WWII veteran passes away
Source: The Sangai Express / Ukhrul Times

Ukhrul, July 08 2023: Yangmaso A Shishak, a Second World War veteran, from Ukhrul district has left for his heavenly abode on Wednesday night after a prolonged illness.

Unfortunately, he died without his last wish fulfilled.

He wanted to see his priceless possession, an INA flag returned to him, said his family.

Popularly known as Awo Y Shishak, he was bom on January 11, 1931 and died at the age of 93 on July 5, 2023.He is survived by his wife, son and four daughters.

On Thursday, the WWII veteran was buried at his native village Shangshak in Ukhrul district, Manipur.

According to family members, he was among few living witnesses of WWII from the Tangkhul community.

Shishak, then a student, witnessed the Battle of Shangshak in 1944 in Ukhrul.

While interacting with media persons at Shangshak War Memorial, Ngazekmi A Shishak, headman of Shangshak village said that his uncle Y Shishak had kept a flag of the Indian National Army (INA) for the last 30 years before the Commanding Officer, Colonel Tejas of 24 Assam Rifles at Shangshak village borrowed it for official purpose.

He was promised that the INA flag would be returned in three days' time.

"The Commanding Officer sent his adjutant and took the INA flag in November 2022 in my presence.

But it was never returned to my uncle despitejnany requests," said the village headman.

The village headman also informed that every year on March 26, Shangshak Battle Day is observed to honour and respect the bravehearts of the battle of Shangshak.

The war veteran's son, Shaingam recalled that his father took so much pride and valued the INA flag which was initially hoisted at Harva Khangai Khorung in Khangkhui village in the 1940s.Then a student, A Shishak was a runner carrying letters from camp to camp for the British.

Later, he ran errands for the Japanese Army after the British retreated.

"I was not home when the Commanding Officer of the 24 Assam Rifles came and took the INA flag for official work on the pretext of returning it in three days' time," said Shaingam.

Despite his poor health due to old age, my father continued to urge the authorities concerned for help but he died without ever seeing the cherished INA flag again.

His last wish was to see the flag returned to him, said the son.

The Shangshak War Memorial next to Shishak's residence was constructed in 2002 by the Assam Rifles in memory of the fallen heroes of the Battle of Shangshak 1944 .

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