http://tinyurl.com/noorlinks                   http://tinyurl.com/noorsociety
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           \\\\\___PRINCESS NOOR APPRECIATION SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL 1998___\"-._
           /////~~~               BEGUM NOOR CONNECTION                 ~~~/.-'
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                                      Noor Inayat Khan
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        This is a webpage dedicated to Princess Noor-un-nisa Inayat Khan, George Cross, 
        Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Croix de Guerre with 
        Gold Star. 

        Heroine of the French Resistance in 1943 and author of Children's stories.
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        The following is a book review describing: "Indian Heroes and Heroines of World 
        War II" by Vidya Anand.

        Courtesy: INDIA JOURNAL
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        "I wish some Indians would win high military distinction in this war. 

        It would help to build a bridge between English and the Indians." 

        These words of World War II heroine, Princess Noor Inayat Khan, could not have 
        been more prophetic.

        Fifty years later at the "VE" and "VJ" days to mark the anniversary of the end 
        of World War II, the astonishing fact came to light at the roll call, that it 
        was Indians who outnumbered even the Britishers as the largest recipients of 
        Victoria and George Cross medals, the highest British awards for bravery.

        The unsung sacrifice of Indian men and women who fought fascism is recalled by 
        a new book published in Britain by an Indian-born historian, Vidya Anand. 

        "Indian Heroes and Heroines of World War II" is the gripping account of the exploits 
        of men and women who left their mark on world military history.

        The book gives a graphic account of exploits ranging from Princess Noor-un-nisa Inayat
        Khan, first woman agent to be parachuted into France, to Umrao Singh who made waves on 
        VJ day here to catch the attention of Prime Minister John Major and whose proud bearing 
        was instrumental in raising the pension for Victoria Cross winners.

        Noor worked for the British as an undercover agent with the French Resistance for over 
        a year evading the Gestapo and sending vital information to the British Military 
        Intelligence for D-Day landings.

        However, the young Anglo-Indian girl of the Hyderabad royal family, was betrayed and 
        captured by the Germans. 

        She was executed in 1944 at the infamous Dachau concentration camp.

        Her valour was recognized immediately after the war, when the French decorated her 
        posthumously with the "Croix de Guerre", a gold medal. 

        Three years later, the British gave her the coveted "George Cross".


        note: ONLY FOUR WOMEN WERE DIRECTLY AWARDED THE GEORGE CROSS - Three of them 
        posthumously

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        Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html 
                          Doctrine  of International Copyright Law
 
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