📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Yann Forget
Business
Madhya Pradesh Family’s 1917 Loan of ₹35,000 to Britain Highlights Forgotten War Contribution
✍️ livemint.com
🗓 10 Aug 2026, 05:35 PM
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A family from Madhya Pradesh lent ₹35,000 to the British government in 1917 to support World War I, a gesture that has recently come to light.
A family from Madhya Pradesh is now recognized for lending ₹35,000 to the British government in 1917, a substantial sum used to finance World War I efforts.
Archival records show that the loan was part of a broader campaign by Indian families to support the Allied war effort, with many contributing through bonds and direct financial assistance.
While the family’s name has not been widely publicized, their contribution is documented in the British India loan registers, underscoring the financial role that Indian civilians played during the war.
The discovery of this loan has prompted historians to re‑examine the economic ties between colonial India and Britain during the early 20th century, highlighting a lesser‑known chapter of India’s wartime history.
Archival records show that the loan was part of a broader campaign by Indian families to support the Allied war effort, with many contributing through bonds and direct financial assistance.
While the family’s name has not been widely publicized, their contribution is documented in the British India loan registers, underscoring the financial role that Indian civilians played during the war.
The discovery of this loan has prompted historians to re‑examine the economic ties between colonial India and Britain during the early 20th century, highlighting a lesser‑known chapter of India’s wartime history.