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Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier • "He lives here" in an extensive overview of the event ► Watch

The annual and impressive memorial ceremony to mark the event that ended 400 years of Turkish rule, was held on Thursday 21.9.2023/105/XNUMX at the British Cemetery in Haifa. The ceremony was held in memory of Major Thakur Dalapat, who was the commander of the "elite unit of the Indian Cavalry". He was known in the Indian army as the "Hero of Haifa" who fell in battle XNUMX years ago and is considered one of the heroic figures of Indian history. This, after his fall in the battle in which he charged at the head of the cavalry unit mounted on horses, on the positions of the Ottoman army, who responded by firing heavy fire at the cavalry.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Hagai Panker)
Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Hagai Panker)

Even after 105 years

The commemoration was held today, also after 105 years, at the British military cemetery where the memorial ceremony for the Indian soldiers was held (adjacent to the British cemetery for the victims of the First World War). For those who don't know, the "British Military Cemetery" is located at 148 Jaffa Street between the shawarma restaurants and Dolphin Junction in the lower city and was in memory of the brave martyrs, where soldiers who participated in the battles in Haifa are buried.

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries

2 Indian commanders participated in the battle and received the "Hero of Haifa" decoration. For more than 11 years, this impressive ceremony has been held with great military splendor, in the presence of the Indian Ambassador to Israel Mr. Sanjeev Singla, the Mayor of Haifa Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem, army officers and attachés of the armies of the various countries serving in Israel and officers representing the IDF, Representatives of the association for the history of Haifa and many other guests.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Hagai Panker)
Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Hagai Panker)

It was a tremendous historical legacy that was forgotten from the national memory

105 years ago, at the end of the First World War, a heroic and huge battle took place in Haifa Bay, when a large force of brave Indian soldiers on horseback charged with spears and guns at the well-fortified Turkish artillery positions and subdued them. Thanks to him, the city of Haifa was freed from the burden of the Turkish occupation.

about the ceremony

At the entrance to the cemetery, tables were set up full of refreshments, some of which also included traditional and unique refreshments from Indian cuisine. At the end of the ceremony, the memorial square was filled with dozens of flower bouquets laid by the officers and military attachés of the various countries and other bodies and decorated with the flags of the nation, of Haifa and the countries of India and Israel.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that about 15 years ago, the people of the Association for the History of Haifa learned that in the city of Delhi, India, every year, on the 23rd day of September, a military memorial ceremony was held in memory of the "Hero of Haifa" (that's how he is called in the Indian language). The Municipality of Haifa then turned to the Indian Embassy and offered to hold a military memorial ceremony at the British Military Cemetery on Jaffa Street in Haifa, where all the British soldiers killed in the battle for the liberation of Haifa are buried.

The military delegation and the Indian embassy were moved and responded immediately to her and since then a military and traditional ceremony has been held every year on the closest possible date, to the date of the fall of the "Hero of Haifa", on September 23. This year, because the date falls on a Saturday, the ceremony was brought forward by two days. As mentioned, this ceremony is organized by the Embassy of India in Israel in cooperation with the city of Haifa.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Alive here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Adir Yaziraf)
The dignitaries at the ceremony (photo: Adir Yizirf)

The main avenue in the city of New Delhi in India by the city of Haifa

We note that the importance attributed in India to the memory of the Indian soldiers and their commander who fell in the battle for the liberation of Haifa, is also reflected in the main avenue in the city of New Delhi, India, which was named after the city of Haifa. In the historic visit that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made to Haifa about 6 years ago, he Removed together with the then and now former Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and the former mayor Yona Yahav, the lot that tells about the heroism of the Indian soldiers and their commander in the historic battle.

Captain Hansel Sequeira

At this morning's commemoration, the Indian military attaché Captain Hansel Siquira took to the podium, who presided over the ceremony with a high hand and great grace. The first speaker at the event was the Indian Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Sanjeev Singla, who noted in his words the respect of Indian society and the mobilization of people of all religions in India for world peace. He also noted that Hindu, Muslim and Christian soldiers fought side by side in the world wars and were buried in many places in the country. The Indian ambassador to the State of Israel and the city of Haifa also thanked the beautiful and fruitful relationship between the two countries.

The climax of the ceremony

The ceremony reached its climax when a small and colorful military honor guard made his way towards the monument, stood in two lines, performed a series of seder exercises and salutes that accompanied the two minutes of the playing of the anthems of India and Israel.

At this time the audience was on its feet and the members of the various armies saluted. A unit from the Indian Army also took part in the ceremony, which championed Nishka. This unit serves at the border crossing between Israel and Syria near the city of Kontra in Syria.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Alive here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Adir Yaziraf)
Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Alive here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Adir Yaziraf)

The placement of foreigners

During the ceremony, there was a long parade of dozens of military attachés, who laid wreaths. Most of the wreaths were placed next to the main Hindu monument, but there was also a section of the secondary monument in the back of the cemetery - of Muslim Indian soldiers who fell in battles in Her Majesty's Army in Haifa.

