Azad Hind Fauz and the advanced INA Headquarters, Moirang
- Part 2 -

Mairembam Prithviraj Singh *

Indian National Army (INA) museum at Moirang :: June 2011

Fifty to sixty persons were involved in the delivery of the food materials. In the first instant, three tons of rice along with another one and a half tons of grains, vegetables, dry fish, etc. were provided. Providing rations for thousands of the Indo-Japanese forces for a period of three months during a situation of war was no mean task, it reveals the involvement, encouragement, and participation of the public of Moirang and Manipur to the Freedom Movement of India.

Thirteen other members of the Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha namely (1) Th. Angou (2) P. Tomal (3) S. Ibohal (4) I. Tombi (5) L. Bijoy (6) Kanhai (7) M. Jatra (8) W. Gyaneshwor (9) M. Amuba (10) L. Irabat (11) Kh. Jugeshwor (12) O. Keinya Devi, and (13) M. Randhoni Devi, also secretly came over to Moirang to join the INA and support the arriving Indo-Japanese forces. Apart from providing rations the locals also provided much-needed information and intelligence about the enemy camps to Col. Shaukat Ali on a daily basis.

From the INA HQ at Moirang, the INA and Japanese forces mobilised to attack the British position i.e. the 17 th British Column at Bishnupur but could not proceed as it was well manned, equipped, and supplied; moreover, they occupied a better position. On another side, America intensified its attack on Japan and compelled it to reserve all its air force and resources to defend the motherland. Thus, the Indo-Japanese forces on their expedition to Imphal were left high and dry without any supplies or air support.

The heavy monsoons which had arrived a month early made transportation and mobilisation almost next to impossible; many of the Indo-Japanese forces also died of malnutrition and diseases like malaria due to the shortage of medicine and supplies.

Still, the combined forces of the 1/214 regiment, 1/215 regiment, and the disintegrated part of the 33rd Division converged at Maibam Lotpaching (Red Hill) and prepared to attack Imphal. They constructed "Pimples", "Foxhole" and "Gunner Boxes" around the entire region of Red Hill. Then they blocked the supply lines to the 17th Columns of British at Bishnupur. Meanwhile, Field Marshall Slim of the British Army found the right time to utilize the whole reserves of the Allied Force.

All the while, he had been increasing the reinforcement day by day by airlifting via the Koirengei Airfield and formed a Composite Force called 'Woodforce' to sweep away the stiff resistance offered by the Indo-Japanese Forces at Maibam Lotpaching (Red Hill). Woodforce was a combination of a group of the 17th Column at Bishnupur and a large number of fighters from the Imphal side with heavy artilleries–the powerful Bofor field guns and Lee Tanks.

On the other side the Indo-Japanese forces, except for their stiff courage, had very limited stock. Despite the shortage of bullets, arms, and ammunition, they kept on fighting with their hands and bayonets with war cries and still proceeded forward. The Allied Forces could not control this onslaught of courageous Indo-Japanese fighters.

Finally, Royal Airforce planes had to be used to gun down and bomb the Indo-Japanese side to completely wipe out the route. This was the bloodiest battle called the 'Battle of Imphal' which lasted from 24th May to 30th May 1944. The casualty of the Indo-Japanese regiment was so incredibly high that at least 2000 men were killed from the aerial bombing at this battle.

Ultimately the Japanese army realized the eventuality of defeat due to the imminent heavy casualty, monsoon, and the impossible chance of another fresh operation with the depleted army strength. Then, General Mutaguchi, the Commander of the whole Operation gave orders to all his fighting troops operating in Manipur to retreat towards Rangoon on or before 25th July 1944.

Consequently, the surrounding areas of headquarters of Moirang were declared an "enemy zone" by the British. The 17 members of Mahasabha who had joined the INA were listed as traitors and a "shoot at sight" order was issued against them by the British Political Agent in Manipur. The four members from Moirang namely K. Gopal Singh, L. Sanaba Singh, H. Nilamani Singh, and M. Koireng Singh had to leave Moirang from their hide-outs on the night of 20th July 1944 and proceed with a perilous journey on foot to re-join with the INA at Rangoon.

