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As a movie enthusiast who has been fortunate enough to uncover the untold stories of my family history, I cannot help but feel deeply moved by Mobeen Azhar’s heartfelt journey in “The Soldiers that Saved Britain”. Having missed the opportunity to hear my own grandfather’s war tales firsthand, I can only imagine the profound impact such experiences must have had on him.

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In my childhood, I didn’t get to spend much time with my grandfather, Nawab Din, as he passed away at the age of 75. However, during our occasional meetings, I vividly recall visiting him in Sialkot, Pakistan for grand family weddings. I remember sharing breakfast parathas with him in the open-air courtyard of my father’s childhood home. I used to call him Dadajaan, a term of respect in Punjabi, and he came across as stoic yet kind. He had a reputation for being stern, but from my perspective, he was a sweet old man, possibly having become more gentle in his later years.

Growing up, I understood he participated in World War II, but his stories remained untold. He passed away in 1989, when I was nine, leaving me without the chance to delve into his war experiences. While working on the project The Soldiers that Saved Britain, I uncovered that he served in the signal corps during the North African campaign. My grandfather took part in the Battle of El-Alamein in Egypt, a pivotal battle and a critical point in the struggle against fascism.

At the age of twenty, my grandfather enlisted in the British Army that governed India. Given that India was under British rule at the time, this decision wasn’t unusual. In fact, over 2.5 million men from what is now Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh followed suit, making it one of the largest volunteer forces ever assembled. The British Indian Army participated in numerous operations spanning the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, and Far East. Despite their significant and indisputable contributions, the tales of these soldiers have been neglected in Britain for far too long.

While investigating my grandfather’s past, I ventured to Egypt and stood upon the very site of the Battle of El-Alamein. There, I discovered remnants of shrapnel strewn across the ground. This discovery brought me closer to him, making it feel like sacred ground. However, this was the battlefield where he endured the horrors of war – intense heat and inhumane conditions that painted a picture of war’s hellish reality.

Indian soldiers cannot be written out of our consciousness

Experiencing this deeply intimate journey during the turbulent summer race riots felt painfully symbolic. It stirred memories of the hardships my parents faced when they immigrated to Britain, which they viewed as a beacon of hope.

Growing up, it was unfortunate that my father suffered a hate-motivated assault by the National Front before I was born, marking the start of racial prejudice they encountered in Britain. This discrimination became an integral aspect of their lives here. As disturbing news about vandalized Muslim graves in Burnley this summer surfaced amidst unrest, I couldn’t help but wonder: “Why can’t Britain seem to learn from its history?

As a film enthusiast, I’d like to share a personal perspective: The tales of countless black and brown individuals, including my own family, span far beyond the contemporary concept of immigration. Regrettably, significant periods of history seem to have been overlooked or intentionally left untold. Some participants in this summer’s riots might be unaware of how diverse groups have shaped Britain’s narrative and its very essence.

I strongly feel that establishing a memorial is crucial for modern Britain to recognize its past. After learning about my grandpa, along with countless others, it’s astonishing that there isn’t already a permanent tribute to the soldiers who made such tremendous sacrifices. That’s why I’m advocating, together with artist Mahtab Hussain, for a bronze sculpture in London that will portray soldiers from South Asian backgrounds. At present, nothing of this scale exists as a dedicated memorial to the British Indian Army soldiers who fought during World War II. The tale of my grandpa and his fellow soldiers is an integral part of our shared history. We can’t ignore the role Indian soldiers played in our collective consciousness.

This year, for myself, Remembrance Day holds a unique significance. My comprehension of my family’s past and that of Britain has been refreshed, offering insights I wish we all could grasp.

Mobeen Azhar is a journalist, broadcaster and Bafta-winning film-maker.

2024-10-31 16:07

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