Culture And Memory

Forgotten India at 80 (1939-1947)

Indian servicemen and women have served throughout the First and Second World War. The contributions during the Second World War have largely been overlooked, especially in the Burma Campaign. The project will hope to tell the stories of women who were Prisoners of War (POWs), Indian soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross (the highest military honour) and how Indian servicewomen rescued children and refugees. It will explore the start of the war to post war, when India was divided in 1947 (1938-1947). Through exploring archives, community workshop and undertaking interviews the project will produce a pop-up exhibition, film, learning resources and community outreach engagement events that will share these stories of commitment and bravery of Indian men and women that have been overlooked. Our project will work with communities in Handsworth and Smethwick to share the positive narratives of migration and contributions of South Asian in the Second World War