The aged K. Gopal Singh, who was also the father-in-inlaw of M. Koireng Singh expired due to illness before reaching Rangoon. Rangoon was retaken by the British in May 1945 and the three freedom fighters from Moirang were eventually captured by the British and imprisoned at Rangoon Central Jail. On 18th August 1945 official Japanese radio made the controversial announcement of the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra from third-degree burns after his overloaded plane crashed in a Japanese-occupied air base at Taihoku, Formosa (now Taiwan).

In his biography, Netaji rightly said, "In the mortal world, everything perishes and will perish, but ideas, ideals, and dreams do not. One individual may die for an idea - but the idea will after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives. That is how the wheels of evolution move on and the ideas, the dreams of one generation are bequeathed to the next."

The courage of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose inspired all the Indians after his death. His followers as POWs became the heroes of the Nation. When the Red Fort trial started, the British Government felt the heat of the rising sentiment of the whole country. In January 1946, a massive strike was imposed by officers and pilots of the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). By February, the ships of the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) also joined the mutiny. Civilians in Mumbai joined the strikes as well. This was a clear sign of mass mutiny against the British Government, resulting in the final dialogue of independence.

Owing to the prevailing situation, all POWs of INA had to be released. The three persons of Moirang namely M. Koireng Singh, H. Nillamani Singh, and L. Sanaba Singh were also released from their imprisonment at Rangoon.

The Sacred Moirang Kangla where the first flag declaring the liberation of India was hoisted on 14th April 1944 is a constant reminder of the courage and ideals of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indo-Japanese forces and will remain a hallowed place of pilgrimage for all Indians and Japanese, forever.

The INA Martyrs' Memorial Complex stands in pride here as a testimony to the courage and sacrifices of the Indo-Japanese forces. To this day, the valley of Manipur remains sanctified by the blood and tears of the brave soldiers of the INA and Japan, who had fought and given up their lives to bring freedom to the country.

Until 2020 the only Advanced Headquarters of the INA on Indian soil, located at Moirang Konjengbam Leikai, from where some of the most important movements in the The Freedom Struggle of India took shape and transformed into action, did not receive due recognition, if not completely forgotten. For seventy long years i.e. from 1944 to 2020 the original structure of the Advanced Headquarters of the INA which belonged to the Late Shri Hemam Thambal Singh had been protected and preserved by his sons and descendants without much of any support.

Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh, in 2020 took the initiative to protect the historic monument that is the INA Headquarters and develop the compound into a befitting Complex to honour the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and to preserve the narrative of Manipur's contribution to India's Struggle for Freedom. The Government of Manipur then acquired 1.6193 acres from 31 residents to set up the Complex and allotted alternative land to the affected residents.

Now, the INA Headquarters compound has been developed into a beautiful complex with the INA Headquarters in its heart. A replica of the granite monument of the INA's memorial in Singapore before its demolition by the British Indian Army in 1945, has been erected at the compound with the motto of the INA i.e. ITEFAQ (Unity) ITMAD (Faith) and KURBANI (Sacrifice) inscribed.

In fulfilment of the BJP Government's commitment to the freedom fighters of the Nation, the INA Headquarters Complex was remotely inaugurated and dedicated to the public by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 4th January 2022. A 165-foot-tall tri-colour flag which is the tallest in North-East India was newly erected in the Complex and was unfurled by Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah on 6th January 2023 in a grand function.

The Advanced INA Headquarters, Moirang is a tourist destination for all freedom-loving citizens of the world. May it forever remind all the Indians of the courage and sacrifices of the Indo-Japanese forces and their supporters, and inspire everybody toward a selfless and strong sovereign Nation. Jai Hind !

Concluded...