Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Indore, a city steeped in civil defense history, is experiencing its wartime legacy with a nationwide mock drill on Wednesday.
This large-scale exercise, featuring sirens, blackouts and emergency response simulations, revives a tradition first established in 1943 — when Indore conducted its very first civil defence drill during the height of World War II.
Historian Zafar Ansari told Free Press that Indore’s first official civil defense drill took place in 1943 during the Second World War. At that time, a full citywide blackout was carried out to prepare people for possible air raids. The effort was led by Maharaja Yeshwantrao Holkar II, who made sure that Indore played an active role in supporting the national war effort, both through its military and by involving the public.
National War Front |
1943: Indore went dark for war readiness, ARP unit established
According to Ansari, the first civil defence drill in Indore was held in 1943, when Maharaja Holkar organised the National War Front Exhibition at Polo Ground. Opened on 23 October 1943, the exhibition taught people how to survive air attacks, with drills showing bombings and air strikes.
As part of this, the Air Raid Precaution (ARP) unit was created. The ARP trained students, villagers, and city residents in how to respond to air raids, carry out rescues and give first aid. Blackouts were practiced to help people prepare for real bombing situations.
Airforce |
Army parades city streets, Air Force stages combat simulations
The army marched through the streets, tanks rolled along city roads, and the Air Force held flyovers and combat demos. These events brought thousands of people to Polo Ground. ARP ambulances also visited remote villages to spread awareness and train local people in civil defense.
Historian Zafar Ansari holding a censored postcard dated to World War II |
Postcard censorship by British Government
Ansari noted that during World War II, all personal messages, especially postcards sent by Maratha soldiers serving in Iran and Iraq, were strictly censored by the British government. “Every postcard was checked and only allowed to go through after it was stamped with a ‘pass’ seal,” he said. This was part of the wartime monitoring and control put in place by the colonial authorities.
City of Indore Fighter Aircraft |
Indore funded a fighter plane for WW-II
Maharaja Holkar wanted citizens to be part of the war effort, so he started a public fundraising campaign. Ansari shared that people donated Rs 1 each, collecting Rs 60,000–70,000, and the Maharaja matched this amount with a royal grant. The funds were used to buy a Hurricane fighter aircraft, which carried the name “City of Indore.” The plane served in World War II but was sadly lost in action over the sea.
War contributions from mills and Maratha soldiers
Indore’s textile mills played a key role by making tent fabric for soldiers. Meanwhile, Maratha soldiers from the Holkar regiment, who were stationed abroad, often wrote home. Their letters, though censored, shared their experiences of the war and their hopes of returning home. Princess Usharaje Holkar and Maharaja Yeshwantrao Holkar personally inspected the wartime drills and exhibitions at Polo Ground, where citizens learned how to respond during airstrikes.
Post-Independence Drills: 1965 and 1971
Historians say that Indore continued its civil defence efforts even after independence, holding blackout drills again in 1965 and 1971 during times of war with neighbouring countries.
2025: Indore prepares again
More than 80 years later, Indore is once again preparing for a civil defence operation. This time, it is part of a nationwide mock drill.
Collector Asheesh Singh said the drill will have two parts: it will start at 4 pm with rescue and evacuation exercises, followed by a 12-minute citywide blackout at 7:30 pm, when sirens will sound across the city. People will be asked to turn off all outside lights and close curtains to create a blackout, similar to what was done during the war.
Hospitals have been told to display Red Cross symbols, and temporary emergency setups will be checked. The drill will also test communication systems using sirens connected to BSNL towers.
Collector Singh emphasised that this is only a precautionary drill to make sure the city is ready for any emergency.
