There are many but finding them in the North East is difficult!
This is a story of conflict and war veterans!
-In the conflict-ridden landscape of 1990s Manipur, Nganbi led the Meira Paibi (torchbearers), an indigenous women’s movement battling both state-sanctioned violence and local insurgency.
-Armed only with flaming torches, she risked her life to patrol dark roads, protecting community members and confronting armed forces, demanding peace and justice in the region.
-The Conflict: Manipur was declared a disturbed region in 1980 due to insurgent activities, leading to the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which caused frequent tensions between security forces and local villagers.
-The Resistance: Nganbi and her fellow Meira Paibi (mothers holding torches) functioned as the “moral police” of their valley. They would spontaneously blockade roads, confronting convoys of soldiers to prevent arrests or “encounters,” defying the curfew and armed danger.
-A “Women’s War”: This act of defiance was a continuation of the historic ‘Nupi Lan’ (Women’s War) movements in Manipur, where women took the lead in fighting social and political injustices.
-Legacy: Nganbi’s actions demonstrated that in Northeast India, women often bear the brunt of conflict but also serve as the frontline defenders of community safety and civil rights.
-HONOURING A LEGACY OF COURAGE: ASSAM RIFLES PAYS TRIBUTE TO …The Assam Rifles, India’s oldest paramilitary force (est. 1835), is renowned for its valor, particularly in the Northeast and during conflicts like World War II. A premier example is Operation Dudhi (1990) in J&K, where 7 Assam Rifles eliminated 72 militants and apprehended 13, marking a historic, highly successful counter-insurgency operation.
-Key Stories of Valor and History:
-Operation Dudhi (1990): Soldiers of the 7th Battalion Assam Rifles engaged a large group of militants in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite overwhelming odds, they achieved the most successful counter-insurgency operation in Indian history.
-Havildar Mering Ao (WWII): A Naga soldier in the 3rd Battalion who acted as a “phantom warrior,” volunteering for the covert “V Force.” He spent months behind enemy lines, Gathering intelligence and aiding in the battle of Kohima against Japanese forces.
-Counter-Insurgency & Border Guarding: Often called “Friends of the Hill People,” the force has maintained security in the Northeast for 191 years.
-Subedar Surinder Singh (Ashoka Chakra): Known for his raw courage and presence of mind, he sacrificed his life in a 1991 operation to kill militants.
-The force is unique, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs but with operational control under the Indian Army.
-Honoring the veterans:
-Assam Rifles honors its veterans through specialized Ex-Servicemen (ESM) rallies, medical camps, and, this X post notes, dedicated grievance redressal sessions that strengthen bonds between serving personnel and retired heroes. These initiatives provide essential support, including canteen facilities, healthcare, and recognition, particularly for Veer Naris and widows, ensuring their service is remembered.
-Key ways Assam Rifles honors its veterans:
-Ex-Servicemen Rallies: This Daily Pioneer article says Mega rallies are organized to provide a platform for veterans to reconnect, voice concerns, and access support services.
-Medical Camps: Specialised medical check-ups with medical specialists (ENT, Eye, Gynecology, Cardiology, etc.) are often organized during these events to support veteran health.
-Grievance Redressal: Dedicated cells are established to directly address pensionary issues, healthcare issues, and other concerns of the veterans.
-Commemorative Events: Rallies and events like “Veterans Day” are celebrated in various locationsto honor their service.
-Honouring War Heroes: The Force holds wreath-laying ceremonies at war memorials to remember the sacrifices of fallen soldiers.
-These efforts ensure that the “Sentinels of the North East” continue to support their veterans and their families long after they have retired, as outlined in this story!
-ASSAM RIFLES HONOURS VETERANS AT KOHIMA GARRISON, NAGALAND #AssamRifles Veterans Day was celebrated with pride at Kohima Garrison on 23 March 2026, with 75 Ex-Servicemen in attendance. The event featured a warm reception, a medical camp, a grievance redressal session, and a brief cultural programme, strengthening camaraderie between serving personnel and veterans. These were the lines which I got to write………I did scribble but the man behind it was Major……..!………..Cheryl (by the way I’m not a storyteller is my friend) !
-And he started like this:
-The Battle of Kohima
-Background
The Battle of Kohima & the Battle of Imphal took place simultaneously & broke the Japanese invasion of India, a bold strategic stroke devised by Lieutenant General Renya Mutaguchi. In March 1944, he launched the Japanese 15th Army from Burma, with the primary aim of destroying the British & Indian forces of 4 Corps, assembled at Imphal. Mutaguchi believed that his invasion would trigger an uprising by the Indian population against their colonial oppressors, the British.
-Japanese offensive leading to Battles of Kohima & Imphal
-Mutaguchi sent two divisions to destroy 4 Corps at Imphal. His third division, the 31st, commanded by Lieutenant General Kotoku Sato, was to take Kohima & cut the road to Imphal from the great supply depot Dimapur, preventing supplies from reaching 4 Corps. Once this was achieved, Mutaguchi planned to seize Dimapur to cut a crucial supply route to China.
-Because of widespread civil unrest, Mutaguchi expected the Indian population to rise up against the British, sparking the ‘March on Delhi’. The invasion was supported by the Indian National Army, a minority group of pro-Japanese Indians.
