Indian Women Remembered

When we often think of Remembrance we think of men and their experiences. With Coronavirus on the rise and this year Remembrance services at Whitehall not allowing people to gather, our project explored ways of raising awareness about Indian Women that are overlooked. With so much interest from the public about wanting to learn further about South Asian history I thought it would be a chance for communities to learn further about the women in the ‘shadows’ of men.

Working in collaboration with the BBC Asian network, I wanted this year to highlight the contribution made by Indian Women. After brainstorming I thought it would be great to call on my friends at The National Archives and Anita Anand to help tell these stories. The stories would be a 5-10 minute film teaching audiences of Indian Women’s contribution to wars. I wanted to focus on Princess Sophia Duleep Singh and Noor Inayat Khan for this Remembrance as their stories and contributions had been in the media and more people were starting to learn about these women.  

Anita Anand spoke to journalist Raj Bilkhu-Sohal on how Princess Sophia Duleep helped during the wars. When thinking of Princess Sophia Duleep, her work as a Suffragette is the dominate narrative. Behind the scenes Princess Sophia Duleep Singh did so much for the war effort that it was right to highlight her contribution during Remembrance. In 1921 Princess Sophia had supported the Indian Women’s Education Association. She helped by selling items at their stall in Claridges and money was raised. She also supported the Native Indian Seamen and sailors that were stranded in London, helping raise money to ensure that they were looked after.

Princess Sophia helped organise and raise money for Indian troops on ‘Our Day’. This was a celebration on the anniversary of the British Red Cross. Men and women of the British Empire wore flags. Princess Sophia contributed during the wars and created patriotic flags for the Punjabi Troops of the Indian Army. All money raised was to help them. Whilst a nurse with the British Red Cross, Princess Sophia visited wounded Indian soldiers and Brighton Pavilion and other local hospitals. Some Indian soldiers recall being gifts by her and just in presence they felt safe.

“Kartar Singh to Gurdit Singh (Punjab)

Milford-on Sea February 1916

And my friend, this is the photo of our King’s granddaughter- he who was the King of the Sikhs, Ranjit Singh. She has distributed her photo amongst Sikh brethren at the depot on the evening of 23rd February at five o’clock

[written on the back of a photo of a lady friend, signed Sophia A. Duleep Singh 1916]

During Second World War Princess Sophia housed evacuee children just like her sister Princess Catherine. She was living in Penn, Buckinghamshire during the war – until her death 22nd August 1948.

The second film focused on Noor Inayat Khan GC, the first female (of Indian descent) British Spy sent to France and then captured and killed in Germany. Noor Inayat Khan was born during First World War in 1914. Born in Moscow and then settling in France, with the outbreak of Second World War her family decided to move to London as it might be a safe option. Working with my colleague Hannah (The National Archives) she explained the importance of the work Noor was doing and how it helped the British. Exploring the Archives and discussing her life, Noor was determined that she would help with war efforts, it was such a dangerous job. She enrolled into Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and as she was undertaking her training as a WAAF she was invited to an interview that would change her life.

The interview was for a role as a Special Operatives Executive (SOE) which would help the British. This was a dangerous job where life expectancy was only for 6 weeks, it was explained that if you were caught you could be killed. Noor was determined and signed up for the role, she was the first female to then be sent out to France as a wireless operator. The documents that Hannah had, explained how Noor had nearly been caught but evaded capture. When Noor was asked to return to London as it was not safe she refused, she wanted to help further. It was a friend that betrayed Noor and with that information she was captured and arrested.

Hannah explained that in documents there is correspondence between Noor’s brother and the British Government asking where she was. Her brother was notified that she had been shot on 13th September 1944. Her brother asked the British Government to notify him as their mother was depressed after the death of her husband years earlier. 

We filmed at the Commonwealth Memorial gates on London, under one memorial Pavilions there is the name of Noor Inayat Khan amongst the names of men. Noor Inayat Khan was awarded the Gorge Cross in 1949. There are places in London acknowledging Noor Inayat Khan and we visited her statue in Bloomsbury Square as well as her blue plaque outside the old family home. Noor Inayat Khan GC was awarded the blue plaque in August 2020. A huge achievement for a woman of colour and ensuring that their contribution is not forgotten.

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