24.09.10 On 'Haifa Day,' India salutes WWI troops In contrast to Haifans, the Indian military annually marks "Haifa Day," the day in which the Ottomans were ousted from the city. Along Haifa's Jaffa Street, just south of the row of fast-food and shawarma restaurants for which the city is famous, lie two cemeteries widely known as the final burial places of British soldiers who were killed in the pre-state Mandate during both world wars. Historically, Haifa became the most important city during British rule in Palestine after World War I. Its main seats of power in the country were located in the northern coastal city. But few know that one of the cemeteries on Jaffa Street is actually a memorial site to honor Indian fighters whose ashes were scattered in a river back in their homeland. Even fewer are aware that those who liberated Haifa from the yoke of Ottoman rule in September 1918 were Indian horsemen who overran Turkish positions armed with spears and swords. In contrast to Haifans, the Indian military annually marks "Haifa Day," the day in which the Ottomans were ousted from the city. This year, however, the state made amends. On Wednesday, ceremonies were held to recognize the anniversary of the battle that put an end to 400 years of Turkish suzerainty over the city with an impressive memorial attended by Indian diplomats, Haifa municipal officials, the defense minister's adviser Amos Gilad and foreign military attaches. [snip] http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/on-haifa-day-india-salutes-wwi-troops-1.315380 --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar