A WAR THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
The history of World War I has not been of much interest to developing world, the Second World War being more of a reference point if at all. But the truth is that thousands of Indians and Africans from the colonized world died with their European leaders in that war. It was a war that required the most fearless kind of ground resistance imaginable, a war where few would ever come out alive. It was a war that dramatically changed the relationship between the colonizers and the colonies.
Alliance Française's endeavour to showcase this unique participation through rare photographs of the troops and an international conference on the subject, has been one of its kind.
Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of International Relations, DU, in his paper, discussed the way Tagore, Gandhi, MN Roy and others confronted the subject and the way it paved for the anti-colonial resistance in India. Tagore, for instance, saw the War as an outcome of the nationalistic zeal then prevailing in the West and Japan. He referred to the 'menace of nationalism' and urged Indians not to fall prey to it, advocating 'an alliance of humans from all social categories both within and beyond territorial boundaries' that would make the world a better place. For Gandhi, according to Professor Ahmed, the War made him realise the 'confluence of means and end and the justification for non-violence' which would ultimately free the disempowered from oppression and domination. In contrast, for Manabendra Nath Roy, the War was an opportunity to wage war against the British and for this he was ready to form alliances with anti-British forces.
Dr Gilbert Meynier, who has taught in France and Algeria, talked about the role of Algeria in the War and how the participation of Algerian troops paved the way for anti-colonial movements in later times. Algeria, a French colony, was the largest provider of men and material to the War. As many as 175,000 men were drafted into the french army, half of them volunteers, the other half as conscripts. Ironically, army rule came to be perceived as less discriminatory than colonial rule. Around 120,000 workers found employment in national defense factories. They were badly treated but they became familiar with working class culture and rubbed shoulders with trade unionists.
According to Meyneir, it made them more conscious of their deprivations and the War added one more chapter of broken promises and other frustrations inherent in colonial rule.
Dr Philip Orr, from Ireland, talked about why the Great War continues to have such a deep significance as an identity narrative in Ireland. Two hundred thousand Irishmen served in the Great War with the British Army, all of them volunteers. The Irish had a language, and culture of their own, that is Celtic. As in Algiers, India, the Irish too suffered from famine. Yet many Irish from Ulster took part in the July attack at the Battle of Somme.
Dr Samuel Berthat said that the First World War intensified the process of globalisation process in many ways, such as, the displacement of populations around the world or the transfer of technology and natural resources. According to Berthat the representatives of the Indian nationalist movement, when confronted with tightened control in British soil, shifted their bases to France. France, on its side, to control Indian nationalists on its soil ‘agreed to relinquish part of its sovereignty to satisfy the British concerns.’
We then heard of bombardment by biplanes, bayonets, shrapnel, and explosives. Twenty-one million soldiers died at the Somme. The Balkans and the Near East also saw gas and gasmasks, not only for the soldiers but also for horses employed by the cavalry. Tanks and cryptic messages on the radio and through doves were routine elements. Elsie Knocker from Belgium, nurse Edith Cavell from England the Russian Amazons had their own battalion and propaganda This was also the time of the famous dancer cum spy Mata Hari (Margarthe Zelle, originally from Holland). By April 22, 1915 gas war toxic masks were used for breathing. By 1917 Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Lawrence of Arabia as written by TE Lawrence in “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” in 1917; there was the Battle of Passendale, when German soldiers entered their tunnels and trenches. Eight million fought and 6.6 million died. Many were injured in the hospitals.
The War and Colonies event was the brainchild of Olivier Litvine, Director Alliance Française. It has no doubt, enlightened many, on the far reaching impact of a war that shaped the world as we know it.
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