British Asian families urged to share stories of 'greatest generation' who fought for Britain

[Ebony Sailo]

UK's Hidden Hero: British Asian Families urged to Share Stories of 'Greatest Generation'

A staggering half of the British public remains unaware that Indian soldiers fought for Britain during World War II, a staggering revelation that highlights the need for greater recognition and sharing of these underreported stories. To address this gap in knowledge, the My Family Legacy project is calling on British Asian families to record their relatives' experiences of serving in the war.

This initiative, backed by the Royal British Legion, aims to build an online archive of Asian veterans' stories, shedding light on the often-overlooked contributions of Britain's diverse communities. With over 2.5 million people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka having served in the second world war, this project seeks to give voice to those who were once left out of mainstream history.

The project has already seen some remarkable stories come to light, including those of Havildar Maj Rajinder Singh Dhatt MBE and Sgt Muhammad Hussain. The latter's family is now sharing his story, along with that of other underreported heroes, in a bid to raise awareness of the shared histories and sacrifices of Britain's diverse communities.

As Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, chair of the House of Commons defence committee, aptly put it, "I feel a duty to ensure that our shared history is not airbrushed and ignored." By sharing their relatives' stories, British Asian families can help pave the way for greater recognition and understanding of this pivotal moment in history.

In an era where unity and diversity are increasingly celebrated, these stories serve as a powerful reminder of how our collective past has shaped us into the modern Britain we know today. As one family member succinctly put it, "The shared history of Commonwealth and ethnic minority soldiers is the ultimate metaphor for future generations on how we must remain united as a country."

With the help of initiatives like My Family Legacy, families can begin to unravel the rich tapestry of their heritage, uncovering stories of courage, contribution, service, and sacrifice. As Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, noted, "This project aims to help people discover, document, and share their family stories – showing how our traditions of remembrance can unite today's modern, diverse Britain."

For the Royal British Legion, honouring Britain's south Asian military personnel with their relatives' help is crucial for providing a fuller picture of history. As Gail Walters, director of network engagement at the charity put it, "Honouring these men and women will provide an integral role in our national story – ensuring that their sacrifices are never forgotten."

 

[Space Bus]

I'm so down with people forgettin' about these soldiers . Like, why should we be celebratin' the fact that half of Brits don't know about 'em? It's not like it's a big deal or anythin', right? Let's just leave the history books to the white British folks and forget about everyone else, innit?

 

[Rural Cha]

I think this is so cool , British Asian families sharing their relatives' stories about serving in WWII is a great idea , it's amazing how much we can learn from each other's heritage , and it's good that initiatives like My Family Legacy are helping to raise awareness about this underreported history , I mean who knew half the British public didn't know about Indian soldiers fighting for Britain during WWII? , it's mind-blowing how much is left out of mainstream history , but by sharing their stories, families can help pave the way for greater recognition and understanding , and let's be real, who wouldn't want to learn more about their ancestors' bravery and sacrifices?

 

[Musical Yeti Rescue]

I think this project is super important . We need to remember those who fought for our country during WWII, but often get left out of history books. It's not just about the British soldiers, it's also about the Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, and Sri Lankan soldiers who served too!

I'd love to see some diagrams on this topic... maybe a Venn diagram showing the overlap between different communities' experiences? Or a timeline showing how their stories were overlooked for so long?

But in all seriousness, it's heartening to see families coming forward to share their relatives' stories. It's a great way to raise awareness and promote unity . We should definitely celebrate our shared history and the sacrifices made by those who fought for us!

Can you imagine a mind map of different Asian communities' experiences during WWII? That would be so cool!

 

[In Search o]

I think its crazy how much we dont know about the people who actually helped build this country... like, 2.5 million soldiers from Asia fought for Britain during WWII? That's wild! And now they're just kinda... forgotten? It's like our history books are a bit biased towards those in power. But sharing these stories with families is like giving them a voice and a sense of pride in their heritage. Its not just about Asian soldiers, its about how we all come together as a country. We need to celebrate our differences and learn from each other's experiences. If this project helps us remember the sacrifices of those who came before us, then its definitely worth sharing...

 

[Enchanting Emu]

I mean, I get what they're trying to do here, but isn't it a bit too little, too late? I mean, we already know about the contributions of these soldiers. It's not like it's going to change anyone's mind or anything. And honestly, who are they calling on now, exactly? British Asian families with time on their hands and a few dusty old relatives collecting dust in the attic... ‍

And what's the point of an online archive if it's just going to be a bunch of half-remembered anecdotes and faded photographs? I mean, I'm all for preserving history and whatnot, but can't we do better than that? It's not like they're going to give me some kind of certificate or something...

