Forgotten Men Poem by Asit Kumar Sanyal

The World War I
held between 1914 and 1918
from British India
about 1.38 million strong Indian forces
participated in that war
a century ago
this strength is equal to
the active frontline strength of
present Indian Army
they fought in Egypt, western front
France, East Africa, Germany,
Mesopotamia, Palestine, Gallipoli ….

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
was struggling in France
Indian soldier joined them
and changed the tide of the war
some went to Germany
took gallant action against gas attack
the battle against the Turkish forces
at Kut in Mesopotamia
took 111 lives of Indian officers
in one particular day
the four years of battle cost
74,187 Indian lives.

But the British did not acknowledge
the Indian contribution in later days
they ignored the Indian soldiers
who fought from the trenches of Europe
in the unfamiliar climate of Belgium
and in the burning heat of Mesopotamia s
they forgot the recipients Of Victoria Cross
and the heroes for they won the war
in recent BBC made documentary
23 and half hours long on WW1
they showed Indian contribution
Just for one minute.