Reflections on ANZAC Day: Citizens across the globe need to celebrate peace socially

By Pushkar Raj*
Australia along with the countries of the region commemorated ANZAC day on April 25.
For the novice, it stands for Australian And New Zealand Army Corps that fought in Gallipoli campaign in the First world war with a loss of 8,709 uniformed men from Australia, 2,721 from New Zealand and perishing 56000 allied forces.
Both the countries- Australia and New Zealand lost about 78000 combatants in the first world war.
After the II world war the day was turned into a Memorial Day for all those who had risked or laid down life in the interest of the country.

Discovery of the Ship

However, ANZAC day 2023, becomes special for the thousands of families because of discovery of an unfortunate ship whose inmates dodged the enemy but fell to prey of torpedo of the friend perishing at the bed of sea while coming back home during II World war in July 1942.
The case demonstrates futility of war in which there are no winners.
The Japanese ship, Montevideo Maru was transporting an estimated 1089 fighters from 14 nations including 779 Australians, rescued as prisoners of war held at Papua New Guinea.
But the ship was hit by mistake by an American submarine sinking it in minutes at an unknown location which was identified and located three days back but was left undisturbed as a mark of respect as ‘war grave’.
The story may have a little significance for the war mongers but for the families of victims it has an indescribable significance.
It provides them with a closure and douses the pain of wait and accompanied misery.

Pain of Loss

The families were devasted in the aftermath of sinking with tales that wrenched the heart and shook the soul questioning the war as a method of communication amongst nations.
One mother had sent her third, the youngest son to the war because the other two were willing to go and she wanted the middle one to be protected by the youngest, who was healthier and smarter. None of them came back.
In some case the families went through the harrowing experience of deprivation compromising on children’s education and at the worst giving them for adoption. The concerned family relatives numbering thousands (two were on board the search ship) were, in fact , were greater sufferer of consequences of war.
The war, that still rages so close to us that we just need to step in our lounge and switch on the television or see our palm, our mobile phone- our alter-ego!

National Peace Day

That is why if some peaceniks ask for a parallel rally for rape victims of war or any forms of protests questioning the war, they must, at least be heard, if not listened or consulted, notwithstanding UN Peace Day (21 Sep) commemorations with rehashed themes, repeated speeches, and little impact on peace building
Therefore, the governments across the globe (democracies, banana republics and superpowers) might consider fixing a day in a year when citizens have the option/ choice of commemorating the National Peace Day with preferred encouragement of a national holiday.
To argue that festivals of all religions teach peace and there is plethora of them during the year is a false assumption, for increase in religious festivity over the period has not decreased war and its suffering.
The citizens need to celebrate peace socially so that they can demand it politically when they realise that the peace of community, state, republic, nation, what you will, is in jeopardy due to irresponsible and at times manic or insane rulers.
This could be one of the ways to ensure, we never have to send our loved ones to be killed in a war at the first place, at least in democracies!
---
*Researcher and Author based in Melbourne

Comments

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan* An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...

'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Labour unrest in Manesar trigger tensions: Recently enacted labour codes blamed

By A Representative A civil rights coalition has expressed concern over recent developments in the industrial hub of Manesar in Haryana, where a series of labour actions and police responses have drawn attention. A statement, released by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), said it stood in solidarity with workers in IMT Manesar and other parts of the country, while also alleging instances of police excess during ongoing unrest.

Search This Blog