Forgotten Indian Soldiers of WWII Honored 80 Years Later

As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a Singapore-based researcher named Gautam Hazarika has published a book titled 'The Forgotten Indian Soldiers of World War II'. The book traces the stories of Indian soldiers who ended up fighting against the British as part of the Indian National Army (INA), as well as those who refused to do so.

Hazarika explains that these soldiers have been largely forgotten in India because they were part of the country's colonial past. However, he believes their individual bravery must be commemorated, as Britain has done more to honor their sacrifices than India has. Hazarika discovered these incredible stories while researching the wartime history of Singapore, where he currently resides.

The researcher highlights the importance of Mohan Singh, without whom the INA would not have existed. Singh's role has often been overshadowed by the more famous Subhas Chandra Bose, who later took over the INA. Hazarika argues that the emotional impact of Bose's second INA hastened India's independence, which might have otherwise been delayed by five to ten years.

Hazarika's research has also revealed the complex reality faced by the INA soldiers, many of whom joined to avoid ill-treatment as prisoners of war, rather than out of blind loyalty to the Japanese. The Japanese, in turn, did not fully trust the INA and deployed them in limited roles. Thousands of INA men ultimately died of sickness and starvation during the war.