Indian envoy to Turkiye visits Gallipoli museum

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) - India’s envoy to Ankara visited the Gallipoli museum in Turkiye’s northwestern Canakkale province on Saturday and unveiled sculptures representing Indian soldiers who took part in the Gallipoli battle during World War I.

Sanjay Panda, along with the Chairman of Gallipoli Historic Site Ismail Kasdemir, unveiled the life-size sculptures of Indian Sikh and Gorkha soldiers at the Canakalle Epic Promotion Centre, the Indian Embassy said in a statement.

“Over 4 million Indian soldiers participated in the Two World Wars. During WW-1, over 15000 Indian soldiers fought at Gallipoli primarily as part of the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade and the 7th Mountain Artillery Brigade. They suffered over 5000 casualties including approximately 1600 who made the supreme sacrifice,” the statement quoted Panda.

“It is very apt that the role and sacrifice of Indian soldiers who fought and died at Gallipoli be remembered alongside the Mehmets, Anzacs and the British,” the ambassador said, adding increasing awareness in both countries will contribute to a better understanding of the Indian contribution at Gallipoli.

Panda also said that while India’s representation in the peninsula is important, “Gallipoli remains a place where we remember not just Indian soldiers, but all those who lost their lives fighting for their countries.”

Nearly 1.4 million soldiers from the Indian subcontinent were drafted by the British to join the Allied Powers campaign during World War I.

At the Gallipoli Campaign (1915-16), more than 1,000 Indian soldiers lost their lives. A fierce Turkish resistance had forced the Allied Powers to retreat from the Gallipoli peninsula.