Echoes of War: The Untold Struggle of India's WWI Soldiers
A Guest Blog Post by Niketa Roy
The Outbreak of War
On July 28, 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian nationalist sparked a chain reaction leading to the outbreak of the Great War, or World War I. This conflict quickly spread across the northern hemisphere, dividing nations into the Allied and Axis powers. Among those drawn into the fray were the colonies of these great empires, including India, a British colony that sent millions of soldiers to fight on the Western Front, in Mesopotamia, and Palestine. Tragically, approximately 75,000 Indian soldiers perished, but even those who returned home carried with them burdens unseen.
The Unseen Enemy
As Indian troops joined the battlefields, an alarming trend surfaced in the mental asylums of the Bombay Presidency: a spike in admissions of soldiers suffering from severe psychological distress. Before the war, military patients were rarely mentioned in asylum reports, but the war unveiled the profound psychological toll on these men. General William Tecumseh Sherman's words, "War is hell," resonated deeply during this time.
In my research, which included Mulk Raj Anand's novel "Across the Black Waters," I explored the traditional Indian fear of crossing the 'black water' or Kala Pani—a superstition that such a journey would bring misfortune. Ironically, it was the war across these waters that inflicted lasting mental scars on Indian soldiers, leading to what we now recognize as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), characterized by persistent nightmares and manic episodes.
Shell Shock and Its Disregard
The term 'shell shock' was coined in 1915 by medical officer Charles Myers to describe the condition affecting soldiers exposed to relentless bombardment and trench warfare. Initially, shell shock was misunderstood as purely physical rather than psychological. Despite its prevalence, Indian soldiers often went undiagnosed and untreated, resulting in fewer documented cases among them. Those who returned physically wounded found themselves in asylums, unable to escape the war's horrors that continued to haunt them.
Lal Singh's Story
"Across the Black Waters" introduces us to Lal Singh, a Punjabi peasant burdened by British land taxes. Seeking to support his family, he enlisted in the British army, lured by the myth of the 'martial race'—a British construct suggesting that certain Indian ethnic groups were inherently more suited for combat. Lal Singh, unaware of these myths, set sail with pride, eager for victory. Yet, he was unprepared for the psychological toll of war. Haunted by nightmares and the deaths of his comrades, he struggled with his sense of masculinity, as admitting fear was seen as a weakness.
The War's Enduring Impact
Lal Singh survived the Western Front, but he returned a changed man, plagued by an incurable affliction. He joined other tormented soldiers in asylums, places scarcely better than purgatory. As memories of death haunted him, he grappled with the concept of a normal life. While the India Gate stands as a monument to the fallen, it took decades before the psychological wounds of soldiers like Lal Singh were acknowledged and treated with the gravity they deserved.
About the Author
My name is Niketa Roy, and I hold a master's degree in the History of Modern India from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India. I am currently focused on gaining experience in writing and publishing as I prepare to pursue a PhD. My research will explore the experience of soldiers and psychiatry in Bombay during World War 1.
