ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a symposium titled ‘World War I and its impact on South Asia’ highlighted that the Great War not only changed the military composition in the region but had deep-rooted political consequences that have an impact on policy to this day.

Experts and analysts said that the largest portion of the Indian budget in 1914 went to defence and a vast majority of troops was enlisted from Punjab which included today’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Both practices continue to date.

However, Professor Daniel Marston of Australian National University said that one of the reasons was that the military was the only organised and intact institution at the time of independence in 1947.

“It took several decades for leaders in India and Pakistan to decide that there was need to diversify recruitment to the military,” Professor Marston said.

“Possibly because it was difficult to change tradition and also because most of the military leadership came from Punjab,” he added.

The symposium which was organised by the National Defence University in collaboration with the British High Commission, also highlighted the bravery and loyalty of local soldiers who had served in the British Indian Expeditionary Force (IEF).

Although no exact figures were quoted but speakers agreed that around 1.4 million locals were recruited as volunteers in the IEF, while around 74,000 became casualties of the war. Speakers said between 1914 and 1918 one out of 28 men in Punjab were serving the IEF compared to one out of 150 men in rest of India.

Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, who is a senior defence analyst, said this huge number of Indian soldiers in the war is far greater than those who came from Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

“It was a major turning point for the region as before the war the total number of Indians in the British Army was 200,000 and most of them served only in their home land,” said Dr Hasan Askari.

He explained that when for the first time, Indian soldiers went abroad to participate in a war, it had a major impact on the political landscape.

“After coming back military personnel gradually became self-styled leaders in their communities because of their exposure and knowledge,” he said.

He also informed the audience that material and cash contributions made by India in WWI amounted to more than 430 million pound sterling.

Speakers highlighted that because of the massive contributions made by India in war efforts, the voice for greater autonomy and more decision making powers grew stronger.

“This can be judged from the reforms made in 1919 and 1929 which gave more rights to local political groups including Indian National Congress and also Muslim League,” former ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said.

Meanwhile, expert on South Asia Khizer Humayun Ansari, who had come from the United Kingdom to attend the symposium, highlighted that the loyalty and dedication shown by local troops surprised the officers of the British army.

“There were fears that the Muslims would not fight against the Turks or other Muslims at several fronts. There were also concerns that the local troops might not fare well in muddy trenches of Europe,” Mr Ansari said.

“But as the war became more intense the demand for Indian troops grew due to their excellent performance,” he said.

He added that the major reason for displaying high levels of loyalty was to protect their family name which would be tarnished in case of desertion or surrender.

“Everybody wanted to prove that they were good fighters and physically strong,” he added.

Dr Razia Sultana of Peshawar University highlighted the history of military developments in India and said that Indians earned 12 Victoria Cross medals during WWI and as a result there were several incentives for the British army to induct even officers from among the locals.

“The British established a cadet college in India and gradually Indians were also trained to become officers,” she said.

“The availability of local commissioned officers in the armies of both India and Pakistan after 1947 was a key factor in the armies remaining intact and disciplined in these countries,” she added.

Published in Dawn December 3rd , 2014