Matchbox Heroes

"Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he's not a hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a dark knight."- Lt. James Gordon. As the camera pans on Batman taking flight on his batpod with the police dogs set on him like a hungry pack of wolves, the commissioner of Gotham City summarizes how a hero can sometimes be misunderstood and labeled a villain even as the common men (in this case the habitants of Gotham City) reap the benefits of his valiant efforts.

The history of mankind has been witness to many an unsung hero, who has, by his actions and bravery, filled the shoes of ten men at a time, and yet has gone unrecognized. The deadliest conflict in the history of mankind, the World War II saw the only usage of nuclear weapons in warfare, besides the Holocaust and mass deaths of the populace. Perhaps the most unnoticed of all the heroes that sacrificed themselves in the biggest war that mankind has ever engaged in are the women of Korea, China, Japan and Philippines, but women from Thailand, Vietnam,Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, and other Japanese-occupied territories.

These women, often called "jugun ianfu", Japanese for Military Sex Slaves were forced into prostitution after being abducted from their homes. Some were only at the beginning of their teens, when they were forced into the flesh trade. The euphemism used for them was “military comfort women” and they were placed in military brothels. Estimates say that a staggering number of 200,000 women were working as prostitutes, to serve the soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army.

Japanese historian Yoshiaki Yoshimi states that the undercurrent of discontentment amongst  the soldiers led to this kind of a well-organized process of prostitution. These women remain unnamed and faceless in the pages of history, where more valiant and dauntless people occupy place of respect, but the "jugun ianfu" still remain a major factor in the way Japan kept its militia organized.

Looking further back into the pages of history unfolds interesting facts from the ancient times. Plagiarism, it reveals, which has become such a big issue in today’s world ruled by technology, has been present in the entire history of mankind. History gives credit to The Greeks for their invention of Mathematics, Philosophy, Art and Architecture, but little do people know that this adroitness was derived and not invented by them. NASA and BBC have both studied and explained how the Egyptians were the ones who originally developed the Pythagorus theorem, which was only adopted by Pythagorus who studied in Egypt. The ancient Greeks have also been held responsible by the BBC in its study, for borrowing the Egyptian alphabet and taking credit for it. The Egyptians never got their due credit for inventing the alphabet and remain the Matchbox Heroes till date.

Jumping forward to the 18^th century again shows some interesting facts that failed to make it to the pages of history. History has always been unkind to the less glamorous people, and has always given privilege to the people who have hogged the limelight or have made big inventions. But some others who have made earnest and substantial changes in the history of mankind, have got lost in the midst of the pages and the covers that honor the more efficacious ones.

Did anyone care to find out about the smaller inventions of the Industrial Revolution? It was Charles Brooks who invented the street sweeper, the machines with the big brushes. If searched thoroughly, Brooks might be found in one of those thick books of history, with a mention of his name beside his invention. No one wants to spend newsprint on someone who cannot glamorize himself.

The Industrial Revolution actually took place in Great Britain, and then it spread to the other parts of the world. It definitely was a boon to mankind, a huge leap from the previously manual labour and draft-animal-based economy. The introduction of the machine based economy changed the world forever and paved the way for the technology that has become such an indispensible part of our lives today.

Everyone knows that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and Alexander Graham Bell the telephone. But has history cared to find out that it was Lewis Latimer who invented the filament of the bulb and diagramed the telephone for Graham Bell? Even the inventor of the refrigeration system for trucks, later adopted for airplanes, trains and boats has somehow escaped the pages of history and remains unknown to most of the people.

They have remained unnamed and faceless, but history wouldn’t have been the same without them. I salute all those matchbox heroes for making the world that is.