This mixed-media collage is inspired by a letter written in Hindi by a wounded ‘Garhwali’, an Indian soldier to his ‘guru’. The ‘Garhwali’ people are an Indian ethnolinguistic group native to the Garhwal, in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. The letter dated 17^th February 1915, was sent from England to India during the First World War. This letter along with other letters, is part of the book, ‘Indian Voices of the Great War: Soldiers’ Letters, 1914-18’ by David Omissi. In brief the letter suggests that even wounded soldiers are still sent to fight. It also asserts a fear about the duration of the war to come, and its end results. An extract from the letter reads, “Twelve kings are fighting, eight on the side of the English and four for the Germans. How much can I write about the war? It would be like writing another Mahabharata.20 I am greatly distressed in mind”.

A wounded Garhwali to his guru (India) [Hindi] 17th February 1915, was developed during Baptist Coelho’s year-long Artist-in-Residence, supported by and at Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, 2021-22. The residency was also supported by Fonds de Dotation Buchet Ponsoye, Paris; Institut Français, India. The artwork was first exhibited as part of the group exhibition at Fondation Fiminco, Romainville, from 2 June to 3 July 2022. The exhibition was curated by Yomna Osman.