Remembering Japanese War Memorial from my perspective

Prof Hijam Rajendra Singh (retd)
As quoted by John Parratt in “Wounded Land”, “By the time the war ended, Manipur had been forcibly dragged into the modern era. This is no exaggeration. Indeed, Manipur is the part of India that was most affected by the Second World War and its Burma campaign. From being a quiet corner of the Raj with few links to the outside world in early 1942. Manipur became a frontline state between the British and the Japanese once the latter took over Burma that year.
It brings back bitter sweet memories of the bygone days, a nostalgic feeling to pen down a few words on “Japan Laan” and the then construction of the Japanese War Memorial at Nambol, Red Hill or also known as Maibam Lokpa Ching. It is a hillock about 17 Kms south of Imphal City on Tiddim Road (NH-150) where a fierce battle was fought at the site between the Allied Forces and the Japanese Forces during World War II. Japanese war veterans in 1994 constructed a monument at the foot of this hill and named it “India Peace Memorial to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Imphal. It is a place of pilgrimage for Japanese tourists and the only recent memorial in India to be built by the Japanese.
World War II broke out somewhere in 1939 and had eventually reached Manipur with allied forces and axis forces battling it out in Manipur in what was popularly known as “The Japan Laan” locally. The battle was fought in Imphal and Kohima. Successive battles were also fought at Tamu-Shenam, Tiddim-Bishenpur, Sangshak-Litan, Shenam-Pallel. Kanglatongbi-Nungshigum. On April 14, 1944, the Indian National Army (INA) and the Japanese Army had reached Trongloubi and captured the British camp. The INA Tricolour, with the springing tiger depicted on it, was hoisted at Moirang Kangla by Colonel Malik. This was the first flag raised on liberated Indian Territory. From Moirang, they advanced towards Imphal, making the Allies retreat all the way. Originally under the control of the British Army. Red Hill was attacked on the evening of the 20th of May by around 500 Japanese troops. Nine days of vicious fighting ensued between the two sides until Allied reinforcements arrived in the form of infantry, armour, sappers, and two troops of tanks and reclaimed Red Hill for the British Army. It was the closest the Imperial Japanese Army got to Imphal from the south during the Battle of Imphal. The Battle of Red Hill unfortunately proved a disaster for the advancing Indo-Japanese forces. The IV Corps of the Allied Forces and 15th Japanese Army had an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation, but the carpet bombing by the RAF planes spelled doom for the conquerors. Nearly 200 Japanese soldiers died, the INA too suffered huge causalities. Red Hill was strewn with the battle dead. Most were buried hurriedly by the retreating Japanese. Even years later, bones were regularly uncovered after rains washed off the top soil.
As witnessed and narrated by my grandfather Late Mairembam. Angangyaima Singh, the elder brother of Mairembam Koireng Singh (First elected Chief Minister of Manipur and freedom fighter during the Second World War) there were heavy gun fights between the Japanese force and the Royal British force during the Second World War. The Royal British force used anti-aircraft, machine guns, and top guns. The British army made their camp at Sendra, Mamang Chingjao, Omba Ching etc. and Japan made their camp at Maibam Lokpa Ching. Nearly 600 Japanese forces were deployed in action. My grandfather was also a witness to the event when a Japanese fighter plane attacked one British bomber plane fully loaded with essential goods at Takmu leading to the crash of the British bomber plane, ultimately falling into Loktak Lake and the pilot who was seen helplessly moving his hand calling for help. Another case was when the Japanese force attacked the British allied tank and unluckily the tank fell down in a deep pit located at the courtyard of my grandfather Late M Angangyaima Singh at Moirang Kiyam Leikai (father of Late M Manindro Singh ex MLA Moirang) which I also happened to witness the broken pieces.
The Nippon/ Japanese government had a strong desire to construct a Japanese war memorial at Nambol dedicated to the Japanese troops who lost their lives at this site and the wider Battle of Imphal. The peace memorial was constructed by the efforts of Japanese War Veteran Lt General Iwaichi Fujiwara, who is acknowledged as the godfather of Netaji’s INA. In 1974, he led a delegation of surviving war-heroes to Manipur and visited the spot. He suggested the building of a memorial at Red Hill. The next year, in March 1975, the Japanese government sponsored a “Bone-Recovery Mission”, which collected the remains of Japanese war-dead. The Japanese government kept on insisting for a memorial, but disturbed conditions in Manipur did not make it possible. In December 1982, the Indo-Burma War Area Veterans Association of Japan, which had a nationwide strength of 75,000 veterans, also took up the cause and made another representation, requesting for allocation of a plot of land measuring 5,000 sq. metres in Imphal. Accordingly, the Manipur government sought clarifications from the Centre. Meanwhile, Fujiwara died and he could not live to see his dream memorial enshrined. Other Japanese war heroes like Major U Honda and Takashi Suzuki, a one time Japanese Ambassador to India, followed up for the purpose.
