History Extra podcast VJ Day: why don't we talk about WW2 in Asia?
12 snips
Aug 14, 2025 Kavita Puri, a BBC Radio 4 broadcaster and journalist, discusses the often-neglected Asian front of World War II on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. She uncovers why the war's narratives frequently overlook significant events in Asia, like the Bengal famine and the Quit India movement. Puri shares riveting personal accounts, such as that of civilian Sheila Brown, revealing the emotional struggles of women captured during the conflict. The conversation highlights the unsung heroes in the 14th Army and explores generational shifts in understanding this overlooked chapter of history.
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The Second Map Concept
- Kavita Puri describes the 'Second Map' as a parallel theatre of war people traced alongside Europe on household maps.
- The Asian front was a distinct, simultaneous conflict shaping different experiences and attention during WWII.
Why Europe Dominated Memory
- Puri says the European war dominated because it was close and narratively neater as a struggle against Nazis.
- The Asian war involved empire, jungle terrain, disease and colonial troops, making its story messier and less heroic.
Broader Origins Beyond Poland
- Historians like Rana Mitter urge tracing WWII origins into Japan's 1930s actions in China.
- Recognising Chinese involvement reframes the wider causes and scope of the global war.
