India's WWII experience

• The article reviews "India at War" by Yasmin Khan and "India's War" by Srinath Raghavan, both focusing on India's experience during World War II.

Contrasting Views on WWII

• Americans viewed World War II as a straightforward "just war" between good and evil.
• Indians, still under British colonial rule, had a more complex perspective on the conflict.
• The British government expected Indian support without consulting its subjects, similar to World War I.

The Rise of Indian Nationalism

• A strong nationalist movement had emerged in India by the 1920s and 1930s.
• Mahatma Gandhi transformed the Indian National Congress (INC) into a mass movement.
• There was a widespread desire for freedom, unlike during World War I.
• The INC initially hoped for a power handover in exchange for war support, but the British resisted.
• British leaders believed India wasn't ready for self-rule and delayed independence.
• Winston Churchill's faction thought Britain could rule India indefinitely.
• This divide led to bitterness and darkened Indian memories of the war.

Book Perspectives

• Srinath Raghavan's "India's War" examines the political, economic, and military aspects.
• Yasmin Khan's "India at War" focuses on personal accounts of Indians during the war.
• Khan's book includes experiences of both soldiers and civilians.
• Both books highlight the exploitation of India by Britain without its consent.

The Indian Army in WWII

• In October 1939, the Indian Army had 194,373 troops, growing to 2,065,554 by war's end.
• The Indian Army suffered 89,000 casualties.
• Recruitment initially focused on "martial races" from Punjab, Rajasthan, and the Himalayas.
• Expansion led to recruitment from "non-martial" groups and lower socio-economic classes.
• The army struggled to train and equip the rapidly expanding forces.
• Indian troops fought in West Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, Iraq, and Persia.
• They were successful in defeating Rommel’s Afrika Korps and reconquering North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.
• Defeats occurred in SE Asia due to poor British leadership, strategy, logistics, and underestimation of Japanese capabilities.
• Indian soldiers felt betrayed and unclear about what they were fighting for.
• Initial perceptions of the Japanese as fellow Asians changed due to their brutality.

Political Turmoil and Division

• The "Quit India" movement in 1942 demanded immediate independence, leading to the arrest of INC leaders.
• More radical nationalists engaged in acts of sabotage.
• The Muslim League, under Muhammad Ali Jinnah, cooperated with the British, exacerbating divisions.
• These divisions led to the partition of British India.
• Subhas Chandra Bose sought Axis support and formed the Indian National Army (INA).
• The INA consisted of 46,000 troops, primarily from disenchanted POWs and expatriates.
• The Japanese never fully trusted the INA and limited their role in the Imphal Offensive.
• The Imphal Offensive was a defeat for Japan and the INA.
• The Indian population realized the Allies would win, leading to the collapse of the insurrection.

Economic Dislocation

• India became a major logistics base for Allied forces, including those from the British Empire, the UK, the United States, and China.
• India was already impoverished due to nearly two centuries of colonial rule.
• At the start of World War II, India had a 12.5 percent literacy rate and a life expectancy of 26 years.
• The British prioritized the war effort over the needs of the Indian population
• Increased taxes, forced war bond purchases, and printing money led to inflation
• The Bengal Famine (1943-44) caused 3 million deaths due to starvation and disease.
• The British government rejected pleas for food aid, and Churchill showed indifference.

Growing Bitterness

• Indians concluded that the British were unwilling to administer India effectively.
• The Indian National Army (INA) became a focal point for Indian pride and respect, despite a lack of sympathy for Japan.
• Returning INA veterans were greeted with enthusiasm.
• British trials of INA officers sparked public defense and outrage.
• Jawaharlal Nehru defended the accused officers.
• The British feared a nationwide revolt and quietly released the officers.
• The INA trial and a mutiny in the Royal Indian Navy convinced the British to expedite their departure.

American Presence in India

• Khan's "India at War" details the experiences of American military personnel stationed in India.
• India was largely unknown to Americans, with perceptions shaped by Hollywood movies.
• Americans were shocked by the extreme poverty and filth they encountered.
• They criticized the British for their luxurious lifestyles amid widespread suffering.
• Americans shared these impressions with people back home, influencing public opinion.

Anti-Imperialism and Racial Segregation

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt became an anti-imperialist during the war.
• He supported Indian nationalist aspirations, creating tension with the British.
• The US military in India was racially segregated.
• Black units received inferior accommodations and treatment.
• The British and Americans generally did not socialize with black troops.
• Black soldiers, often in labor units, worked alongside Indian laborers.
• Indians often identified with the black soldiers, forming friendships.

Conclusion

• There are calls for an American author to write a definitive book on the American experience in India during World War II.