An exhibition honouring the bravery of Punjabi soldiers during the First World War has been on display at the India Cultural Centre of Canada on No. 5 Road since last Friday.
The exhibit, which is open to the public and continues until Wednesday, Jan. 2, focuses on the 74,000 South Asians who were killed in the war and the more than 1.3 million who served, which was more than Canada and Australia combined.
These valiant fighters stood tall as friends in need at the darkest hour, winning more than 9,000 awards for gallantry (including 11 Victoria Crosses).
Steven Purewal, managing director of the Indus Media Foundation, Canada, put together the exhibit in partnership with Simon Fraser University.
It incorporates exclusive historical artifacts and new graphic heritage displays within a portable exhibit, which has travelled across the province and has also been featured at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa as part of WW1 Centennial celebration.
Canada’s participation in this war, including the historic achievements at Ypres, Vimmy and Passchendaele, ignited a sense of national pride and confidence that Canada could stand on its own apart from the British Empire, on the world stage.
Canada lost more than 64,000 young soldiers in this war. Unfortunately, the contribution to the war effort and sacrifices by the valiant soldiers from India, in general and Punjabis in particular, has been largely ignored, hence the need for Purewal’s exhibit.
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