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India’s War: An IWM Collecting project
IWM is looking to increase the representation of the Indian experience of the Second World War within the museum’s collections, working in partnership with South Asian community groups in the UK.
By the end of the Second World War in August 1945, the Armed Forces of India were the second largest fighting force among the Commonwealth nations, after Britain, and had fought on virtually every front that Britain had been engaged in.
While IWM has large Second World War and Mid-Twentieth Century Conflict collections, the museum wants to build on these and diversify the stories that are told within them.
We are particularly interested in exploring personal stories related to the Indian experience of the Second World War, from the home front to the fighting fronts.
This project will broaden the scope of IWM’s collections, as well as inform and shape future programming.
Help us improve our collection
Did your relative serve in the Indian Armed Forces during the Second World War, or experience the war as a Civilian in South Asia?
If so, IWM would like to hear their story. We are working to collect stories and memorabilia relating to the experiences of South Asians in the Second World War, focusing on how these events impacted people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
You can get involved in a number of ways.
If you would like to talk to us about donating an object, sharing a story, or request more information about the project, please e-mail: indiaswar@iwm.org.uk.
You can also download flyers about the project in English, Nepali, Punjabi and Urdu
How to get involved
Share a story
Tell us about your relative and their experience of the Second World War.
How did you hear their story? What impact did the war have on their lives?
The India’s War project team would like to hear your stories. E-mail us at: indiaswar@iwm.org.uk.
Consider donating an object to IWM
Objects, photographs or documents related to someone’s experience of the Second World War can be a powerful way to tell their story.
The items in IWM’s collections help us illustrate the personal impact of war on the people whose lives are changed by it. We do this by putting them on display, making them available for researchers and including them in digital content.
If you have something you would be interested in donating to IWM that relates to this project, please do get in touch by emailing: indiaswar@iwm.org.uk.
IWM cannot guarantee it will accept an offer to its collection, but we can guarantee that it will be thoroughly assessed and reviewed as all other offers are
Tell people about the project
We are hoping to speak to people from communities across the UK. Please do share news about this project with people who may be interested.
You can also download a PDF leaflet to distribute:
- India’s War project leaflet: English
- India’s War project leaflet: Urdu
- India’s War project leaflet: Nepali
- India’s War project leaflet: Punjabi
Please be aware that IWM does not accept offers of objects brought directly to, or sent to, our branches. If you bring an object to IWM you will be asked to take it home with you. It is your property and your responsibility. If you post an object to IWM, it will be returned to you by post. We have a legal responsibility to return your property to you. We will dispose of objects posted to us without a return address.
