PM MODI VISITS MAZARGUES WAR CEMETERY

GS 1- HISTORY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseille to honor 900 Indian soldiers who served in World War I. This visit highlights India’s often-overlooked contributions to both World Wars.

About Mazargues War Cemetery

• Established to honor soldiers from World War I (1914-18) and World War II (1939-45).
• Contains 1,487 World War I graves, including 993 Indian soldiers.
• The Indian Memorial was unveiled in 1925 by Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood.

Indian Troops in World War I

• Over 1.3 million Indians served, with 138,000 deployed in Europe.
• Played key roles in battles like Ypres and Neuve-Chapelle, suffering heavy casualties.
• Approximately 74,000 Indian soldiers lost their lives.

Indian Troops in World War II

• Nearly 3 million Indians participated, with 87,000 casualties.
• Most served in Asia, especially against Japanese forces.

Overlooked Legacy

• Indian soldiers’ contributions remain underrecognized due to Eurocentric historical narratives.
• Many battles in France and Belgium relied heavily on Indian troops, yet their sacrifices are often omitted from mainstream war histories.

PM Modi’s Tributes to Indian Soldiers Abroad

• Australia (2014): Australian War Memorial visit.
• France (2015): First Indian PM to visit Neuve-Chapelle Memorial.
• Singapore (2015): INA Memorial Marker tribute.
• Israel (2017): Haifa War Cemetery visit.
• Egypt (2023): Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery tribute.
• Poland (2024): Monte Cassino monument wreath-laying.