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On the 127th birth anniversary of the great leader Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, heartfelt salutations and remembrance are being poured all across the country. Just to remember him makes our heart swell with pride and courage.
If you happen to visit the north eastern states of Manipur and Nagaland, never miss the *war memorial* at Kohima and Imphal.
When the final assault on Normandy, called as *THE LONGEST DAY*, there was another battle at the same time in another part of the world.
It is forgotten that the toughest land battle of the Second World War was fought on Indian soil. Japan suffered its biggest defeat on land in Kohima in the North East corner of India. This battle and its heroes have been forgotten.
The battle lasted 80 days, from April 4 to June 22, 1944. It was one of the crucial battles of the Second World War. On the one side was the Indian Army led by General (later Field Marshal and Viscount) Slim. On the other side were the Japanese 31st Division led by Lieutenant General Mutaguchi Renya. He had three infantry divisions. But the poignant thing from the Indian angle was that there were 1,00,000 INA soldiers fighting on the Japanese side against their fellow Indians fighting in the Indian Army.
When we stand at the war memorial at Kohima, which has been constructed in memory of the fallen soldiers of Commonwealth Army, we just can't avoid tears roll down after reading the famous epitaph
*"When you go home. Tell them of us and say. For your tomorrow. We gave our today"*
Though this war memorial is for the winning side, we had many Indian brothers, part of INA who also fell here.
It's a PARADOX for us.
It's when the great leader, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose comes to the mind..the gigantic personality...an inspiration for generations.
Jai Hind
