How Thailand Became A Hub For Indian Revolutionaries During WW1

Words by Konkana Ray

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These special 1980s ‘Air India’ playing cards were once a part of Air India's inflight complimentary items, especially on long haul flights, and are now a rare collector's item. Air India was seen as a prime example of genius marketing in the mid-20th century, earning the company a myriad of advertising awards and a loyal legion of fans. While the Maharaja remains Air India’s mascot to this day, he is most fondly remembered worldwide for his role in India’s golden age of advertising. (Available now)

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How Thailand Became a Hub for Indian Revolutionaries during WW1

“Let us unite and strike. This is our opportunity,” proudly proclaimed Ghadar di Gunj in their cry to Indians across the world, pleading them to unify in a battle against British colonial forces amidst the bloodstained First World War.

In May 1915, nine months after Britain entered the First World War, their extensive intelligence network acquired inputs about the possibility of mass mutinies by Indian servicemen. According to these intercepts, Germany and the Ghadar Party had hatched an insidious plot whereby armed revolutionaries would enter British India from Siam (now Thailand) and encourage Indian army personnel to revolt and seize power from the colonial authorities. In the early 20th century, Ghadar Party members found Thailand an ideal base to plot attacks on British colonialists in India.