When the then Prime Minister Narashimha Rao visited Japan in June 1992, his Japanese counterpart took up the matter with him; Rao assured the veterans that the land would be allotted. Back home, he contacted Chintamani Panigrahi, the then Governor of Manipur, who took up the matter diligently and it was because of his efforts that the project saw the light of the day. The 5,000-sq-m plot at the northern foothill of Red Hill was allocated and work started in September 1993. The Japanese completed the project in February 1994 and it was inaugurated on March 21, 1994, the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal, against the backdrop of three national flags India, Japan and the United Kingdom in the presence of 161 Japanese war veterans. It may be recalled here that Shri M Manindra Singh (Ex MLA, Moirang) had received a letter on 9th May 1990 through Prof Hijam Tombi Singh (Ex Vice Chancellor, Manipur University) from one Mr Kamiya Yame San of Japan, which stated that Japan veteran army had a strong intention to construct a peace memorial in Manipur by the government of Japan. In this regard Dr Hijam Tombi and M Manindro Singh went to see Shri M Koireng Singh and requested him to take special attention of forming an association for helping the materialization of the project at the earliest possible time. The matter was thoroughly discussed with the Japanese Ambassador HF Naida who had visited Imphal in the second week of August 1990 for finalization of the project with the Government of Manipur
Later on, the Japanese embassy also wrote a humble letter to Shri M Koireng Singh saying that “A boy who was conceived during the Second World War before his father went for war at Imphal will be coming to Imphal along with the Japanese team”. I was fortunate enough to meet and share few words with the very handsome and charming gentleman Mr Koyoto who came all the way from Japan to pay homage to his father who lost his life at Maibam Lokpa Ching. The damsel of Sikot village of Churachandpur District offered warm welcome to the veteran soldier at Churachandpur ground singing the Japanese war song which was taught by the Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. The song still echoes in my mind till date. The Japanese authority then appointed Shri M Koireng Singh as President of Peace Memorial, Professor Hijam Tombi as Secretary and M Manindro as the Treasurer of the Peace mission. In fact, the Japanese well understood the sincere services of M Koireng who rendered a lot of service to Japan. Mr Koireng was even ordered “to be shot at sight” by the British Government as he had contributed many welfare services and shared many vital information to the Japanese. Shri Koireng even arranged for food grains from his father’s granary without his approval and continued feeding the soldiers of Azad Hind Fauz for three months. It was very much fortunate that M Koireng Singh was much appreciated by Netaji at Rangoon for his gallant service.
The service of M Manindro for INA was also very unique. He was a very devoted person and became the resident Advisor of INA and also Secretary INA. Shri M. Manindra visited the beautiful city of Japan in December 1974 as invited by the All-Japan Veteran Association as a token of appreciation for cooperating with the Japanese Government mission for collection of bones and remains of the dead soldiers of Japan at Bishenpur, Churachandpur, Oinam etc. I had used my Premier Padmini car bearing no. MNS -2476 and had accompanied our Japanese friend like Mr Masui, S Aami and Mr Chimi Onishi etc in my car. People like Yumokretsu and members of bereaved families came here at Imphal to pay their homage to their dear and near ones and fellow commanders in the army who had lost their lives in the plains and hills of Manipur during the Second World War. Today, many Japanese friends would come here to pay their homage and respect to their departed friends. In this respect, I would like to remind that let us not forget the service of Lt General Iwaichi Fujiwara, U Honda and Lt K Matauki and many others for their endeavour in fulfilling their life long desire and wishes of many war veterans and war bereaved families to visit the site where Japanese soldiers laid down their lives. By dint of their tireless effort, they came here and collected the remains of Japanese dead soldiers and successfully established a close continental relationship between the people of Manipur and Japan.
We share such an emotional and cordial relationship between the people of Japan and Manipur specially with Prof H Tombi who can speak and write Japanese language too and was also appointed as Secretary of the Indian peace memorial complex. Prof. Tombi still preserves the scented incense sticks from Japan. He was also associated with U Honda, Menikaw, Y Sai, Yumi Matsuru, Yumi Skeisu, T Shimada and Shoutura Kottanic (Vice president of Indo-Burma war area). Major Fujiwara and Mr. Honda had always taken special care of him. Prof Tombi lived at the residence of U Honda who considers him as his own brother during his stay in Japan. U Honda even advised his wife to let Prot Tombi lead his funeral services. When a special message came to Osaka University to call Prof Tombi for performing funeral rituals he immediately joined the cremation of Mr Honda. Prof Tombi had put on a special dress for performing the honour. Prof. Tombi led the rituals of U Honda by holding two flags, the Japanese flag on the right hand and the Indian flag on the left. The special dress worn by Prof Tombi is even kept and maintained today by Honda’s family. The fond memories of my childhood days still linger in my mind when my grandfather M Koireng Singh and Prof Tombi Singh used to talk and discuss about the construction of the Indian Peace Memorial at the courtyard of M Angangyaima Singh at Moirang.
Today, the India Peace Memorial stands at the foot of Maibam Lokpa Ching. The memorial has the serenity and simplicity of Japanese design. The three crude unpolished red sandstone blocks which were brought over from Rajasthan, lie at the centre of the ceremonial yard and represent the blood of Indo-Japanese and Allied forces who laid down their lives in the Battle of Imphal in 1944. The complex is full of cherry  blossoms, the most favoured flowering tree of Japan, which were brought over by war veterans and planted there.
On the whole, I would like to say that it is a hill of about 17 km south of Imphal city on Tiddim road where a fierce battle was fought on May 20-29, 1944 between the Allied forces and Japanese soldiers during Second World War. The surroundings, with its reddish soil, represented the farthest that the invading Japanese Army and Netaji’s Indian National Army (INA) could approach into India. It was the last major battle fought by the INA and the Japanese on Indian soil. Japanese war veterans constructed a monument at the foot of this hill and it is significantly named “India Peace Memorial” and considered a sacred spot.