Racism in Scotland: Memorial to British Indian Army soldiers who served in world wars said to help counter extreme right-wing hatred Dr Saqib Razzaq

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Indian soldiers speak with then Secretary of State for War David Lloyd George near the front lines during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 (Photo: PA)

This is something the Colorful Heritage charity plans to change, with plans now well underway for a memorial in Glasgow in honor of our forgotten soldiers.

Over four million of them fought alongside British troops in the conflicts of the twentieth century, many making the ultimate sacrifice.

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Scotland has a special connection with the British Indian Army (BIA) through a WWII regiment called Force K6.

It is a mule transport corps which first arrived in Marseille in December 1939 to join the war effort, before being then evacuated out of Dunkirk.

They spent the next three and a half years in the UK and transferred to Scotland to train with British infantry brigades.

Some of the young soldiers died while training in harsh conditions in the Highlands and the North East and are buried here after succumbing to exercise accidents, tuberculosis or other illnesses.

Nine are buried in Kingussie, which is the UK’s largest burial ground for K6 Force soldiers, and more are buried in Aberdeenshire, Sutherland and Banffshire. The youngest was Mushtaq Ahmad, only 21 years old.

Soldiers from the Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIAC) in a parade in September 1940 (Photo: Fox Photos / Hulton Archive / Getty Images) Read more

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Muslim soldiers who served in Scotland “must be remembered”

These soldiers were mainly from the Punjab region and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa in present-day Pakistan, who responded to the urgent appeal for the Indian Empire to come to France to help the allies.

Today, the George Square Cenotaph in Glasgow represents the Christian community well through a crucifix affixed to the monument, but other religious groups do not have a permanent memorial.

Scotland has a diverse history, and more can be done to tell this story and give people a sense of belonging.

Troops of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps marching with their pack horses through the snow in January 1942 (Photo: Reg Speller / Fox Photos / Getty Images)

The BIA was made up of people of many faiths and a range of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Gurkhas and more nations fighting alongside British troops, with over 160,000 soldiers losing their lives.

In recent years, thanks to the work of Colorful Heritage and the support of many MSPs, the recognition of their contribution has increased.

In 2018, a multi-faith memorial service was held in Kingussie, where an Islamic prayer and armed forces blessing was held at the graves.

The graves have been tended for decades by an elderly local woman, Isobel Harling, who was awarded the British Empire Medal last year in recognition of her dedication.

Legion Scotland, Poppyscotland and the Royal British Legion have all led a growing movement to remember how the Commonwealth responded to the call for volunteers.

And the Commonwealth War Graves Commission report on historical inequalities in commemoration underscored the immediate need to rectify the lack of recognition of the BIA’s contribution.

But the fact remains that there is no permanent memorial to the incredible contribution. It is time for that to change.

The magnitude of the BIA’s contribution cannot be overlooked. During World War I, there were 1.5 million servicemen and a total of 74,000 dead and up to 100,000 wounded.

During World War II 2.5 million servicemen were killed, 87,000 and up to 150,000 were injured.

They provided supplies valued at $ 479 million in World War I, about $ 25 billion in today’s money, and $ 1.3 billion in World War II $ 53 billion in today’s money.

A commemorative task force has now been set up to address the lack of recognition, made up of MSPs, representatives of the armed forces and others.

But this project is for the whole community, so we engaged with primary and secondary schools to educate young people about the contribution of BIA and encouraged them to submit designs.

Schools that participated included Giffnock Primary School, Kirkhill Primary School and Woodfarm Secondary School in East Renfrewshire and St Andrews Primary School in Cumbernauld.

Over 80 brilliant ideas for a memorial have been received, and we will now be working with an artist to finalize a detailed design this year.

In the coming months, we will formally submit proposals to Glasgow City Council, with possible locations for the venues, including Kelvingrove Park or George Square.

The memorial will commemorate the past, but also serve as a reminder for the future.

It will show Scottish children of all faiths and origins that they have a stake in our country’s history and values.

We know that many people of South Asian descent in Scotland face racism on a daily basis. There is a narrative from the far right that they have no place here.

A permanent memorial will show today’s generation of young people from all walks of life that we have a common past and future.

Added to this is the need to integrate knowledge of the contribution of the South Asian community in Scotland into our teaching curriculum.

We have created a resource pack for primary schools that not only highlights the role of the BIA and the K6 Force, but also illustrates South Asia’s contribution to entrepreneurship, political participation and education. multicultural history of Glasgow.

With suggested lesson plans and talking points, this resource helps teach children a less studied element of Scottish culture, and we hope to see more schools using it in the years to come.

For more than 300 years, people from all over South Asia have come to Scottish shores to build new lives.

The story of migration between South Asia and Scotland is an inspiring tale of community, identity and tolerance that children will carry with them for years to come.

And if we ask them what South Asian migrants have already done for Britain ?, they have the answer.

They will be able to point to a permanent memorial and explain how brave soldiers from present-day Pakistan, India and Bangladesh came to Britain’s aid when it needed it and fought valiantly. for our country.

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