(From previous issue…)
They appeal villagers to donate rations through the appointed GBs and D.B (Dobashi). The appointed GB’s also gave their best by taking them around surveying different areas risking their lives. In fact, the whole villagers in one way or the other contributed towards the cause of India Freedom by volunteering as porter; transferring heavy loads of INA goods to different locations by both men and women, while some engaged in building their camps. Not only did the villagers unsparingly gave away their choicest vegetables, domesticated animals and paddy as ration to INA but also travelled from village to village on foot in search of rations for them.
Probably, Netaji found the villagers very simple, honest, charming and hospitable and camped in the village for a week. He also made first outpost camp at thohunyi cetu just above the village opposite to the Suthozu British IB (Inspection Bungalow), a strategic place overseeing Kohima and many surrounding villages. However, the British got the information and bombed that camp after more than week possibly making it one of the first camp bombed in Nagaland. According to eyes witnesses Mr Poswuyi Swuro, Mr Poseyi Swuro, Mr Kuveso Sapu, Mr Pulesu Sapu, Mr Chekrolhu Swuro, Mr Veyesa Swuro, Mr Muleyi Swuro, Mr Thupukha Sapuh, Mr Khruveyi Swuro of Ruzazho village, while they stayed in the village, a kind of layer where Bose stayed in the Centre guarded by good physical with short hairs of only INA’s some are wearing Punjabi turbans, the next circle by the INA and captured India soldiers in the British service brought at Jessami and third last outer layers exclusively by the Japanese troops. They also shared that; their food and eating habits were different for INA with hands and Japanese with chopstick.
From a distance, a village might not sound a big deal compared to the many battles and struggles INA fought. However delving deeper into the strategies Netaji had come with, it makes so much more sense and significant. Bose intentionally came through this village being the shortest route with friendly hill slops and considering the location it became one of the most strategic place for his team to camp, which could have led him to appoint the local villagers into his government to work alongside to control the people. It is pertinent to mention that, before World War II, many Nagas became closely associated with the British and were already working with them. Many Naga villages were not co-operating with INA alias (Japanese) as they were forceful in their action towards the people by ordering, demanding and taking their things against their will. Hence Bose who being a highly educated leader would have been aware of the situation well in advance and the hospitable gesture he received from the Ruzazho village would have made him stay to build relationship and trust to further their support for their noble cause as their ambassadors. His strategy worked well as appointed GB’s, and DB’s (Translator, Administration) played a major role in taking them around to different locations for setting of their camps and propagating his vision to liberate India from British raj convincing neighbouring villages. It became even more evident as they would go to various villages to collect their rations for the INA. As written by many authors, one of the major factors faced by their alias (the Japanese) and even INA was shortage of Ration and when they came to the village it was told that they did not have enough rations with them. Thereby the villagers played a major role in collecting and storing their ration for the onward journey to Kohima.
Ruzazho also stands at the strategic place with British Bungalow surrounded from the East at Chepoketa, West at Suthozu just above the village and Dzulha on the North side. This village had bounded by hills and fighters flying low in difficult. Hence, had the Ruzazho people decided not to cooperate with the INA at this juncture, the story of INA’s attempt at liberating India from the clutches of the British upon entering Naga Hills from Burma would have taken a different route with British outposts in close proximity. The villagers contributed immensely towards INA’s fight for India’s freedom physically, morally and providing enough rations for them to move forward to Kohima battle for her independence. Though he may have lost the war he won the hearts of the people by sowing the seeds of love and earned respect from them for which he is remembered with great esteem to the present day.
According to British narrative, Gordon Graham commanding a company of the 1st Battalion The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders (1 QOCH) in his memoir book P.53, ‘the trees are all young on the Garrison Hill’ mentioned that, Bose himself was reported to have been present at Kigwema few miles away from Kohima during the battle.
Few prominent personalities like Mr Purcho Resu of Thenyizu village, Mr N.Theyo of Thenyizu village ( both are now no more with us). It is also to metion that Rev.Viketuo Yhoshu of Kigwema village, Rev Zhowhuyi of Chesezu, Mr Hutsonyi Chuzho of Phesachodu village, Mr Nerunyo Puro of Kikruma Mr Vezo swuro of Chesezu village etc are living witness given their naratives.
It is sad that Bose and INA lost the battle nonetheless he gave the courage to the many Indians to be free from British. The impact was so great that it challenged the minds of the Indians and the momentums grew even stronger gaining more attention in the later years after war. Many historians and writers commented that violent confrontations broke out everywhere challenging the British hence riots and rallies filled the nation by the masses in support of INA. This also led to major conflicts among the British army where British Indian army started ignoring the order from British superiors resulting the outbreaks of mutiny in major cities like Madras (Chennai), Pune, Jabalpur and Mumbai. British became helpless day by day, as the uniting Indians both within the army and public grew nationwide in support of INA vision, passion and courage to be free men and women from the British Raj.
It shook the strong foundation of the British raj which in the later period of time they had to wisely exited India by given Freedom knowing the condition that they could not contain the forces that has already been stirred in the hearts of the people by the great leader Subhas. It became not only a speculation of reasons for British leaving India but a confirmed reason from the word of Atlee, the British Prime Minister who reflecting the factors that guided the British decision to relinquish the Raj in India soil, the effects of the INA and Bose’s activities on the British Indian Army and the Bombay Mutiny as being the most important.
