Atomic Bombing of #Hiroshima & #Nagasaki led to establishment of Cheshire Homes all over the world Brig. K.G. Behl (Retd.)

Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki led to establishment of Cheshire Homes all over the world
Brig. K.G. Behl (Retd.)

Vice-Chairman, Cheshire, Home, Dehradun.

The two flourishing cities of Japan, Hiroshima & Nagasaki were bombed by American’s with the Atomic weapons in the closing stages of the World War-II, to secure speedy surrender from Japan and establish America’s power. The way Japanese were cornered from all side it was expected that they may surrender soon and many of them were strifed with bombing in different places and probably they lost more people in war than by the atomic bombing of these two cities. On 6th August, 1945 at 8.16 am Americans dropped a bomb of the intensity of 20,000 tonnes of TNT at the industrial city of Hiroshima which was totally devastated the town and killed about 78,150 people and injuring an equal number, out of their total population of 3.5 lacs living in the city. How gruesome this attack was can be well imagined from the destruction it caused all over. It totally flattened the city and the deadly radiations of the Atomic bomb spread outwards which raged fire storms, torturing people. A typical mushroom cloud arose which blinded the atmosphere with light and radiations. It was pathetic scene as described by those who were lucky to escape or were injured. It was inhuman and unexpected from Americans who were leading the World War-II. The whole world cried against the offense and worshipped for peace.

As if it was not enough, the Americans dropped another device this time a plutonium bomb on 9th August at Nagasaki, which again killed about 38,000 persons and injured and terrorized an equal number. This forced Japan to surrender immediately, unconditionally and thus World War–II, came to an end thereafter.
On this shocking incident, the whole world and people prayed for peace. The stories of devastation which took place in Japan spread all over the world, as it was treated by people as crime against the humanity. It had a telling effect on India who was fighting its War of Independence, peacefully under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Japanese surrender had a telling effect on Indian War of Independence, which Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was leading abroad, in collaboration with the Japanese and had almost reached the vicinity of Kohima in India to defeat British. Meanwhile the Japanese had already handed over the administration of Andaman Nicbar islands to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, where he had established Indian rule. It was immediately after the surrender of the Japanese that, the Japanese Prime Minister invited Netaji to come to Tokyo and take whatever he wished, because Japanese were surrendering. It is during this transit that Netaji, lost his life in the air crash which took place on its way to Tokyo. This was a big blow to the country, though it had already given a big jolt to British Govt. and they knew that Indian forces can revolt at any time.

In the American mission of Atomic bombing of Hiorshima and Nagasaki one of the members was Gp. Capt. Leonard Cheshire, an ace pilot of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) who, flew along, in the role of an observer as a representative of the then British Prime Minister Mr. Clement Atlee.

Cheshire who was 25 yrs. young at that time, was the youngest Gp. Captain in the RAF, who joined RAF in 1940 when British were fighting for its survival in World War-II. He voluntarily dropped his higher rank to command, the illustrious and renowned 617 Bombers Squadron as a Wing Commander. It was a job of great courage which won him many laurels in different fields, where they carried out very difficult jobs assigned to the Squadron. After Nagasaki incident, Lord Cheshire was deeply moved and was touched by the inhuman treatment meted to the people.

He returned home and resigned from RAF and collected a band of fellow ex-servicemen to form a community group named “Vade in Pacem” i.e. may you walk in peace and functioned from his house in the country where he lived. In order to provide succor to the suffering humanity and to rationalize himself of the involvement in such a heinous crime, though externally. He laid the foundation of Cheshire homes World over. He came to India in 1955 which proved to be the gateway through which the concept of Cheshire Homes flowed to other countries. He established first home at Bombay.

Then he came to Dehradun at the instance of the then Indian Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, in August, 1956 and started the Cheshire Home at Dehradun for the care and upkeep of physically and mentally handicapped persons. He started the Cheshire Home at Dehradun in August, 1956 with one child at the present Govind Bhawan, the premises which were endowed by the Raj Kumari of Nabha, with the blessings of Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister. Here he lived alone for first two crucial years where he did all the chores for the upkeep of the child himself. Later it became a center to look after and rehabilitate the disabled, handicapped and incurable men, women and children of all castes, creeds, colours and religions.

Today there are 280 Cheshire Homes in 55 countries of the world out of which 23 are in India and out of those Dehradun Cheshire Home, is one of the best administered. Presently there are around 45 inmates who are being looked after well from all angles. Since it is secular, neatly maintained having transparency in every field, and is purely maintained on donations many donors regularly visit the home to donate and help the home.

Lord Cheshire was so humble in nature that no work was below his dignity and the same spirit he passed on to all people who voluntarily came forward to help disabled people.

Such was the impact of dropping of Atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki which stirred the souls of people all over the world. Its no wonder that people remember this day and pay their tributes to the people who lost there lives in this inhuman way and come forward to help those who are disabled physically, mentally or otherwise. We pray for peace in the World.