And then there's the Royal British Legion just swooping in and being all 'oh, we're saving history'... yeah, no kidding. You've been doing that for years already. What makes this one so special? It feels like a PR stunt to me, just trying to get some positive press before the next election...

 

[Cha]

so this project is trying to get british asian families to share stories of their relatives who fought in WW2, but honestly, i'm not sure why they're doing this... like, what's the point? isn't it already known that indian soldiers fought for britain during ww2? and also, can we talk about how convenient it is for them to be "urging" british asian families to share their stories now? seems like a pretty classic case of trying to cash in on historical significance

 

[Claustrophobic Surger]

I'm loving this initiative by My Family Legacy to get British Asian families sharing their relatives' WW2 stories . It's crazy how half the UK public is oblivious to Indian soldiers fighting for Britain back then . Their contributions were huge, and now we're getting to hear them firsthand . It's not just about recognition; it's also about unity and diversity being celebrated . I'm a total sucker for good storytelling & layout, and this project has got all the makings of an epic archive . Can't wait to dive in and explore these stories!

 

[Misty Macaw]

I think this is such a cool project ! I mean, we're talking about hidden heroes who shaped Britain's history but were kinda left out of the mainstream narrative. It's like, how can we forget the contributions of people from diverse backgrounds who fought for our country? I love that British Asian families are being encouraged to share their relatives' stories – it's a great way to preserve history and promote unity among different communities .

I also think it's awesome that this project is helping to create an online archive of Asian veterans' stories. It's like, we need to make sure our shared histories aren't airbrushed away . With all the amazing stories coming out of this initiative, I'm totally inspired to learn more about my own family's history and cultural heritage .

I reckon it's a great idea for families to be involved in sharing these stories – it's like, we're not just preserving our individual histories, but also contributing to a bigger narrative that celebrates diversity and unity . And I love how Sunder Katwala said that this project aims to help people discover their family traditions of remembrance – isn't that just the most wonderful thing?

 

[Brain-D]

I think its kinda weird how we're just now starting to realize about all the British Asian families who fought in WWII . Like, why didn't we know this stuff before? It's not like they were hiding it or anything... it's just that maybe we weren't taught about it in school and stuff.

But for real though, its great that people are now sharing their stories and trying to raise awareness about this part of history . I mean, its not just about Indian soldiers, but also from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka... so like, a whole bunch of different communities were involved in the war.

I think its also cool how this project is helping to build an online archive of these stories, so that people can learn more about their own heritage and connect with others who went through similar experiences . And yeah, I agree that it's all about unity and diversity... like, we should be proud of our shared histories and the sacrifices that were made.

But at the same time, I think we shouldn't just stop at sharing stories... we should also try to understand why these stories weren't told in the first place . Was it because of a lack of representation or something? I don't know... but I think its definitely worth exploring.

 

[Nudist Valkyrie]

You know what's been bugging me lately? Like, we're always celebrating diversity and unity, but have you ever stopped to think about all the amazing stories that are just waiting to be told? I mean, Indian soldiers fighting for Britain during WWII? That's some serious unsung heroism right there!

It's crazy that half of the British public is even unaware of this stuff. Like, what happened to our history books and museums, right? The My Family Legacy project is a game-changer here – I love how they're calling out to British Asian families to share their relatives' stories. It's about time we give these underreported heroes some recognition!

And can you imagine the impact of sharing these stories on our collective identity as Brits? Like, it's not just about acknowledging past sacrifices but also about building a more inclusive narrative that celebrates our diversity. The more I think about it, the more I'm like, "This is exactly what we need right now!"

 

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

I think it's super important we're doing this . I mean, come on, half of the British public has no idea about the Indian soldiers who fought for Britain during WWII? That's crazy! We need to get these stories out there and make sure they're not forgotten.

It's like, our history is so much richer than what we're taught in school, you know? There's this whole other side of it that's been overlooked. I'm talking about the contributions of people from all these different cultures and communities - Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nepalis, Sri Lankans... they were all there, fighting for Britain, and it's time we give them the recognition they deserve.

I love how this My Family Legacy project is taking it upon themselves to collect these stories. It's amazing that British Asian families are willing to share their relatives' experiences - it takes a lot of courage to do that, you know? And it's not just about sharing stories; it's about preserving history and making sure we don't lose any more pieces of ourselves in the process.

