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RESIDENTS OPPOSE TURKISH WWI MEMORIAL IN RAJASTHAN'S SUMERPUR
Hindustan Times, India
July 11 2013
India
India, July 11 -- Residents of Sumerpur in Rajasthan's Pali district
are opposing plans by the Turkish government to set up a World War
I memorial for 149 soldiers whose graves are lying unattended for
decades in the Indian state.
"This area is dominated by Rajputs who were famous for their valour.
The Rajputs participated in both the World Wars. There is no example of
any Rajput war memorial in any other country so why are they allowing
a memorial for foreign soldiers in our town. We will oppose it tooth
and nail," said Nahar Singh, 72, a retired soldier.
Local businessman Ramesh Bohra, 42, said, "We suspect unwarranted
activities and unwanted visitors due to the proposed memorial. That
is why we are protesting against it."
The BJP, too, has cashed in on the local opposition.
"These graves have been lying idle for decades and now suddenly
interest has been increasing in its historical aspects. We are opposing
the plan as making a war memorial for soldiers in another sovereign
country is not right for national pride of India," Mahendra Bohra,
district president of BJP in Pali said.
The 149 soldiers, whose graves are in Pali, of were taken prisoners
in WW-I by British forces and sent to different prison camps including
one at Sumerpur in Rajasthan.
"This place has a historical importance because of which many
historians are nowadays visiting the place. We had bought this to the
notice of Turkish embassy and they are keen to build a war memorial
there. They have got the permission from government of India and
we would now facilitate them to build the memorial and upkeep it,"
Bina Kak, Rajasthan's minister for tourism said.
The 1917 Reports on British Prison Camps in India and Burma by Anon
says that the Turkish POW camp at Sumerpur was situated on a large
plain bordered by rocky hills and intersected by a river that dried up
in the heat. At one point of time during the War, the camp held 3,366
prisoners, mostly Mesopotamian Arabs, Christians and Armenians. Most of
the Armenian prisoners were from Mardin, situated south east in Turkey.
District authorities say that they will cooperate whenever approached
by the embassy of Turkey. "The ministry of external affairs (MEA)
has given permission to the Turkey government for building a memorial
for their soldiers. But they have not started work till now. Few of
the locals are protesting against it but there is no law and order
situation, " Ambrish Kumar, Pali district collector said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Jaipur/Residents-oppose-Turkish-WWI-memorial-in-Rajasthan-s-Sumerpur/Article1-1091022.aspx
Hindustan Times, India
July 11 2013
India
India, July 11 -- Residents of Sumerpur in Rajasthan's Pali district
are opposing plans by the Turkish government to set up a World War
I memorial for 149 soldiers whose graves are lying unattended for
decades in the Indian state.
"This area is dominated by Rajputs who were famous for their valour.
The Rajputs participated in both the World Wars. There is no example of
any Rajput war memorial in any other country so why are they allowing
a memorial for foreign soldiers in our town. We will oppose it tooth
and nail," said Nahar Singh, 72, a retired soldier.
Local businessman Ramesh Bohra, 42, said, "We suspect unwarranted
activities and unwanted visitors due to the proposed memorial. That
is why we are protesting against it."
The BJP, too, has cashed in on the local opposition.
"These graves have been lying idle for decades and now suddenly
interest has been increasing in its historical aspects. We are opposing
the plan as making a war memorial for soldiers in another sovereign
country is not right for national pride of India," Mahendra Bohra,
district president of BJP in Pali said.
The 149 soldiers, whose graves are in Pali, of were taken prisoners
in WW-I by British forces and sent to different prison camps including
one at Sumerpur in Rajasthan.
"This place has a historical importance because of which many
historians are nowadays visiting the place. We had bought this to the
notice of Turkish embassy and they are keen to build a war memorial
there. They have got the permission from government of India and
we would now facilitate them to build the memorial and upkeep it,"
Bina Kak, Rajasthan's minister for tourism said.
The 1917 Reports on British Prison Camps in India and Burma by Anon
says that the Turkish POW camp at Sumerpur was situated on a large
plain bordered by rocky hills and intersected by a river that dried up
in the heat. At one point of time during the War, the camp held 3,366
prisoners, mostly Mesopotamian Arabs, Christians and Armenians. Most of
the Armenian prisoners were from Mardin, situated south east in Turkey.
District authorities say that they will cooperate whenever approached
by the embassy of Turkey. "The ministry of external affairs (MEA)
has given permission to the Turkey government for building a memorial
for their soldiers. But they have not started work till now. Few of
the locals are protesting against it but there is no law and order
situation, " Ambrish Kumar, Pali district collector said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Jaipur/Residents-oppose-Turkish-WWI-memorial-in-Rajasthan-s-Sumerpur/Article1-1091022.aspx