Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’

Documentaries

The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’

09/05/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’

Hundreds died when an passenger ship was hit by Japanese torpedoes in 1942

In 1942, a ship carrying more than 950 passengers from India to East Africa was sunk by Japanese torpedoes. Ben Henderson speaks to the last two known survivors.

On 23 November 1942, in the middle of the Second World War, a ship called the SS Tilawa was carrying more than 950 passengers and crew from India to East Africa when it was sunk by Japanese torpedoes. 

Two hundred and eighty people died. The ship became known as the 'Indian Titanic'. 

Ben Henderson speaks to the last two known survivors, Arvind Jani and Tej Prakash Mangat.

(Photo: Arvind Jhani and Tej Prakash Mangat. Credit: their families)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The sinking of the SS Tilawa: the ‘Indian Titanic’

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service