn and approved by the
Viceroy. The construction of the War Memorial began in 1921 and took ten years
and six hundred thousand Indian rupees to complete in 1931. Lord Irwin, the
then Viceroy of India had inaugurated this magnificent War Memorial with great
fanfare. He eulogized the bravery of the Indian soldier and commended the
fighting spirit. They fought like a tiger wherever they were posted in defence
of the Realm, said the Viceroy.
As
manyas a million men in uniform, as soldiers and labour force, left the shores
of India for France, Flanders and other parts of Europe and Middle-East. Of
them 70,000 laid down their lives for the King and the country and never
returned to see their home and hearth again. As many as 16,316 soldiers never
found a permanent resting place in the lap of mother Earth nor were cremated as
their mortal remains could not be traced or identified. May I take the liberty
of striking a personal note here. My grand uncle, Shri R.L. Sawant was a part
of this Force that went to Europe to defend democracy and freedom of thought
and expression. We are grateful to God that he returned home alive and led a
healthy and happy life thereafter in the midst of loved ones.
The
Amar Jawan Jyoti was added in January 1972 right after the Indian Army had
decisively defeated the Pakistan Army and dismembered the vanquished nation.
Bangladesh was born to fulfill the aspirations of the Bengali speaking Moslems
of Pakistan who wished to communicate in their own language, Bangala and live a
free life. Their aspirations were met with the active armed help of the Indian
Army. To commemorate those brave soldiers who fell while discharging their
military duties in independent India, the Amar Jawan was raised as a war
memorial in January 1972.
Prime
Minister of India, on behalf of the Nation, pays homage to the Indian soldiers
who became martyrs for the cause of the country, every year on the morning of
the Republic Day by laying a wreath at the foot of the Amar Jawan.
The
Indian officers and Jawans of the three Services live for and die for Bharat,
our motherland. For them the NATION is supreme and stands above all. The Nation
honours the brave war dead who fought for and died for the Motherland, Bharat.
The brave dead lived for and died for the succeeding generations; they died so
that we can live. We honour them; we SALUTE them!
Brigadier
Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303, INDIA
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