On November 20th 1942 at 17:00, S.S. Tilawa set sail for the continent of Africa. She departed from Ballard Pier, Mumbai with 222 crew members, 732 passengers, and 4 gunners. There were 9 lifeboats, over 6,000 tons of cargo, including 60 tons of silver bullion.
In the middle of the Indian Ocean, 930 miles northeast of the Seychelles, on November 23rd the Japanese Imperial Navy fired 2 torpedos and sunk Tilawa.
HMS Birmingham and S.S. Carthage rescued 678 people. Sadly 280 people perished.
Follow our quest to answer many burning questions, such as:
Emile Solanki, founder of tilawa1942.com is the first person connected to the “Indian Titanic” forgotten tragedy to touch the original S.S. Tilawa silver from 1942
Listen to our radio interview on Thursday May 16th 2024. Kash Kumar speaks with Emile Solanki on an update on the UK Commemoration, Tilawa families, Silver Bars Supreme Court decision, Durban Commemoration, and more...
On May 8th 2024, the UK Supreme Court rules on The Republic of South Africa's claim of state of immunity against the 2,364 silver bars salvaged by Argentum Exploration Ltd.
On December 9th 2023, John Coster the Founder of the Documentary Media Centre in Leicester interviews Emile Solanki for the Conflict Memory & Education project. They discuss the key 2023 developments of the work behind sharing the forgotten tragedy with the world!
On Thursday November 23rd 2023, the iconic National Maritime Museum Greenwich held the first ever commemoration on British soil to officially acknowledge the forgotten tragedy of the ill-fated S.S. Tilawa. This event memorialized the loss of 280 passengers who sadly drowned. This is the 81st year since the Japanese Navy attacked the British passenger cargo liner.
Special thanks to Hrishikesh Kannan on Radio One International India 94.3 FM for interviewing Emile Solanki for a follow-up update on developments over the past year, and plans for the 81st anniversary on November 23rd 2023 at The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK.
Listen to our 4th radio interview with Ben Jackson on BBC Radio Leicester, U.K (November 20th 2023). We provide an update on the upcoming commemoration to be held on the 81st anniversary at the London Greenwich Maritime Museum.
Listen to our conversation on Lyca Radio with the Rt Hon Mr. Keith Vaz. He interviews Founder of Tilawa1942.com Emile Solanki, Sunday November 19th at 9am GMT.
Listen to a “Witness History” episode by Ben Henderson on at BBC World Service aired on May 9th 2023.
Featuring the forgotten tragedy of the ill-fated S.S. Tilawa. Mr. Arvindbhai Jani, and Mrs. Tejparkash Kaur Manget are 2 known survivors who were interviewed and told some of their recollections.
Also, 94 year old Mr. Mervyn Maciel lost his family, and was a teenager at the time.
Thank you Ben Henderson and BBC World Service!
Click below to the hear the latest radio interviews, or watch recent TV news segments.
Click below to see the latest newspaper articles on recent developments on the S.S. Tilawa.
On December 16th 2022, The Right Honorable Mr. Rishi Sunak, U.K. Prime Minister had this office write a letter acknowledging the S.S. Tilawa tragedy.
Emile Solanki, founder of tilawa1942.com was invited to write an article for The Times of India and Sunday Mumbai Mirror. The article was published on January 1st 2023.
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Dedicated to the missing & surviving victims of the SS Tilawa tragedy.