Tag: India

Tony Delahoy: Things Remembered

INDIA … AND THE WAR IS OVER

IT was from Osnabruck that I was posted back to the Woolwich barracks in the UK. I was given four weeks leave and then sent out to India to take part in the war against Japan that was still going on.

The troopship to India was the P & O Edinburgh Castle, and the route was from Southampton past Gibraltar, through the Mediterranean to Port Said, then on through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to Bombay.

Sleeping arrangements on board was in hammocks hooked to the ceiling and packed like sardines head to toe; beneath the hammocks were the mess tables. The hammocks were rolled up in the morning and stacked away and the area then became the mess deck during the day,

The weather improved daily as we moved further east. It was fascinating to see the coat of North Africa so close, and the many islands of the Mediterranean – also the many flying fish that kept up with the speed of the ship, just in front of the ship’s bow; a really lovely sight.

The further east we travelled the warmer it got, very much so at night time below deck. To aid the airflow there were some scuttle-like ventilators that were pushed into the portholes to scoop fresh air; there were also some small swivel-type air vents in the ceiling. It was quite funny to see hands and arms constantly reaching out to turn the ventilator in their direction!

We finally reached Port Said at the head of the Suez Canal to restock the ship with stores and water. It was here I first saw and tasted water melon; very refreshing in the heat.

The journey through the canal was very interesting. It is quite narrow. The Egyptian side was cultivated and the other bank just desert. To regulate shipping there are wide lagoons to allow ships to pass. I remember one at Port Suez, there were others with beautiful blue sea and lovely scenery. On leaving the Canal and entering the Red Sea the heat became sticky and oppressive, but it cooled off once we entered the Indian Ocean.

As our troopship reached it’s destination of Bombay we heard news that an atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima in Japan by the Americans on the 6th August, and this was followed by another on Nagasaki on the 9th. We didn’t know the full implications of this new warfare but were hopeful that it would end the war.

As we approached Bombay harbour there was a huge amount of shipping that we presumed was part of the preparations for an invasion of Japan, of which we would be a part.

Our ship docked in Bombay Harbour and the troops were disembarked. We marched through the city to the railway station to be transported 150 miles to a large military transit camp at Deolali.

Soon after arriving at Deolali the news came through that Japan had surrendered. Japan also concluded a separate surrender cermony with China in Nanking on 9th September 1945. With this last formal surrender World War II came to an end.

More THINGS REMEMBERED next weekend

PM: UK – India partnership ‘brings security and prosperity for our people’

  • PM will meet Narendra Modi in New Delhi today for high-level talks on defence, diplomacy and trade
  • UK will work with India to boost security in the Indo-Pacific, including new fighter jet technology, helicopters and collaboration in the undersea battlespace
  • PM will also discuss new cooperation on clean and renewable energy

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reiterate the vital importance of the UK-India partnership for global peace and security, as he visits New Delhi today [Friday].

He is expected to discuss next-generation defence and security collaboration across the five domains – land, sea, air, space and cyber – in meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as our nations face complex new threats.

This includes support for new Indian-designed and built fighter jets, offering the best of British know-how on building battle-winning aircraft. The UK will also seek to support India’s requirements for new technology to identify and respond to threats in the Indian Ocean.

To support greater defence and security collaboration with India over the coming decade, the UK will issue an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) to India, reducing bureaucracy and shortening delivery times for defence procurement. This is our first OGEL in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The world faces growing threats from autocratic states which seek to undermine democracy, choke off free and fair trade and trample on sovereignty.

“The UK’s partnership with India is a beacon in these stormy seas. Our collaboration on the issues that matter to both our countries, from climate change to energy 2security and defence, is of vital importance as we look to the future.

“I look forward to discussing these issues with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi today and working together to deliver a more secure and prosperous future for both our peoples.”

The Prime Minister will also discuss new cooperation on clean and renewable energy in his meetings in New Delhi today, aimed at supporting India’s energy transition away from imported oil and increasing its resilience through secure and sustainable energy, and addressing climate change in both the UK and India.

The UK and India are launching a virtual Hydrogen Science and Innovation hub to accelerate affordable green hydrogen, as well as new funding for the Green Grids Initiative announced at COP26, and collaboration on joint work on the electrification of public transport across India.

As well as boosting our domestic energy and economic resilience, the UK and India are collaborating as a force for good globally. The governments are committing up to £75 million to roll out adaptable clean tech innovations from India to the wider Indo-Pacific and Africa, and working together on international development and girls education.

