WesWorld

India News Wrap-Up, Q3/22

6 July 1922

Having graduated with his bachelor's degree in political science, Crown Prince Shrinivas has just three weeks to relax before his next challenge begins: a military career.

The Crown Prince will be breaking from the tradition established by his ancestors back to the Mughal times: he will not be an infantry officer. Instead, he will be reporting to the Naval College at Mumbai, for training as a seaman. It is expected that, following completion of the training, the prince will serve only the minimum two years as an enlisted man before being accepted into the 1925 Officer Recruitment Program.

The break in tradition has not surprised royal watchers, who noted that India’s development into a regional naval power made the decision a logical one.

30 July 1922

Following relatively unsuccessful government relief operations in monsoon-stricken Dhaka, an anonymous group of local citizens have taken the unprecedented step of asking to elect the region’s senior officials.

“The appointed men were not sensitive to the needs of the people as a whole”, said a typewritten statement mailed to the Dhaka Daily Update newspaper. “When alleviating the suffering of families becomes secondary to controlling a budget, something is wrong with the government. We respectfully ask that the Raj consider our request to choose those senior officials responsible for local issues, so that decisions are made for the people, by the people.”

Neither the Raj nor the government has responded to the statement, which is considered a bold move given how strongly the government has previously reacted to any perceived threats to its power.

17 August 1922

The Raj is recovering in a hospital in Chittagong after contracting a case of malaria. The Imperial Physician’s Office stated that the case was relatively minor, and that the Raj is in no danger. “The Raj has agreed to remain in hospital for a few days so that his condition may be observed”, said a spokesman.

It’s not known when the Raj contracted the disease, as malaria patients can have further bouts of the ailment well after their initial infection.

2 September 1922

Another cyclone has brought death and destruction to Indian shores. The storm made landfall about eighty miles west of Dhaka, bringing with it tremendous volumes of rain, high winds, and a storm surge estimated at five feet. Approximately four hundred people are believed to have perished in the villages hardest hit.

The death toll is worse offshore, where an overladen ferry and her would-be rescuer sank in bad seas. Survivors say that the ferry had left Dhaka with about six hundred people, despite only being authorized to carry three hundred fifty. The ship began taking on water after being caught by the cyclone, and a distress signal was sent out. The destroyer G-112 attempted to take on the passengers and crew of the ferry, but was repeatedly smashed into the ferry’s side by the cyclone’s high waves, causing serious damage to the warship and hastening the ferry’s demise.

It is believed that barely two hundred passengers made it off the ferry before it sank; most of them, and all but eight of the destroyer’s crew, lost their lives when the destroyer went down about two hours later.

31 September 1922

Commissioning ceremonies for the aviation ship Palk Bay were held today at Madras. The nation’s first purpose-built naval aviation ship is designed to carry up to ten seaplanes, and is also fitted with hydrographic and scientific facilities.

Admiral Sanjay Das told reporters, “Palk Bay provides the nation with much need scouting and scientific abilities. Following the completion of her shakedown cruise, she will deploy to the Chagos Archipelago to undertake surveying activities in conjunction with the Naval Oceanographic Institute.”