It's all about unity and diversity, right? We need to be celebrating our differences and learning from each other's experiences. These stories are a huge part of that, and I'm so glad we're having this conversation about them. Let's make sure we give it the attention it deserves!

 

[Revenge of City House]

I mean, I love that they're trying to shine a light on some of these hidden heroes from the war, but isn't it kinda weird that we need a project to do this? Like, shouldn't we already know about our own history? It's not like it's been deliberately erased or anything... although, I guess it has been kinda buried under all the more prominent stories .

And have you seen the demographics they're working with? India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka – that's a pretty short list of countries to be covering. I get that there are a lot of people from these backgrounds who served in the war, but it feels like we should be reaching out to more families than just those from certain Asian communities .

I do think it's cool that they're trying to create an online archive and make sure these stories aren't forgotten, but let's not forget that there are already tons of great resources out there – like old archives and historical societies . Maybe we should be focusing on building upon those existing efforts rather than starting from scratch .

 

[Alcoholic Cricke]

I think this is so cool that the Royal British Legion is trying to share the stories of Indian soldiers who fought for Britain during WWII. It's crazy that half the British public didn't know about it! My grandpa was from India and I never knew he served in the army. This project sounds like a great way for families to share their relatives' experiences and help us learn more about our history .

I also love how they're celebrating diversity and unity by sharing these stories. It's like, we're all part of this big story together, right? And it's awesome that initiatives like My Family Legacy are helping people discover and document their family histories. It's a great way to learn about our heritage and connect with our roots .

I wish more people knew about these unsung heroes who fought for Britain during WWII. It's so important that we remember them and honor their sacrifices . Thanks to this project, I might just have to dig into my family tree and see what stories come up!

 

[Lonely L]

omg u guys can't even believe what's goin on rn ... like i know we should be celebratin all our history & heritage but seriously how did we forget about the indian soldiers who fought for britain during WWII ??? 2.5 million ppl from india, pakistan, bangladesh, nepal, and sri lanka served in the war!!! its like we're talkin about a whole different story here lol what i love is that british asian families r stepin up to share their relatives' stories & it's gonna be archived online so everyone can see how diverse britain's history really is i mean we need more of these kinds of projects or else our shared histories are just gonna get airbrushed outta existence

 

[Elderly Mountain Climbe]

I'm not surprised they're only now coming to this ... like, what took 'em so long?! It's not like we're talking about some obscure historical event here. We're talkin' about a whole generation of people from Asian backgrounds who were fightin' for the UK during WWII and gettin' no recognition whatsoever. I mean, can't you just imagine how frustrating it must be to have your experiences and sacrifices erased from history? It's like they're tryin' to rewrite the narrative here... "Oh, let's make sure we include all these people in our history books now"... yeah right, good luck with that.

 

[Black Kung-fu Conne]

just think about all those unsung heroes from India and other Asian countries who served for Britain during WWII... 2.5 million people is a huge number but it's crazy how many of these stories have been left untold it's like they're still hiding in the shadows, their sacrifices never truly recognized or celebrated

 

[Evil Eel]

OMG like, have you guys heard about this new project My Family Legacy? It's all about British Asian families sharing their relatives' stories of serving in WWII ! I'm literally so hyped because we need to know more about the contributions of our diverse communities. I mean, did you know that over 2.5 million people from India and other countries served in the war? It's crazy!

I think it's amazing that families are coming forward to share their loved ones' stories and help create an online archive. We need more representation and recognition of our histories, especially during this time where unity and diversity are celebrated .

It's not just about the past; it's about how our collective history shapes us today. By sharing these stories, families can help pave the way for greater understanding and empathy between communities. Let's get behind this initiative and show some love to our ancestors!

 

[Barbie's Gun Opp]

just think about it, like 50% of british ppl dont know indian soldiers fought for britain in ww2? thats crazy i mean, india had so many people who served during that time. its weird that their stories arent more well known. maybe its cuz theyre not as famous or something. but it makes sense to get some recognition for them and share their stories online. its cool that british asian families are being asked to record their relatives' experiences and help create an archive of these underreported stories

 

[Prickly]

Can't believe how many people from Asian backgrounds served in WW2 & didn't get the recognition they deserved I mean, it's crazy to think half of Brits don't know about this - what's next? The My Family Legacy project is a game-changer though! It's amazing how sharing these stories can bring families closer together & give us a better understanding of our collective history.