World War II Indian heroism recalled in Egypt
Monday October 22, 2012 02:44:58 PM,
IANS
|
|
|
Cairo: The Indian
embassy organised a memorial service here to salute the heroism of
Indian soldiers who died in a decisive World War II battle that
sealed the fate of Hitler's Afrika Korps.
India's ambassador Navdeep Suri and a number of senior diplomats
and military officials from friendly countries placed wreaths at
the memorial Saturday, an embassy statement said.
The simple but solemn ceremony was part of the 70th anniversary of
the Battle of El Alamein being celebrated at El Alamein, where
Indian soldiers displayed courage thousands of miles away from
their motherland.
The El Alamein battle was fought in two phases in 1942 -- from
July 1 to 27 and from Oct 23 to Nov 4 -- in the deserts of North
Africa.
The Allied victory led to the retreat of Rommel's Afrika Corps and
to its eventual surrender in May 1943.
Suri said the stellar role of the Indian Army in El Alamein was
recognised by Rommel himself.
Suri drew attention to the book, "North African Campaign
1940-1943" by J.K.W. Bingham and Warner Haupt, which says the
capture of Ruweisat Ridge in a combined attack of 5 Indian
Division and New Zealand Division July 15, 1942 was the turning
point in the battle.
Almost 25,000 officers and men of the Indian Army took part in the
North Africa campaign, and over 3,000 died in the sands of
northern Sahara. The El Alamein battle accounted for 800 deaths.
Suri said a majority of the Indians who died were in their teens.
They included Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims from the Indian
subcontinent. The annual memorial service, he said, ensures that
their sacrifices are not forgotten.
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
I |
|
|
More Headlines |
Fasih Mehoomd deported to India, arrested |
Israeli premier vows to continue
constructions in East Jerusalem |
Bihar to revive Gandhian schools |
Shooting at US spa; 3 killed, 4 injured |
Fire in a Makkah building; all hajis
evacuated, 13 suffer minor burns |
Qatar launches Gaza building project, bypassing
Israel, PNA |
Of reviving Kerala culture and integrating
Gulf Malayalis |
Hip disorder cured using stem cells |
How brain senses location, direction decoded |
West Bank elections: Fatah claims victory |
Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra passes away |
|
Top Stories |
Fasih Mehoomd deported to India, arrested
Fasih
Mehmood, suspected to have been involved in a conspiracy to set
off bomb blasts in Bangalore and Delhi, and an alleged member of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist organisation,
has been arrested »
Fasih Mehmood's wife seeks fast track trial
Protest in Bihar against arrest of terror
suspects
|
|
Most Read |
Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra passes away
Veteran
filmmaker Yash Chopra breathed his last at Lilavati Hospital
Sunday, a hospital spokesperson said. He was 80. Chopra, who was
suffering from dengue, died of multiple organ failure. He is
survived by wife Pamela a
»
|
Fire in a Makkah building; all hajis
evacuated, 13 suffer minor burns
At least 13 pilgrims suffered minor
burns while 179 others, from India and Bangladesh, were rescued
after a fire occurred in a nine-storey building in Saudi Arabia's
Makkah city Sunday evening, Xinhua reported.
Five firefighting teams and three rescue teams joined in the fight
against the blaze
»
|
|
News Pick |
Three
from Malegaon among 86 selected for free UPSC/MPSC coaching
Three students of Malegaon are among the 86 who have been selected
for a year-long coaching to be organised free of cost for targeted
preparation of the civil services exams to be held next year.
These students were selected based on the written tests and
personal interviews
»
|
Ahl-e-Hadees:
Not part of 'T' syndicate you are forced to believe
Quite possible SIMI members might be adopting these things during
their prayers, but Jamiat Ahle Hadees never agreed to the alleged
ideologies of SIMI and its former parent body
»
|
Indian students in Germany need not pay to
study: Envoy
Germany, a hub of quality scientific research and innovation, is
keen to attract the brightest Indian minds for further studies and
research and has as an incentive made it easier for students to
stay over and work, the country's envoy has said. Another
incentive for students is that German universities
»
|
Top
Indian star Aamir Khan on way to Haj with mother
Embarking on Haj was a
long-overdue wish of Aamir Khan's mother Zeenat Hussain who
belongs to the family of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad - the great
Indian Muslim scholar and freedom
»
|
|
Picture of the Day |
 |
Mrs
Mohsina Kidwai along with Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) VC
Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah
riding the traditional chariot on
her way to the Athletics Ground. Mrs Kidwai was the Chief
Guest of the Sir Syed Day special function organised at the
AMU on October 17. |
|
|
|
|