Skip to main content

Indian Women, India and Men

When: —
Venue: Birkbeck Clore Management Centre

Free. Register here

Kiran Sahota and Dr David Omissi discuss Indian women’s contribution and involvement to the Second World War, which has long been overlooked and written out of military narratives. Join us for an evening of learning and fun whilst we fill your brains with hidden histories. This event will be a mixture of discussions, film screening and presentations on a history that is not taught in schools. As part of the Indian women and war project, Kiran Sahota will share images from private collections on how women were exploited during the war period and the aftermath of war. Kiran will also be sharing how India became home for millions of children who were forced to evacuate as the war was never ending. With many documents and photographed destroyed Kiran has been piecing stories of history that still are not know to everyone. There will be a chance to see the exhibition and many more images.

Dr David Omissi will be speaking on ‘The Indian Army in North Africa and Italy’, a hidden story of Indian soldiers and the issues they faced being in Europe and North Africa during the Second World War. Approximately 2.5 million Indian men volunteered to the war and there are so many stories that we still do not know. Dr Omissi is an English writer, educator and historian. Now freelance, previously Dr David Omissi was a Senior lecturer in Modern History at the University of Hull. His works include The Sepoy and the Raj: Indian Army, 1860-1940, Indian Voices of the Great War and Air Power and Colonial Control: The Royal Air Force 1919-1939.

Kiran Sahota is a freelance social historian on South Asian history through a female perspective. Curator of the Indian Women and war project and the founder of Believe in Me CIC a social enterprise empowering young people and women through education. Indian Women and War exhibition is the third national project, previous curations have included ‘Journey from Home’ (2018), ‘Honouring Indian Victoria Cross Soldiers’ (2016).

This event is free and funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and in collaboration with Raphael Samuel History Centre. Refreshments will be available.

Contact name: