Remembering the Forgotten Women of World War I in British India

Historians note that roughly 1.4 million men from modern-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh fought for the British Empire during the First World War. While popular memory focuses heavily on military contributions, research shows that remembrance has historically been male-centric and overlooked the impacts on women.

Colonial authorities heavily targeted Punjab for recruitment, relying on the 'martial race theory' and offering land grants and cash rewards. However, this focus compounded existing patriarchal hierarchies and increased women's dependence on male landowners.

Archival evidence reveals that women in Punjab frequently opposed the war effort. Colonial reports from late 1914 noted that female relatives attempted to hinder recruitment, with some women tracking recruiting parties to dissuade potential soldiers and singing protest songs blaming the monarch.

Families left behind also faced severe financial strain due to delayed pay and allowances, forcing many women to pawn jewelry or beg for basic necessities. At the same time, some women used the wartime absence of their husbands to challenge domestic norms or flee with lovers, troubling colonial officials and absent soldiers alike.