Bihar Ex-Servicemen Association (BESA) commemorated 100 years of the end of World War-I at an event at Krisath railway station under Danapur division of East Central Railway (ECR), Hajipur, on Sunday.

A number of serving and ex-army officers, villagers, journalists and social workers participated in the event and paid tributes to the Indian soldiers who fought in the First World War.

Germany had formally surrendered on November 11, 1918, and all nations had agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated.

Addressing the gathering, retired Colonel V.K. Singh said: “Today (Sunday), as we mark the 100th year of the end of the First World War, we reiterate our commitment towards world peace and pledge to work towards an atmosphere where the trail of death and destruction caused by wars does not occur.”

He added: “India remembers our brave soldiers who fought in the WW-I. This was a war in which India was not directly involved yet our soldiers fought for the cause of peace.”

Singh said after the 1857 revolution that started from Shahabad, the English lost confidence in the loyalty of the people of the area and so they did not want to induct people from the area in their army but the bravery of the people compelled them to recruit them in the army.

He said about 1.5 lakh Indians had taken part in the WW-I, of which 53 soldiers were from Karisath and six of them had died in the war.

“Farmers and soldiers are members of the same family and youths of the area have the ability to be recruited in the army, navy and the air force.”

He said the DRM, ECR, is interested in providing all facilities at the Karisath railway station in the memory of the brave hearts.