A memorial will be erected in Southampton in memory of all Indians who fought in the World Wars. Twentieth century Sikh fighter pilot, cricketer and golfer from Oxford University Hardit Singh Malik is to be immortalised in a sculpture, the design for which has now been approved for a memorial in the port city of Southampton.
Commenting on the announcement, Lord Rami Ranger CBE said, “The story of Air Ace Hardit Singh Malik is inspirational. He faced racism and bigotry even when he wanted to fight to save Britain from the German invasion in the first world war. He tried to join the Royal Air Corps but was turned down on account of his race. He instead joined the French Air Force, and luckily, his professor at Oxford University discovered this and wrote to the head of the Royal Flying Corps, who allowed Mr Malik to join the British RFC. This is how the first Indian could fly for Britain. His statue will remind us of our shared history and struggles.
“The idea to immortalise Hardit Singh Malik came from the Committee of ‘One Community Hampshire & Dorset’, led by Mr Pritheepal Singh. It is heartening to know that Southampton Council is fully supportive and behind the idea.”
Hardit Singh Malik first arrived in the U.K. in 1908 as a 14-year-old to Balliol College at the University of Oxford and went on to become a member of the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. As the first Indian and turbaned pilot with a specialised helmet, he became famous as the "Flying Sikh". He also played cricket for Sussex and was also the Indian Ambassador to France after a long and distinguished career in the Indian Civil Service. But it is as a fighter pilot during 1917-19 that he is best known.
He served on the Western Front flying a Sopwith Camel on combat missions across France and Italy. He was one of only two Indian pilots to survive the war, despite being wounded and crash-landing behind enemy lines in October 1917 when his aircraft was found to have been hit more than 450 times.
More than 1.2 million Indians fought and 70,000 died during World War One, although only four became pilots.
The statue and plinth is set to be almost 17ft (5m) high in total. It is hoped the statue will be installed near the city's Sea City Museum by April 2023.