Mr Johnson’s foreign adventures are doubtless a welcome distraction but they have done nothing to reduce the pressure on him to resign following his lies to Parliament over the Partygate scandal.

The Prime Minister is now to be investigated by a Westminster committee over claims he misled Parliament about parties in Downing Street during lockdown.

MPs yesterday approved the Privileges Committee instigating an inquiry as soon as police have finished their investigation into the gatherings.

Johnson’s government had tried to delay the vote, but were forced into making a U-turn following opposition from its own Tory MPs.

And with the full details of the Sue Gray report still to come, Boris Johnson’s political future is very much still in the balance.

Scotmid Co-operative initiative helps young women in India

More than 40 young Indian women now equipped with new skills and regular income

Scotmid Co-operative has helped more than forty young women in India develop new skills and secure a regular income through a partnership with co-ops across the UK.

When the Delta variant hit India with devastating effect last year, Scotmid and a group of co-operative retailers collectively raised over £100,000 to support the crisis response, initially providing essential basic supplies, health kits and education.

The support evolved to helping young female workers to grow a sustainable future out of the pandemic through a two-year incubator programme to help them develop skills in journalism, graphic design, photography, new media, research methodology and report writing.

Pranaliben, a 20-year-old woman from Ahmedabad City, is one of the women who will benefit from this support. After completing her graduate studies from a local university, Pranaliben struggled to find sustained employment which was made worse by the pandemic.

Through her mother, a member of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), she got in touch with SEWA Cooperative Federation and learnt about cooperatives. Now she is eager to work together with young women like herself and lead her own cooperative.

Co-operatives UK worked with the Co-operative College and Co-op News to co-ordinate the appeal, partnering with SEWA in India who are delivering the programme.

Mirai Chatterjee, Chairperson SEWA Cooperative Federation said: “Women in India mainly work informally meaning their earnings can be unreliable and as soon as the crisis hit many lost their income overnight.

“Thanks to the vital support provided by our co-operative friends in the UK, we’re helping them to form two grassroots co-operatives to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves.

“As well as learning technical skills in communications and research, around forty young women will develop leadership and business management skills, and we’re developing market links to help them secure regular work and provide income security.”

Harry Cairney, Scotmid President, said: “This worthwhile partnership demonstrates the strength of co-operation. We’re proud to be a part of this initiative to grant young women in India, like Pranaliben, the necessary skills and opportunities needed to secure a regular income.”

During the initial crisis period, £70,000 of the donation from Scotmid and other UK co-ops was used to provide emergency support. This included the distribution of 4,000 household health kits, with masks, soap and immune boosters distributed across eight states of India.

Lifesaving information about the symptoms and spread of Covid was also provided to families in rural and low-income urban areas – to dispel myths and provide accurate health information.

The remaining £30,000 is now being used to deliver a two-year programme supporting the development of two young women’s incubator co-operatives.

A grassroots media co-operative will support young women to build capacity in media, journalism, graphic design, photography and new media, whilst a second grassroots co-operative will focus on research, conducting surveys, focus group discussion and report writing. 

Scottish aid wings it’s way to India

Scotland is sending life-saving oxygen and ventilation equipment to India as part of a UK-wide effort to support it in its fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).

Following an initial offer of various types of equipment, the Indian High Commission has accepted 100 oxygen concentrators and 40 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilators.

The Indian Government urgently requires these units as its healthcare system is under extreme pressure. The devices can be used in hospitals, ICU wards or other locations and are ideally suited to treat COVID-19 patients when there are constraints on medical gas infrastructure supply.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The coronavirus situation in India is a human tragedy. We are working with the other UK nations to help tackle the crisis by providing equipment that can be used immediately to save lives.

“Solidarity with other countries remains of key importance throughout this global pandemic and we will continue to make contributions within the international community, while tackling COVID-19 here in Scotland.

“There are a number of ways to donate to the response effort, including the British Asian Trust’s ‘Oxygen for India’ Emergency Appeal, and the Disasters Emergency Committee, which has extended its Coronavirus Appeal to include India.”

https://youtu.be/HSCJNvOIzQI

UK sends further life-saving support to India

  • The UK will send 1,000 more ventilators for use in India’s hospitals
  • The Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientific Adviser and NHS staff have given help and advice to their Indian counterparts
  • Fresh assistance follows medical relief sent by the Government last week and a surge in support from the British people to India
  • On Tuesday the Prime Minister will hold a virtual meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi to discuss deepening cooperation between the UK and India

India’s fight against a surge in coronavirus cases will be reinforced by new UK Government support announced by the Prime Minister today. 1,000 ventilators will be sent from the UK’s surplus supply to Indian hospitals to help the most severe Covid cases.