-Propaganda depicting British exploitation of Indians
-Kohima was a busy town, with two hospitals, large stores, vehicle repair workshops & a casualty replacement camp. It was not prepared for the speed & size of the Japanese attack. Just in time, 446 men of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kents were airlifted in to meet the threat, reaching Kohima on April 4th, the same day as the Japanese.
-They joined Indian troops of the Assam Rifles and Assam Regiment, together with ‘odds & sods’ of other units. Altogether, the garrison had about 1,500 combatants. They were massively outnumbered by the 15,000 veteran Japanese of Sato’s 31st Division!
-A Banzai charge by Japanese
-The Siege
The Japanese surrounded the Kohima garrison, which was dug in along a ridge overlooking the road to Imphal. During daylight, the garrison was reduced by sniping & shellfire. At night, they were attacked by waves of screaming infantry. Day-by-day, the defenders were driven in on their final position, dubbed Garrison Hill, which was situated beside a tennis court, front line of much intense fighting.
-To meet the emergency, the British 2nd Division was rushed across India by rail. The small Kohima garrison had reached the limit of its endurance, but 1/1 Punjab & the 2nd Division arrived to relieve them on April 18th. Of the 446 West Kents who arrived on April 4th, 278 were casualties. Over 600 wounded were carried off Kohima ridge. The relieving troops gagged at the stench of excrement & rotting flesh. Lieutenant Bruce Hayllar wrote:
“Oh my God, the stink of those dead bodies! It sticks in your nose & mouth, as if death has partly claimed you.”
-Carrying a wounded soldier to safety
-The Japanese still held most of Kohima & blocked the road to Imphal. Their positions were very strong, dug deep into commanding hillsides with mutual support. Bitter fighting went on for another 7 weeks, in which the British received invaluable support from the indigenous Naga people, who had a tradition of head-hunting.
-The people of Nagaland played an important part in defeating the Japanese invasion.
-Eventually, deprived of food & ammunition, the Japanese were finally forced to withdraw. Lieutenant General Sato wrote:
-“Our swords are broken & our arrows spent. Shedding bitter tears, I now leave Kohima”.
-The road to Imphal was re-opened on June 22. The crisis was over & the invasion of India had been defeated.
-The Japanese left behind at least 7,000 dead, whilst the British & Indians had around 4,000 casualties.
-The Battle of Kohima saw desperate close-quarter fighting, with both sides displaying staggering feats of endurance. This & the simultaneous Battle at Imphal were decisive in the Burma campaign, leaving the Japanese 15th army shattered & morale soaring amongst the British & Indians.
-Kohima Garrison:
-The Kohima Garrison was a small Allied force of approximately 1,500–2,500 soldiers that famously defended a strategic ridge in Kohima, India, against a massive Japanese siege during WWII in April 1944. Often called the “Stalingrad of the East,” the successful defense on Garrison Hill was a turning point.
Kohima War Cemetery: Today, the site holds a cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the same hill.
-The site is famous for the memorial epitaph dedicated to the defenders, which reads:
“When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.”
And finally these lines:
The story of the sacrifice at Kohima Garrison in April 1944 is one of the most poignant tales of World War II, marking a desperate stand by 1,500 British and Indian troops against 15,000 Japanese soldiers. The battle, which took place in the Naga Hills of northeast India, saw the Allied forces surrounded on a small ridge, with the Deputy Commissioner’s tennis court becoming the focal point of a 16-day, brutal hand-to-hand siege.
-Here are key stories of sacrifice from the Kohima Garrison:
-The Legend of Badluram’s Rations: Perhaps the most famous story of the siege is that of Rifleman Badluram of the 1st Battalion, Assam Regiment.
-The Sacrifice: Badluram was martyred early in the battle, but his Quarter Master did not strike him off the ration strength, continuing to draw his rations of flour, dal, and sugar.
-The Survival: When the regiment was completely surrounded and cut off from supplies, this accumulated surplus of food became a vital lifeline that kept the soldiers fighting.
-The Legacy: The story inspired the famous regiment song: “Badluram ka badan zameen ke neeche hai, toh humein uska ration milta hai” (Badluram’s body is buried, but we draw his ration), which is a unique tribute to his contribution to their survival.
-Lance Corporal John Harman VC:
-During the battle, Lance Corporal John Pennington Harman of the 4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, performed acts of incredible bravery.
-The Act: On April 8, 1944, he single-handedly attacked a Japanese machine gun position, killing the crew with a grenade.
-The Sacrifice: The next day, he attacked another enemy position 50 yards away, killing four Japanese soldiers with his Bren gun and a fifth with his bayonet, only to be fatally wounded by a sniper as he returned to his lines.
-Last Words: While dying in his commander’s arms, he said: “Don’t bother Sir… I got the lot. It was worth it”. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
-Sergeant Major Haines:
-Sgt. Maj. Haines of the West Kents was another standout leader who made the ultimate sacrifice. Even after being blinded by a wound, he refused to leave his men. Instead, he had himself led to each critical point of the perimeter, roaring encouragement to his troops, until he was finally killed by a Japanese bullet.
-The “Duty to Die” and the Kohima Epitaph
The garrison held only 350 square meters of ground at the peak of the siege, enduring horrific conditions. They were ultimately relieved on April 18, 1944, but the cost was immense, with over 800 casualties in the small garrison, including 300 deaths.
So we three are signing off for today!………..!
