The nine Naga veterans who were present at the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima at Kohima War Cemetery on April 4.
70th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima
Vibi Yhokha
Kohima | April 4
“Terhü Keretho! (Most difficult war),” said 92 years old Duotsolie Vihienuo, a WWII War Veteran, when asked about his experiences on the war during the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, which was held on April 4 at the Kohima War Cemetery. Duotsolie is one among the nine Naga Veterans who were present at the commemoration. The programme started with the wreath laying ceremony at the Stone of Remembrance followed by Air Chief Marshall Sir Joe French KCB CBE (retd.), Vice Chairman Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) unveiling the Information Panel by the CWGC.
Vibi Yhokha
Kohima | April 4
“Terhü Keretho! (Most difficult war),” said 92 years old Duotsolie Vihienuo, a WWII War Veteran, when asked about his experiences on the war during the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, which was held on April 4 at the Kohima War Cemetery. Duotsolie is one among the nine Naga Veterans who were present at the commemoration. The programme started with the wreath laying ceremony at the Stone of Remembrance followed by Air Chief Marshall Sir Joe French KCB CBE (retd.), Vice Chairman Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) unveiling the Information Panel by the CWGC.
“Nowhere in history has there been so much fighting, so much agony and pain in so small a place. In this small place, because there was so much fighting, so much peace has also come about,” remarked Himato Zhimomi (IFS), Commissioner for Tourism, Govt. of Nagaland. He requested the visiting dignitaries to go back and tell others of Kohima and the many souls who lost their lives in this place. Zhimomi also emphasized on the need to reach out to both the victors of the war as well as the ones who lost.
“We look for peace and hope that it will continue,” said Air Chief Marshall Sir Joe French KCB CBE (retd.)Vice Chairman Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), who felt honored to see the Veterans. He added that the Kohima War Cemetery is one of the few places where it is difficult to hold back one’s tears.
“The journey of ‘Tomorrow’ for which they gave their lives began 70 years back and continues to go on reaching out across the land, ocean and sky binding and bonding a relationship of oneness in humanity,” said Dr. P. Ngully, Educational Trust of Kohima Society, Nagaland. While appreciating the CWGC for maintaining the graves of the fallen heroes and the memorials of those cremated, Dr. Ngully also stated that the Kohima Educational Trust was founded on the 60th Anniversary in 2004 as a Debt of Honor to the Nagas. Dr. Ngully concluded by reciting the poem No Tears Were Shed At Kohima by a veteran.
The visiting dignitaries were Air Chief Marshall Sir Joe French KCB CBE (retd.), Vice Chairman Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC); Barry Murphy, Director Africa and Asia Pacific Area CWGC; Lt. Gen Ravi Eipe (Retd.), Honorary Liaison Officer CWGC; Scott Furssedonn- Wood, Deputy High Commissioner, Eastern India; Lieutenant- Colonel Simon Coyler, Military Adviser; Andrew McAuley, Group Captain, Naval and Air Adviser; Himato Zhimomi (IFS), Commissioner for Tourism, government of Nagaland and Dr P Ngully, Educational Trust of Kohima Society.
Referred to as the Stalingrad of the East, the Battle of Kohima was fought on April 4, 1944 and is considered as the greatest battle fought. 1420 graves are maintained in Kohima War Cemetery. There were approximately 600 Nagas who fought in the WW II among which only 90 Naga war veterans are alive today.
NO TEARS WERE SHED AT KOHIMA
We were the ones who brought the grief
We died in a battle that was beyond belief
We were the ones who bore the pain
And we were buried in the monsoon rain
No tears were shed at Kohima
Our bodies are buried, but were not there
We are the raindrops in the midnight air
We are the weather so warm and fair
We are the breeze that rustles your hair
No tears were shed at Kohima
We are the stars in the midnight skies
The Christmas delight in a small child’s eyes
We are the pillows where you lay your head
We are the vision at the foot of your head
No tears were shed at Kohima
An anonymous soldier in the Battle of Kohima
We were the ones who brought the grief
We died in a battle that was beyond belief
We were the ones who bore the pain
And we were buried in the monsoon rain
No tears were shed at Kohima
Our bodies are buried, but were not there
We are the raindrops in the midnight air
We are the weather so warm and fair
We are the breeze that rustles your hair
No tears were shed at Kohima
We are the stars in the midnight skies
The Christmas delight in a small child’s eyes
We are the pillows where you lay your head
We are the vision at the foot of your head
No tears were shed at Kohima
An anonymous soldier in the Battle of Kohima