This is in addition to 200 ventilators, 495 oxygen concentrators and 3 oxygen generation units the UK announced we were sending to India last week.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance have also spoken to their Indian counterparts to provide advice, insight and expertise to the Indian healthcare system as it deals with the world’s worse surge in Covid levels.

NHS England is also establishing a clinical advisory group led by Chief People Officer Prerana Issar to support India’s Covid response. The group will work with Indian institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Services to share experience on managing Covid outbreaks.

The group will include researchers in public and global health, alongside nursing and other health professionals who have experience of the Indian healthcare system.

In a powerful demonstration of what Indian Prime Minister Modi has called the ‘living bridge’ between our countries, over the last week British people have come to the support of India in huge numbers. Businesses, civil society and the wider public have responded to appeals for help and launched funding drives.

This includes the British Asian Trust’s ‘Oxygen for India’ emergency appeal, which is raising funds for oxygen concentrators to be rapidly deployed to Indian hospitals. The BAT appeal, which has been personally backed by the Prince of Wales, has raised more than £1.5m in the last week.

Virgin Atlantic also flew 200 boxes of oxygen concentrators to Delhi on Saturday, after partnering with Khalsa Aid. Further cargo space will be given free of charge on 6 flights to India in the next week, in association with The Red Cross.

India has also provided support to the UK throughout the coronavirus pandemic. As the ‘pharmacy of the world’ the country has kept its borders open to supply the UK with vital medicine and PPE – exporting over 11 million face masks and 3 million packets of paracetamol over the course of 2020.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister will hold a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Modi to agree a huge range of commitments to deepen cooperation between the UK and India, including on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The terrible images we have seen in India in recent weeks are all the more powerful because of the close and enduring connection between the people of the UK and India.

“I am deeply moved by the surge of support the British people have provided to the people of India and am pleased the UK Government has been able to play our part in providing life-saving assistance.

“The UK will always be there for India in its time of need.”

The world is safer and stronger because of work between the UK and India. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, for example, was developed in the UK, is currently being produced in the millions by India’s Serum Institute and will be distributed to the world at cost through COVAX.

It is those shared values of openness and the pursuit of knowledge and scientific advancement for the betterment of our societies that lie at the heart of the relationship between the UK and India. During his call with Prime Minister Modi the Prime Minister will emphasise the importance of working with India to promote our shared values.

India is the largest democracy in the world, a fellow Commonwealth country and in June Prime Minister Modi will travel to the UK to attend the G7 Summit as a guest – one of four world leaders invited to join the Summit of leading democracies.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “This support will help urgently meet some of India’s acute needs, particularly oxygen for patients. We are determined to help our Indian friends in their hour of need.

“We need to all work together to defeat Covid-19. No one is safe until we are all safe.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock said: “As a close friend of India, we have all felt the harrowing scenes and are determined to do all we can. Only a few months ago we felt the pressure of the pandemic here in the UK. This virus attacks all of us and in the battle against coronavirus, we’re all on the same side.

“This additional support will provide more capacity and expertise to help save lives and support India’s healthcare system. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this immensely challenging time.”

DEC extends Coronavirus Appeal to include India

The Disasters Emergency Committee has extended its Coronavirus Appeal to include India as an additional country that will receive urgent life-saving humanitarian assistance to help the most vulnerable communities as they face an overwhelming coronavirus surge. 

DEC member charities, together with their local teams and partners, are playing a critical role in supporting the country’s health services, assisting efforts to slow the spread of the virus, and providing further help to the most vulnerable households. 

DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said: “We have all seen the devastating images from India showing hospitals overrun and oxygen supplies falling short of demand, with thousands of people unable to receive potentially life-saving treatment. Several cities have imposed lockdowns and curfews, which will have a knock-on effect for people’s livelihoods, with the poorest and most marginalised communities hit hardest.  

“DEC member charities have a long history of working with these communities and are supporting overwhelmed health services by providing medical supplies, treatment facilities and logistics assistance. With the generous support of the UK public, we can do even more to help the most vulnerable communities as they face a life-or-death situation.” 

The countries in which DEC charities are responding to Covid-19 through donations to the DEC Coronavirus Appeal will be expanded to include India. The appeal, which was launched in July 2020, has been helping the poorest communities in a number of countries including Yemen, Syria and South Sudan tackle the coronavirus pandemic. 