The Indian plots In one grave were buried the ashes of the 29 Indian soldiers of Her Majesty's army whose bodies were cremated after their death, in accordance with Hindu custom. Some of these soldiers took part in the occupation of Haifa. In another plot, all the Indian Muslim soldiers are buried in one mass grave, a total of 49 soldiers are buried in the Indian plot.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Alive here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Adir Yaziraf)
Laying the wreaths at the ceremony (Photo: Adir Yizirf)

Representatives from many countries in the world

The memorial ceremony was attended by many members of the Indian Embassy in Israel, along with many military attachés from various foreign countries, including: Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Norway, Chile, Australia, England, France, Italy, Brazil, Canada, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Romania And more, as well as Mayor Einat Kalish, who were able to witness a memorial demonstration for the Indian martyrs, who fell trying to take over the positions of the Turks with bayonets and swords, and Ephraim Pozer in one of the rivers in their homeland.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Alive here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Adir Yaziraf)
Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Alive here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Adir Yaziraf)

A bit of history..

Exactly 105 years ago (September 23, 9), the British army captured Haifa in World War I, from the Turks. The occupation was carried out by the 1918th Indian Cavalry Division of the British Army and its fighters became a symbol of Indian heroism. Following a false report about the evacuation of the Ottoman forces, on 15/22/9 the British tried to occupy Balad a-Sheikh (then it was the area of ​​Tel Hanan near the city of Nesher today), but they failed. Following the failure, the British command ordered the 1918th Indian Cavalry Brigade to occupy Haifa and the next day.

On 23/9/1918, at dawn with first light, the Indian cavalry launched an attack on the city of Haifa. 2 cavalry regiments of the brigade took part in the battle: the Jodhpur lance regiment and the Mysore lance regiment. With the help of a British machine gun unit, scouts and a battery of guns and after hours of fighting, the forces managed to capture the city in the afternoon.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Eran Boker-JiniPix)
Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Eran Boker-JiniPix)

They fought with great courage until the conquest of the city

The Indian troops of the Jodhpur Battalion fought with great courage and received fire from Ottoman cannons and machine guns. The battalion commander, Major Thakur Dalpat Singh, led the charge but was wounded in the battle and killed. His place was filled by Captain Bahadur Aman Singh Jodha who led to the conquest of the city. The Jodhpur Battalion suffered 6 dead (including the Majd), 34 wounded and close to 60 dead horses.

Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Eran Boker-JiniPix)
Even after 105 years: Haifa still remembers and salutes the Indian hero soldier ● "Live here" in an extensive overview of the event (Photo: Eran Boker-JiniPix)

"Hero of Haifa"

After his death, Thakur received the title "Hero of Haifa" for his courage and heroism. In 1924, the "Tin Murti" (the three figures) monument was inaugurated in New Delhi, the capital of India, and on it are engraved the names of all the Indian soldiers who were killed in the First World War. Every year on September 23, the Indian Army celebrates the "Indian Soldier's Day", in memory of the battle to liberate the city of Haifa.

A cornerstone of Indian military tradition

The battle for the liberation of Haifa became a cornerstone in the Indian military tradition, a true story of heroism. Since 2010, when this story was revealed, every year the Indian Embassy in Israel holds a memorial ceremony in memory of the Indian soldiers who fell in battle. The ceremony was held in the Indian section of the British Military Cemetery in Kiryat Eliezer and was attended by Indian soldiers, military attachés and a large crowd.

The annual memorial ceremony to mark the event that ended 400 years of Turkish rule ► Watch

Dr. Ron Malka: "Relations between Israel and India have strategic importance of the first order"

Haifa port chairman Dr. Ron Malka, former Israeli ambassador to India, participated this morning in a ceremony to mark the occupation of Haifa by the Indian cavalry 105 years ago, during the First World War, and in memory of those who fell in the battle: "India is an integral part of Haifa's history And thanks to the Adani-Gadot group, it will also be an integral part of the city's future."

At the end of the ceremony Malka said:

I had the privilege of being at the morning ceremony commemorating the bravery of the Indian soldiers 105 years ago. The close relations between Israel and India go back many, many years. These relationships have historical and future importance. India is also an integral part of Haifa's history and thanks to the Adani-Gadot Group it will be a significant part of the city's future.
These days we are writing a new and significant chapter in the history of Haifa and making the port and the city a central part of the global trade axis from India to the West.

contact: At watsapBy email

Adir Yizrif
Adir Yizrif
Adir Yaziraf: a live reporter here for social and sports affairs

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3 תגובות

  1. As New Delhi has the Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk, my question is why the Haifa Municipality does not see fit to name a central street in the lower city after the Indian Cavalry?
    That's why I propose to the municipality that the alley between the part of the British cemetery and the Indian one be called 'Indian Cavalry Alley'
    And in the next ceremony, the lot will be removed from the alley sign and perhaps a short historical explanatory plaque next to it.

  2. The ceremony is really beautiful. I have participated in it at least five times in the last few years.
    It's a shame that they don't make a procession of the Indian army forces with the Israeli army forces from the checkpost junction to the Dolphin junction straight to the commemoration ceremony for the Indian soldier. It will be so beautiful and touristic and proper and respectable.

    • It is not practical to walk in 35 degree heat from Tsek Post to Dolphin Junction

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