imperial war museum:

britain had been an active player during the first world war (1914-18) and the second world war (1939-44). the technological developments during the early twentieth century made the warfare a complex and costly affair. every new invention was geared to the military ambitions. the museum exhibits war efforts of britain, its allied partners and the enemies. it also showcases the life during and after the war. it has a special section to honour Montgomery or Monty, the great hero of the second world war. it also acknowledges that even after two great wars the peace still seems elusive. while some international disputes have been successfully resolved, the others still remain. such disputes largely owe their origin to the realities of the colonial world or to the new found importance of petroleum in the modern warfare as well as economic progress.

the museum also acknowledges the contributions made by the subjects of its colonies in the wartime mobilisation. it is really heart-warming that the britain also acknowledged its racial discrimination against the black in the past. it has display of the photograph of a sardar havaldar from india and also that of nelson mendela of south africa. but i regret the museum has not given space to one more great war, which was being fought in india under the leadership of mahatma gandhi. if the ultimate objective of all the wars in the past was to seek an enduring peace, then only the war fought by the indian nation against its colonial rulers under the able leadership of mahatma gandhi could achieve its objective and paved the course for other countries elsewhere including south africa.

the museum has also showcased the involvement of britain's army in the post-second world war era in various countries. at one place it has also raised the problem of terrorism and how it is affecting the freedom of the individuals.

for photographs please visit http://picasaweb.google.com/mlkesarwani/ImperialWarMuseum