DEC charities will be supporting India’s health system by: 

  • providing PPE, disinfection kits, medical supplies and ambulances  
  • setting up isolation facilities, including provision of beds and latrines  
  • setting up temporary Covid hospitals and Covid care centres 
  • providing logistical support to quarantine or isolation centres 
  • providing ventilators and oxygen concentrators to the Indian government 
  • running helplines to tackle misinformation by providing up-to-date information on the availability of hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and Covid vaccines. 

They will also scale up preventive measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 amongst the most vulnerable communities including: 

  • setting up handwashing stations and distributing soap, sanitiser and masks   
  • distributing hygiene kits (consisting of washable masks, sanitiser, gloves, face shields, soap) 
  • supporting vaccination drives and public health messaging on the importance of good hygiene  
  • disinfecting public places 
  • training community health volunteers in how to, for example, promote quarantine centres and screen people for Covid symptoms. 

DEC charities will also provide additional support to the poorest and most vulnerable households by: 

  • ensuring families get enough food to prevent malnutrition, particularly amongst children, by distributing food and care packs to people in isolation; providing cash, vouchers and dry rations; providing livelihoods training and cash for work  
  • providing mental health support as well as community counselling services 
  • delivering community outreach to older people e.g. transportation for Covid testing or treatment, and assistance with vaccination costs 
  • supporting Ministries of Education to ensure safe school operations as well as support to children, families and teachers to continue education if schools are closed 
  • strengthening water and sanitation systems. 

To make a donation to the DEC Coronavirus Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk,  call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, or send a cheque to DEC Coronavirus Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.

To donate £10 text SUPPORT to 70150. Texts cost £10 and the whole £10 goes to the DEC CORONAVIRUS APPEAL. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer’s permission. For full terms and conditions and more information go to www.dec.org.uk. 

Donations will help provide the following: £30 could provide six families with enough soap for a month; £50 could provide essential hygiene kits to two families; £100 could provide PPE for one frontline health worker for four months. 

Stay up to date with developments on Twitter: www.twitter.com/decappeal or on Facebook via www.facebook.com/DisastersEmergencyCommittee   

UK sends medical equipment to India to help fight Covid-19

  • Ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices due to leave UK today
  • The support follows a request from India and PM pledge for the UK to do all it can
  • First package due to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday, with further shipments later this week

More than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment will be sent to India to support the country in its fight against Covid-19, the UK Government has announced.

The assistance package, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, includes ventilators and oxygen concentrators from surplus stocks. It will be used by the Government of India to provide vital medical treatment to those suffering from Covid-19 in India.

The Department of Health and Social Care have worked closely with the NHS, as well as suppliers and manufacturers in the UK to identify reserve life-saving equipment that can be sent to India.

India has this week reported its highest numbers of new daily cases and deaths since the pandemic began and is facing severe shortages of oxygen.

Following discussions with the Government of India, the first shipment of equipment will leave the UK today, arriving in New Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Further shipments are due to follow later this week.

In total, nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, will be sent to the country this week.

This equipment will be crucial in helping to save the lives of the most vulnerable in India. The oxygen concentrators, for example, can extract oxygen from the air in the atmosphere so that it can be provided to patients, taking the strain off hospital oxygen systems and allowing oxygen to be provided in situations where hospital oxygen supplies have run out.

The UK is working closely with the Government of India to identify further assistance it can provide in the coming days.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against COVID-19.

“Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus.

“We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time and I’m determined to make sure that the UK does everything it can to support the international community in the global fight against the pandemic.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “We are supporting our Indian friends with vital medical equipment at a difficult time for them in this pandemic.

“We have all got to work together to tackle Covid-19. India is a very important partner to us, so we’re providing oxygen concentrators and ventilators to help save the lives of the most vulnerable. We will be following up on this first delivery with further support, based on our ongoing discussions with the Indian Government.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: The heart-breaking scenes in India show once again how awful this terrible disease is. We are determined to support the people of India through this very difficult time, and I am hugely grateful to those who have worked hard to make this initial delivery happen.

“This first delivery of life saving equipment will provide much needed assistance and we stand ready to do more. The global pandemic has challenged health systems all across the world and the best way to overcome adversity is to unite and defeat this dreadful disease together.

“This is the just the latest example of UK-India collaboration throughout this pandemic, to the benefit of both countries and the world.”

UK Sikhs urge Dominic Raab to raise human rights violations against farmers in India

Sikh Organisations and Gurdwaras (Temples) from across the UK have written to The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Rabb, expressing their grave concerns about the human rights violations against farmers and journalists in India:

‘We urge the Foreign Secretary to express our collective concerns on behalf of the British people to India’s Government and raise the matter at the United Nations.

