MY BUCKET LIST - VISIT NORTH EAST INDIA - NAGALAND

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY

C/O COL GKS REDDY
Secunderabad - 500 015.

Visit to Nagaland

          Nagaland /ˈnɑːɡəlænd/ is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part ofAssam to the north, Myanmar to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur. It has an area of 16,579 km2 with a population of 1,980,602 as per the 2011 census, making it one of the smallest states of India. The state is mostly mountainous except those areas bordering Assam valley. Mount Saramati is the highest peak with a height of 3,840 metres and its range forms a natural barrier between Nagaland and Burma. It lies between the parallels of 98-degree and 96-degree East Longitude and 26.6-degree and 27.4-degree latitude north of the equator.

          Nagaland was established on 1 December 1963 to be the 16th state of the Indian Union. It is divided into eleven districts: Kohima, Phek ,Mokokchung, Wokha, Zunheboto, Tuensang, Mon, Dimapur, Kiphire, Longleng and Peren. Its native inhabitants are the Naga tribes. Agriculture is the most important economic activity and the principal crops include rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. Other significant economic activity includes forestry, tourism, insurance, real estate, and miscellaneous cottage industries.

D + 4 (14 Mar 2013)

          Reached Dimapur by 0630h on 14 Mar and was received Col GD Raj (Retd), who was my second company Commander, after commission and a close family friend. He is married to a Naga Lady, retired during late 90’s and settled at Dimapur. I generally spent the day with his family and went around Dimapur town in the evening. I was surprised to choolsee the wide roads & huge malls in Dimapur and it was bigger and more developed than any of the towns, I had seen in Assam & Arunachal Pradesh (Photos 70 to 72).

Col GD Raj (Retd) and his Family Outside their Flat in Dimapur

With Col GD Raj and Family

In Front of Dimapur Railway Station

D + 5 (15 Mar 2013)

(a)   I left for Kohima by Taxi at 0800h on 15 Mar and was received on the outskirts of Kohima, by Mr Zapunii Angami, Director Khadi Board, Govt of Nagaland, an old friend and a junior from Sainik School Korukonda, whom I met for the first time after 44 years. I was to spend the day with Zapunii and other Naga friends from Sainik School days. On reaching Zapunii’s house, we met Mr Demero Chakesang, Chief Engr (R & B), Govt of Nagaland and Mr Tungoi Kriseitou Lotha, both saikorians and old friends.

(b)  After pleasantries we went around Kohima Town, including the famous War Cemetery, from there we went to meet Mr Anil Pradhan, Executive Engr, PHE Dept, Kohima, another Saikorian, who recently met with an accident and had his leg amputated.

(c)   In the evening, Zapunii organized a welcome cum farewell dinner at his home, as I was to leave Kohima the next morning. Col Suresh, an Ex – Saikorian posted at Zakhama, joined us for dinner. I enjoyed the day, meeting old friends after 44 years (Photos 73 to 94)

With Mr & Mrs Zapunii Angami and Mr Demero Chakesang Old Friends

KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY – NAGALAND
        

          The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East". The battle took place in three stages. From 3 April to 16 April, the Japanese attempted to capture Kohima ridge, a feature which dominated the road by which the besieged British and Indian troops of IV Corps at Imphal were supplied. By mid-April, the small British force at Kohima was relieved, and from 18 April to 13 May, British and Indian reinforcements counter-attacked to drive the Japanese from the positions they had captured. The Japanese abandoned the ridge at this point but continued to block the Kohima–Imphal road. From 16 May to 22 June, the British and Indian troops pursued the retreating Japanese and reopened the road. The battle ended on 22 June when British and Indian troops from Kohima and Imphal met at Milestone 109, ending the siege of Imphal.


          The Kohima war cemetery is dedicated to the 10,000 Allied soldiers who lost their lives during the Japanese invasion during the World War-II, however, the cemetery actually contains only 1420 Graves. These brave hearts fighting for the Allied forces had admirably blocked the Japnese invasion right at the border of India. The cemetery has been beautifully decorated with lush green carpet grass and is meticulously maintained. The famous plaque at the Cemetery Reads

When you go home, tell them of us and say
that for their tomorrow, we gave our today.....

Kohima War Cemetery

Kohima War Cemetery

The Famous Plaque at Kohima War Cemetery

The Solitary Grave of a Rhino at the Cemetery.

With Mr Tungoi Kriseitou Lotha at the Cemetery

with Mr Zapunii Angami at the Cemetery

With Mr & Mrs Anil Pradhan an Ex - Saikorian Whose Leg was Amputated in an Accident

With Mr Demero, Col Suresh, Mr Zapunii Angami and Mr Tungoi Lotha During Dinner

With Mrs Zapunii Angami & Children during Welcome / Farewell Dinner

EXOTIC  FLOWERS OF NE AT MRS ANGAMIs SMALL ROOFTOP GARDEN

Exclusive Group Photo with Mr Zapunii's Family, Prior to Departure on 16 Mar 2013

Note:-Information about the places given in this blog is Courtesy Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia