Remain loyal to Britain or join the Indian National Army and its campaign for Indian independence? Set against the backdrop of atrocities committed by their captors, this was the choice faced by many in the Indian Army.
In this episode of the Aspects of History podcast, historian and author Gautam Hazarika joins Phil Craig to discuss the experiences of Indian soldiers captured by the Japanese following the fall of Singapore in February 1942. He explains how an unexpected discovery of a manuscript produced inside Changi Prison led him to investigate a largely overlooked aspect of the war in Southeast Asia.
Gautam’s book, The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II: Surrender, Loyalty, Betrayal and Hell, documents the experiences of those who escaped Singapore, the difficult reintegration of soldiers on both sides of the divide, and the families left behind, including the ‘waiting wives’ who spent years without news of their husbands. This is a story not simply about strategy and battle, but about memory and the human cost of war.
Episode Links
The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II: Surrender, Loyalty, Betrayal and Hell
Gautam Links
Gautam online
Gautam on Twitter /X
Gautam on Facebook
Gautam on LinkedIn
Phil Links
Phil on The Scandal Mongers
Phil on Twitter /X
Phil on Instagram
Aspects of History Links
AoH online
AoH on Twitter /X
AoH on Substack
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