“Security services are indiscriminately detaining and charging protesting farmers and journalists with false charges of terrorism, sedition”

‘The Indian security services are indiscriminately detaining and charging protesting farmers and journalists with false charges of terrorism, sedition, and anti-national conduct. Internet and phone services have been restricted to prevent independent reporting of the situation on the ground in Delhi. Several journalists and farmers have been arrested or gone missing, many protestors have been illegally detained and tortured.

‘The Indian Government is in breach of various UN resolutions and international laws regarding the right to protest, access to information, and free press. The British Government has raised concerns around this right several times concerning the Chinese Government’s crackdowns on peaceful protests.

‘As citizens and residents of Great Britain, we call on Dominic Raab, as our Foreign Secretary to raise these matters urgently with the Indian Government and his counterparts and urge the Indian authorities to act with restraint and resume peaceful dialogue with the farmer groups.

‘We urge the UK Government to pursue this matter with the appropriate authorities and forums at the United Nations. As a Government, which is committed to the rule of law and human rights, there is a positive obligation on the British Government to continuously raise and monitor matters that concern the violation of fundamental human rights anywhere in the world.’

United Indian Support Rally

Dozens of organisations came together on Saturday – a day before Indian Republic Day – to congratulate and show their support to the Indian Government on enacting the Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 (India), writes PUNEET DWIVEDI.

The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 coming into force is the beginning of a new dawn in the lives of those who feared religious persecution in theocratic countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Neil Lal , Rajdeep Sarkar from Glasgow, Abhay Kumar and Puneet Dwivedi from Edinburgh were the key organisers of this support rally outside the Indian Consulate in Rutland Square, Edinburgh.

Around 200 people from various age groups, ethnicity and faiths participated in the Rally. The drafted a letter and collected 295 signatures (100 signature collected before the rally, who can’t participate) for a letter to be written to All MPs , MSP and MEPs of Scotland.

Dr Amjad Mirza, one of the activists originally for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoJK) said “CAA is wonderful initiative by Indian Government” and,being a resident of PoK, he welcomes this Act.

He added that since the Talibanization of Pakistan, there is systematic persecution of people in Sindh and other parts. He said: “Hindu Temples in Mirpur as well as in Pok has been destroyed and converted into residential houses. Gurudwaras been attacked in Pakistan. So all these minorities find a natural home in India, and can now be given proper citizenship and considered part of India. “

Puneet Dwivedi, vice president of Hindu Forum Britain (the largest Umbrella body of British Hindus) displayed a copy of the CAA Gazette and FAQs released by Govt of India, and said: “There was been lot of misinformation campaign in India as well as here in UK about the Citizenship Amendment Act.

“People have not read the bill and started protesting against it. The Citizenship Bill is wonderful initiative and give dignity to the refugees already in India till 2014.

“There have been few protest in Scotland against the Act stating this act is against a faith, however when challenged where does the act mention anything against any faith? No one was able to point out. The Indian Citizens, be it of any faith, will not be impacted by this Act.

“The protest in Assam to some extend was legitimate however the rest of India the protest being hijacked by misinformation campaigners. Even for Assam and North East , if you read point 12 of the FAQ released by Govt it says – “The CAA protects the interests of the tribals and indigenous people of the North-Eastern region by excluding areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and areas covered by the Inner line Permit system.”

Neil Lal said this is historic moment for Scotland: “For the first time Indian Diaspora and people of Indian origin have shown their unity. There are people from Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh and some from Aberdeen as well on this chilly Saturday afternoon.

“We are standing united with Indian Government and PM Mr Modi for passing this Act which gives shelters to all the minorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh where the minorities have declined drastically. We are here to congratulate the Indian Government and their representative Consul General of India Mr Hitesh Rajpal.

Rajdeep Sarkar from Scotland Friends of India said he wanted to thank everyone taking out time to support this important gathering to show our support.

Abhay Kumar said he was very delighted to be part of this show of unity adding that we need to fight against misinformation campaign  in Scotland and rest of UK to malign India’s image.

The gathering was very peaceful and tea and snacks were served. The rally ended with everyone standing up to sing India’s national anthem.

Video Footage of Dr Amzad Mirza https://youtu.be/FaV5Ebia7RQ

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo welcomes India’s Navy Chief

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has celebrated its strong international ties by welcoming the Republic of India’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba to Edinburgh and to the castle home of the world-famous military extravaganza. Continue reading The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo welcomes India’s Navy Chief