THE INDIAN CONTINGENT BY GHEE BOWMAN - THE FORGOTTEN MUSLIM SOLDIERS OF THE BATTLE OF DUNKIRK

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BOOK NAME:  THE INDIAN CONTINGENT 

AUTHOR NAME: GHEE BOWMAN

GENRE: NONFICTION - HISTORICAL RECORD

PUBLISHER: PANMACMILLAN INDIA 

BOOK BUY LINK : https://www.amazon.in/Indian-Contingent-Forgotten-Soldiers-Dunkirk/dp/9390742099


BOOK COVER IMAGE:




BOOK REVIEW:

For the month of independence this year, I wanted to read a book on Indian soldiers who devoted themselves to the nation and whose history had been erased from records. I did not plan to read a book focusing on soldiers from a particular community. But I remember seeing an online post recently that argued why no Muslims are found in the army or navy and alleged that they are largely anti-nationals, even though I know many of my Muslim friends and relatives who are a part of the defence. Yes, I don't differentiate between soldiers coming from different communities and backgrounds, even after I came across this questionable post. But I just wanted to see if I could find a book focusing on their history.


Luckily, I got hold of this book at the right time and decided to try it. This book precisely describes why we do not know of any Muslims being a part of the Indian army. The book focuses on Indian soldiers who were a part of world war 2 in the battle of Dunkirk. A group of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh soldiers were relocated from India to France for the Dunkirk evacuation. Most part of the narration focuses on the Muslim soldiers because no one else chose to. They knew their lives were about to change forever. But what they were not aware of was how some of them would never see their home again and how they would perish in a foreign land without a trace, and how history would never speak about them.


The amount of research and hard work in this book is just incredible. The author mainly focuses on the discrimination the Indian soldiers face among soldiers from different nations and their difficulties during their operations in France. The minor details of their simple lives before reaching Dunkirk were soulful, and most importantly, the background detailing an undivided India was a delight to read. Forgotten histories need to be read to honour those who went through tougher times for the nation, and this book is definitely worth it.


MY REVIEW: 5/5

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