Home »
Gautam Hazarika
AoH Book Club: Gautam Hazarika on The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II
In conversation with Phil Craig on the Aspects of History podcast, the historian addresses the experiences of Indian POWs across Southeast Asia, from the difficult choice of joining the Indian National Army to escapes, captivity, the impact on families and the ways their stories have been remembered.
Hello Gautam – a year on from publication, it seems the perfect opportunity to talk to you about The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II: Surrender, Loyalty, Betrayal and Hell, our Book Club pick for August. What first drew you into the history of the Indian...
Empire’s Witness: A Soldier’s Secret War Diary 1942-5, by Philip James Day
A moving and beautifully crafted blend of wartime memoir, transforming one soldier’s forgotten journal into an extraordinary journey across the British Empire and back home again.
Empire's Witness is not just about Corporal Day's war, but also about its rediscovery by his grandson, Emmy-winning filmmaker Philip James Day. Decades after the soldier’s death, Philip was in Yorkshire for his daughter’s wedding and almost by chance came across his...
Empire’s Witness: An Interview with Philip James Day
In discussion with Gautam Hazarika, the author reflects on discovering the hidden wartime diary of his grandfather, Corporal Alwyn Day, a quiet and emotionally reserved veteran shaped by extraordinary experiences in World War II.
Philip, welcome to Aspects of History. Congratulations on the upcoming release of Empire’s Witness: A Soldier’s Secret War Diary 1942–45. What were your memories of your grandfather, Corporal Day, prior to beginning this project, and how and why did his “quiet life...
Lt. Col. Leslie Vernon Fitzpatrick and The Sherdils
From the Malayan campaign to the tense final days of Japanese rule in Singapore, the career of Lt Col “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, preserved in family papers, brings to light wartime stories of the Indian Army and the final years of the Raj.
Fitzpatrick, or “Fitz” as he was known, was commissioned into South Staffordshire Regt in 1914, serving with the 3rd Battalion during World War One. Transferred to the Indian Army’s 14th Punjab Regiment after the war, subsequent to its return from Palestine in 1923,...
Gautam Hazarika
The historian of Indian POWs discusses history, his research and his next project.
Gautam Hazarika, what first attracted you to the period or periods you work in? I had always been interested in WW2, primarily Britain’s war against Nazi Germany, but not in the Far East, even after living 20 years in Singapore where so much of it happened at my...
What is Unique About the Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II
So many stories have emerged in a new book on Indian POWs
Questions and myths about Subhas Chandra Bose, or Netaji, and the Indian National Army are of great interest in India today India’s INA history is largely focused on Netaji. Indeed he did a lot, but he had a lot of help. The book shows that the INA was not started by...
Family Stories of The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II
There are many stories in a new book on Indian POWs of the Japanese.
Family Stories of The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II Captain Mohan Singh – history hero of the book – his son, daughter, niece and grandchildren Centurion and only survivor of Singapore I’ve found so far, Lance-Naik Charan Singh (Punjabi). Lucid and in...
Gautam Hazarika
Gautam Hazarika is Singapore based and after being a banker most of his life, now researches World War II in Southeast Asia. His focus is on lesser-known stories such as the Indian army, the anti-Japanese resistance and war crimes trials, and has spoken about them at museums in Singapore and WWII conferences in the UK.
Books Click on any of the books covers below to either buy or get more information on Amazon Articles Click on the links below to read the full article [dpdfg_filtergrid custom_query="advanced" use_taxonomy_terms="on" multiple_taxonomies="name_of_author"...