Military
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Indian troops securing areas in Kashmir at the end of Operation Grand Slam (1965)
This photo, with very little additional context provided, is likely a section of Indian infantry men, securing areas in Kashmir. Based on the date of this image, this is at the end of Operation Grand Slam, at the point when Pakistani troops began to retreat back into Pakistani Punjab to defend from the Indian advance [Continue Reading]
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Camel mounted soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Sikh Regiment on patrol in Gurgaon, India (1947)
A newly independent Indian army continues it’s regular operations and is seen here leaving for patrol in the newly formed state of Punjab. This image, likely taken in modern-day Gurgaon where the first battalion was deployed for internal security duties, was taken just a few weeks before the battalion was airlifted to Srinagar to participate [Continue Reading]
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Man hugs an Indian Soldier standing guard during a public gathering two days after the liberation of Jessore, East Pakistan, during the third India-Pakistan war (1971)
This photo, taken during the 1971 War, shows a young Bengali embracing an Indian soldier who stands guard during a large public meeting of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, only two days after the town of Jessore was liberated. The town of Jessore is located on the eastern end of the Jessore road. The Jessore [Continue Reading]
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US Army Canadian Military Pattern Trucks ride alongside Camels in India (1943)
Another extremely interesting WW2 era photo that shows the stark contrast between two modes of transport. The truck, a Canadian Military Pattern Chevy 3 Tonner, is traversing the rough roads on top of metal strips. Indian involvement in WW2 , especially Indian troops on the European front is rarely discussed. However, the Allies involvement on [Continue Reading]
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Indian Air Marshal Dewan takes the Instrument of Surrender after it is signed by Pakistani Lt. Gen. Niazi (1971)
By now, most Indians have seen the iconic image of the signing itself. While the original is often attributed to the Indian Navy, this image from an alternate angle is taken by the esteemed Indian photographer, Raghu Rai. It does not capture the moment that Lt. Gen. Niazi signs the paper, but rather immediately after, [Continue Reading]
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The India-China Wing of the US Air Transport Command flies a C-46 Commando across the Himalayas from India to ROC forces in Mainland China (1945)
The Republic of China’s victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War would simply not have been possible without supplies provided to the Chinese forces by the allies. In this photo, we see another example of American air presence in India during WW2. After land routes were cut off due to the Japanese invasion of Burma, the [Continue Reading]
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Indian Troops charge a Pakistani Post in the Khem Karan-Kasur Sector on the Lahore Front (1965)
This photo shows Indian troops charging at a Pakistani post in Kasur, a township on the Lahore Front. If the date in the caption and location is to be believed, these are likely troops of the XI Corps during the push towards Lahore from September 9th onwards. Fighting at Kasur was intense, with a large [Continue Reading]
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US Ambassador John Galbraith watches Indian Troops testing an Anti-Tank Weapon (1962)
Kennedy’s Ambassador to India, John Kenneth Galbraith interacts with Indian army soldiers as they test an anti-tank weapon. It is possible that the rocket launcher is part of the American arms packages sent to India during the 1962 Indo-China war, explaining the American presence. The best guess as to the make of the weapon is [Continue Reading]
