Homage paid to fallen heroes of Imphal Battle of WW-II
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 27 2014 : Homage was paid to those who were killed in the Imphal Battle of World War II on Friday during a memorial service held at Imphal Indian War Cemetery, Hatta and Imphal War Cemetery, Dewlahland here.

Representatives from different nations also came to join the event held under the aegis of the Organising Committee of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Imphal (WW II) in collaboration with Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Manipur Governor VK Duggal and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam led the congregation in laying wreaths and paying homage to the departed souls.

Apart from observing one minute silence, Bihar Regiment also paid the gun salutes both at the Hatta and Dewlahlane World War �II cemeteries.

Barry Murphy, Director, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Jane Spear, First Secretary (Defence), Australian High Commission to India, Col Larry J Redmond, Military Attache, Embassy of United States, Scott Furssedonn Wood, British Deputy High Commissioner to India, Major General BM Bali, GOC 57th Mountain Division, Dr KH Palin, Managing Director, Shija Hospitals, Dr Th Dhabali and RK Nimai, Commissioner, Art & Culture Department, Manipur, 10 veterans of WW II from the State, Hugo Slim, Professor, Oxford University, etc were among others who were present on the occasion.

Homage paid to fallen heroes of Imphal Battle of WW-II

Prof Hugo Slim is the grandson of William Slim, Field Marshal of British army who fought against the Japanese army in the Battle of Imphal in WW-II which has been declared as the biggest battle fought in the history of British Army.

Addressing the gathering, Governor VK Duggal said that wars throughout the history have rendered millions dead and many more injured, besides damaging the economy of both the victor and the vanquished.

He said, "To take the matter a little further, I may allowed to say that in wars there are no victors in the true sense as both sides suffer tremendous losses" .

"With time, the horrors of the battle of Imphal have eroded and now the opposing parties have become friends.

For the Indians, there were members on both the sides and I would like to take this opportunity to request all of you present here that when we pray for the departed souls, let us do so for all those who were killed and not for particular sides or nationalities," Duggal said.

Highlighting the darker sides of wars, the Governor said despite knowledge about the great losses the war causes, even in the 21st century conflicts are still going on in various parts of the globe leading to some of the largest human miseries, with thousands killed, injured, displaced, etc.

In conflict, the generic core is violence and destruction, therefore, there is a need to settle all differences through negotiations in the present civilized world, Duggal observed, while exhorting all, 'War should no longer have a place in the society today.

We should all take a vow to work towards this goal" .

Duggal then said the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal fought during the 2nd World War by the two organizations with supports from the government of Manipur is a laudable effort.

This brings to the fore the importance of Manipur in the history of the 2nd World War.

"This effort of bringing together both sides will be a small but significant platform for reconciliation, understanding and peace.

I am glad that representatives from to all those who were killed in the battle.

Let us all strive for attaining the ideal of global peace where violence is eschewed in all its forms," Duggal further added.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy CM Gaikhangam said observation of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal brings him happiness and thanked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for taking care of the two cemeteries at Imphal.