Remembrance Day: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio hails Naga people’s wartime sacrifices

Says battle scars reside in people’s hearts alongside stories of bravery and endurance

KOHIMA — Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, underscored the Naga people’s contribution to the Allied victory at Kohima during the 80th Remembrance Day ceremony held on Monday at the Kohima War Cemetery.

Rio emphasised how local support, endurance, and valour proved integral to the Allied success. “These men and women were ordinary people who, through extraordinary circumstances, became symbols of hope and resilience,” he said, honouring the Naga people’s wartime efforts.

He recalled a recent acknowledgement in the British House of Commons of the Naga role, noting: “It was a clash of world powers in a faraway land, a war that caused devastation and unimaginable hardships. But today, eight decades later, we remember with pride the selfless sacrifices made for freedom and the victory of democracy.”

The ceremony, held at the historic cemetery in the heart of Kohima, brought together the Nagaland state government, the British High Commission, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to remember the fallen soldiers of World War II. The Kohima War Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, is the final resting place of 1,420 Allied soldiers and the cremation site of 917 Hindu and Sikh soldiers.

Rio noted the significance of gathering on the very battleground, stating, “This Kohima War Cemetery is significant and unique as it is located on the very ground where the Battle of Kohima took place. Here, brave soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand combat against overwhelming odds to ensure that freedom and democracy triumphed.” He added that the occasion served not just as a reminder of lives lost but also of the resilience of the site, where attendees stood “on soil that had changed the course of world history.”

The chief minister recounted the fierce fighting 79 years ago, where Allied and Indian forces made a courageous stand, halting the Japanese advance and altering the course of the war. “The battle scars remain etched in these hills, serving as symbols of bravery, sacrifice, and unity that still resonate with us today,” he noted.

The chief minister further emphasised the lasting impact of the war on the Naga people, stating that Kohima will forever hold a place in history as a reminder of wartime strife and sacrifice. The Naga people have “transformed the experience of violence into a message of global peace, observing the memories of the battle to promote love and harmony,” he said, adding that the experiences of war have taught them the value of peace, unity, and oneness.

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He highlighted Nagaland’s annual World War II Peace Rally, which draws participants from Commonwealth nations as well as former adversaries “under the common agenda of global peace.”

Quoting the Kohima Epitaph, “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today,” Rio urged for continued remembrance and respect for those who served. He also urged those present not to take peace for granted but to honour this legacy by fostering unity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to peace in their communities.

Remembrance Day holds a unique significance in Nagaland, where “the scars of the battle, the stories of bravery, and the spirit of endurance live on not only in history books but also in the hearts of its people,” he said.

Moreover, for those who rest at the Kohima War Cemetery and for their generations of loved ones, this land will forever be home, symbolising England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Punjab, and beyond. “Nagaland will always welcome them as family because they fought together, and their loved ones rest here in our land,” he added.

“Today, let us reaffirm our gratitude to those who serve and protect our nations. Let us carry forward the legacy of those who rest here by building a world that values peace and unity above all else,” the chief minister urged.

Meanwhile, British Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Andrew Fleming commended Chief Minister Rio and the Nagaland government for hosting the event in Kohima. Having visited war graves around the world, he noted that the Kohima War Cemetery “stands out.”

“The geography, its remoteness in 1944, and indeed the graphic accounts of what occurred at this very place combine to make this such a deeply moving location,” Fleming said.

He noted that while the Battle of Kohima was once considered a “forgotten battle” in the UK due to its distance from Europe, efforts to raise its profile led to it being voted Britain’s greatest battle in 2013, surpassing even D-Day and Waterloo.

He commended the collaborative efforts of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Nagaland government in maintaining the site.

He also commended the Naga people’s commitment to peace, stating that their contribution is a much-needed aspiration in current times.

The ceremony included two minutes of silence, wreath-laying, and a vintage car rally flagged off by Dr. Fleming and Rio.

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