As soon as the INA cross the border of Burma and India Pact was signed between Japanese and Provisional government of Azad Hind. It was clearly stated any part of the India territory or conquest or otherwise by the Japanese arm will be hand over to the INA for the purpose of forming part of the territory and to be administered by them. Accordingly, Subhas Chandra Bose had appointed D.B’s and GB’s at Ruzazho village in Phek district in Nagaland and there is no other village that had administered by them in India.
Subhas Chandra Bose issued special order of the day on August 14, 1944……. In accordance with this decision, our troops have withdrawn to a more favourable defensive position. We shall now utilize the period in full in completing our preparation, so that with the advent of better weather, we may be in a position to resume our offensive. As we have been successful in defeating our enemy one, our faith in our final victory and complete annihilation of Anglo American forces has grown tenfold. As soon as all our preparation are complete, we shall launch a mightily offensives against our enemies once again. With the superior fighting qualities, dauntless courage and unshakable devotion to duty of our officers and men, victory shall surely be ours. INA official record and few officers those who wrote their stories didn’t mentions village names accept Kohima and some altitudes points where they stayed in Nagaland. The reason behind may be possibly for the INA tactical strategy to keep village names undisclosed in Naga Hills for its second offensive.
There may be various reasons as to why the detailed information regarding Bose and INA were not written as it should be because of less research work done or proper in-depth research done before by researchers from outside states and mostly information’s fed to us were from the victors point of view. The lack in research work could have various reasons like due to the sensitivity of the area with ILP (Inner line permit) issue for entry into the state, restricted area permit for scholars not taking much interest on such matter or it could be the fear psychosis on the insurgent problem which at ground zero could be much friendlier for research work. It could be also that, for so long many might have not felt the importance of INA’s contribution to the national freedom movement.
Due to all these factors, although there are various sources that speak of Bose and INA’s presence in the Naga Hills during the war there is not much said on the activity from April to May 1944. Even in the chronology of INA’s record these period is missing with regard to Bose and INA’s activity, which could be for various reasons and should get scholars attention into it. This research is done to keep history in record as an eye opener for more research work.
Not only from eyewitnesses accounts, but also other writers and Bose close associates even mentioned about their presence like, “the people of Naga, Kuki, and Chin races in habiting in Assam frontiers were very sympathise and co-operated whole heartedly with the INA. They gave the very useful information to them after postponements of operation they were to be severely persecuted by British Government.” Col. Laxmi Segal of Rani Jhansi Regiment when interacted categorically mentioned that Netaji always mention the help given by Nagaland people not only in porter but given them food and shelter as well and that Netaji love them so much.
There are no records of Netaji administering any village prior to Ruzazho village hence, as per the present research, this is the first Administered village by INA and Subhas Chandra Bose after reaching Naga Hills with powers given to the villagers as DB and GB’s for administration. Many renowned scholars are on the same page that, there is no doubt on Ruzazho being the first Administered village in Nagaland with hundreds of eyewitnesses claiming the same. During ICHR sponsored two day National Seminar at Ruzazho village, Dr Purabi Roy ICHR Member along with many eminent scholars made a resolution incognito by declaring this village as the first Azad Hind government administered village in India in the presence of Shri P.B Acharya the Governor of Nagaland and Arunachal and Shri Tathagata Roy Governor of Tripura who were the chief guest and guest of honour in the seminar.
Mr.R.N Ravi the former Hon’ble Governor Nagaland also visited Ruzazho Village and paid tributes to Netaji by visiting the house where Netaji stayed for nine days. He personally meets Mr Poswuyi Swuro DB and salutes him. He has seen the allocated site by the village council and assures the villagers that the INA Memorial and Museum will be take up and one by one works will reach this village. The long due is very necessary to develop. Mention also may be made here that Netaji had planned to mobilize the resources and attack again, for which they might have strategized to keep the villages or routes as a secret. Here it can’t be ruled out that Bose might have the same route in mind for attacking again, hence all these villages and areas he travelled must have been kept a secret.
Last but not the least, for so long we have been fed with the history from the lens of the victors however, we can’t accept just one side of the story as the absolute history hence we must re-write our history which is the truth and not just a history from a colonial mindset. It is also important to hear what Manwati Arya, Secreatry Women department of Azad Hind provisional government has said through her interview that, the contribution of Nagaland people still remains unknown to people, it is not widely known to the people, so I feel that its great necessity to give due credit to the Nagaland people and contribution of India freedom and also to keep Netaji history alive in written and in monument. With this let’s hope that young minds and intellectuals will come forward to further the research work in this area in order to bring forth what has been kept silent intentionally or unintentionally for the benefit of our Nation. After all we can’t just brush aside INA and Bose contribution towards India Independence.
On the occasion marking 126 birth anniversary, Our Prime Minister indelible contribution make the people of our nation won the long overdue indebtedness to Subhas Chandra Bose to be place his statue inside the canopy of King George at the India Gate Delhi. The Netaji Subhas Memorial Development office Nagaland absolutely thrilled for fulfilling one of our participation demand from 2004-2022 to the government of India along with other likeminded state and national organisations. We are very grateful and many hearty thanks the honourable Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi.
The India Freedom Fighters (INA) Children’s Welfare Nagaland extent our hearty thanks to ho’ble PM Narendra Modi for making the government order to start republic day celebration from 23 January every year and putting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Statue at the King George canopy at India gate Delhi.
On this auspicious day we salute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Jai hind !
(Concluded)
Vevotso Sapu,
Convenor, India Freedom Fighter (INA) Children’s Welfare in Nagaland
