Hearts of Steel
The Maharaja of Jodhpur called on his subjects to do their bit and stop the Nazis.
1942
King George VI 1936-1952
The Maharaja of Jodhpur called on his subjects to do their bit and stop the Nazis.
1942
King George VI 1936-1952
On May 15th, 1942, Maharaja Sir Umaid Singh of Jodhpur spoke at the inauguration of the National War Front in Jodhpur. Already many thousands of Indians had volunteered to help stop Nazi Germany from taking Britain’s place as India’s Presiding Power, and now His Highness addressed himself to those left behind.
“SONS and Daughters of Marwar!* My words to you on this occasion will be few, for the perilous times we live in call for deeds and not words.*
“Up to now many millions of us in India have watched the war from afar; we have sat in safe security while our troops and those of our Allies have fought bravely to keep the brutal invader from our shores. But the time has come for all of us to give more help and we must be prepared for the worst. I want you to assist the war effort in every way you can; to steel your hearts to resolution and courage.
The Princely State of Jodhpur, within the Rajputana Agency of British India, was formerly the Kingdom of Marwar. The Maharaja’s affection towards the British Crown was very much mutual, founded on the trust established by Colonel James Tod: see The Quiet Kingdom.
Umaid Singh was a man of foresight, more so than many in Westminster. On September 17th, 1938, days before Neville Chamberlain brokered the worthless Munich Agreement, the Maharaja sent a telegram to King George VI pledging his ‘unflinching loyalty’, and added: ‘I beg further to offer my personal services unreservedly and to place all the resources of my State, both Civil and Military, at the disposal of the Imperial Government in the event of war breaking out.’
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
To whom was the Maharaja’s speech addressed?