Navy’s gesture to the Battle of Imphal elates Northeast

Indian Navy had no role to play in the Battle of Imphal in 1944 between the Allied forces and the Japanese during the World War-II.

But the naming of one of its new warships as INS Imphal, on the 75-year of the battle on the hills, has made many in the Northeast elated and thankful to the Navy.

“In recognition of Imphal being the major battleground during WW-II, the Indian Navy launched guided missile destroyer INS Imphal. I on behalf of the people of Manipur appreciate the Government of India for the befitting recognition,” Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted on Facebook, hours after the warship was “launched” in the water from Mazagon docks in Mumbai, on Saturday.

Imphal and Nagaland capital Kohima was the theatre of WW-II, from where the Allied forces had chased and defeated the Japanese. The Battle of Imphal that took place around Imphal, the present capital of Manipur between March to July in 1944 saw the Allied forces drive the Japanese forces back into neighbouring Burma or present Myanmar. The Japanese Armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India but were driven away with the help of local soldiers. Together with the simultaneous Battle of Kohima on the road, the battle was the turning point of the Burma Campaign, part of the South-East Asian Theatre of the World War-II.

“The interesting fact about naming the ship as INS Imphal is to honour the Battle of Imphal and Kohima and representation of a capital town of a Northeast state. This is the first Naval ship named after any city in our Northeast,” said defence spokesperson based in Shillong, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh.

Manipur and Nagaland recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal and Kohima, recently.

Hemant Singh Katoch, writer of Imphal 1944: The Japanese Invasion of India said the Navy’s gesture highlighted an important battle in the country’s military history and paid homage to Northeast India and the city of Imphal. “This is a very welcome gesture on the part of the Indian Navy. I hope this will spread knowledge about the Battle of Imphal and Battle of Kohima,” Katoch told DH.

“For four months, over 200,000 men clashed in the hills and valley of Manipur in what has since been described as one of the greatest battles of World War II. Although numbers vary, it is estimated that some 30,000 Japanese soldiers died and 23,000 were injured at Imphal–Kohima in 1944 due to fighting, disease and in the retreat back to Burma. It remains the largest defeat on land ever for the Japanese Army,” Katoch said in his book.

After commissioning, INS Imphal will join the ranks of operational destroyers like INS Delhi, INS Mumbai, INS Mysore, INS Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Chennai.