Subhas Chandra Bose was born to Prabhavati Bose and Janakinath Bose on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack Orissa now Odisha. Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child and the sixth son.
Once Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacare at Amritsar, which killed hundreds of innocent people on April 13,1919 he remember the sacred word of Swami Vivekananda his spiritual Guru echoed in Netaji\u2019s heart \u201cfor not thou are born a sacrifice to the mother\u2019s altar\u201d he left the luxury life and return back to India to fight for India freedom against the British Raj.
He was arrested and jail and released for eleven times between 1920-1940.
On January 17, 1941 Subhas Chandra Bose escape from hi Elgin road residence where he was interned. Through the help of well wishers he reaches Gomara railway station in Kolkata and from there he went to Peshwar to Kabul the capital of Afghanistan. He dressed himself as deaf and dump pilgrim. Through Italy embassy he manages to go to Moscow. On March 18, 1941 he reaches Berlin via Moscow. He opens three Azad Radio station at Berlin Germany. On the day British had surrendered to the Japanese in Singapore in February 1942, Netaji began his plan to East Asia to fight across the eastern borders.
In the year 1943 Bose revived the INA movement, which was founded in 1942 in order to liberate India from the British rule that has rippled across the nation and abroad. In September 1943, Netaji selected a regiment considered as the cream of INA to spearhead and advance into India known as \u201cSubhas Brigade\u201d. Major General Shah Nawaz Khan was selected to command this Brigade, which took part in the Arakan, Haka and in the Naga Hills to the Vicinity of Kohima.
In 1944, the INA together with the Japanese Army begins Operation \u2018U GO\u2019 moving its troops across the Chindwin River and towards its objectives; Imphal, Kohima and march to Delhi. On 15th March, they crossed Chindwin River with their plan of crossing the Naga Hills to Dimapur railway and go to Delhi via Assam through their slogan, \u201cDelhi Chalo\u201d. It is important to remember that the British started surveying Naga Hills from 1922 and came up with the Maps in 1943. As per Vikenyu Naga (a Naga British Labour Commander) account, one man stole the map and gave it to the Japanese, which helped them to write all the important villages, mountains, rivers and different routes in their own language. With the map in their hand, they were earnestly looking forward to meeting some Nagas from the Naga Hills for guidance from Myanmar to Kohima. During this time the Japanese imperial army and the Indian National Army led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose already had a working relation.
A.Z. Phizo mentioned that, he had no idea how the Japanese came to know that he and his brother were Nagas. But they came in search of them and asked them for help. They were invited by the Japanese officers to talk and in their first meeting they brought the map of Nagaland, showing all the minute details of villages, mountains, rivers and different routes. It was also during this meeting where they were introduced to the INA leader Subhas Chandra Bose. It is evident that with the maps and cooperation from the people they became even more confident to enter the Naga Hills probably taken British Inspection Bungalows as their reference point en-route to Kohima.
There were three Japanese columns advancing on Kohima via different routes. General Sato sent Miyazaki with the main infantry group in the direction of the village of Ukhrul, where he would capture stores and then move to block the road at Kohima. Another battalion of 58th regiment was sent through the wilds of the Somra tract to the North while Sato\u2019s own column would travel the central route via Kharasom. The routes of advance were dictated by what passable tracks existed and took the advancing Japanese in the direction of three British garrisons. There was little room for improvising on the move, given the size of the army and the wildness of the terrain. Lieutenant Nishidas\u2019s map making foray would gain Sato vital time on his advance, but for the marching soldiers the journey into India was a trial. General Shah Nawaz Khan of INA to Naga Hills from Kharasom and Jessami through British bridle path parallel route of Imphal and Kohima road and Subhas Chandra Bose the Supreme Commander and Prime Minister enroute from Somra tract via Kanjan, Matikru, Phek Khuza, Ruzazho,Yoruba, Chozuba, Chesezu,Thenyizu, Chakabama and Kigwema in Nagaland.
As per eyewitnesses they had horses carrying rations, weapons, guns and bullets. General Mutaguchi\u2019s 15th division headed towards Imphal and the 31st Division went towards Ukhrul, Kharasom and Jesami. They reached Jesami and Kharasom around 28th March 1944 and from there they entered from three direction to attack the British allied force of 1st Assam Regiment camped at Jesami in the early morning and by 1st April the INA and Japanese troops won the battle and occupied their camp.
While General Sato and INA General Shah Nawaz Khan moved towards north route through a very popular bridle path from Burma to Kohima constructed by British government and travelled by Bangladesh refugees first in the month of November 1943 i.e. Jessami, Chizami IB, Mesulumi, Pfutseromi, Kikruma, Chakhabama to Kohima. Some passed through Kapamedzu mountain (7970ft), Lekromi, Zapami, Lasumi Leshemi, Khezhakeno, Tadubi, Mao, Khuzama, Viswema, Jotsoma, Phesama, Aradura to Kohima. Many had scattered to Khomi, Pholami, Sakhaba, Gidemi and Poruba to Pfutsero.
Mention may be made that, the Japanese vehemently oppose to his (Bose) coming to the front, citing security reasons. Even then, Bose was making occasional forays into Imphal and Nagaland to cheer his man and study the battle on ground, ignoring Japanese advice. When Imphal offensive started, there was information blackout for him for 15 days. Subhas Chandra Bose with many INA\u2019s and Japanese troops along with captured 1st Assam Regiment at Jesami went through eastern route towards Kohima via Lozaphuhu, Phek BIB, Khuza, Mutsale, Ruzazho and later moving to Suthozu, Yoruba, Chozuba, Chesezu, Thenyizu, Chakhabama to Kohima which is the shortest route among all from Homalin, Chindwin to reach Kohima (Approx. 447km Arial distance via Google map). Some had gone towards K.Basa, K.Bawe, Thiphuzu, Phesachodu, Kikruma. Some troops to Phugi, Thurutsuswu village camp, Khetsami and Dzulha. Whereas some marched towards north east of Kohima via Chepoketa British IB (Inspection Bungalow) and Satakha IB in the rear. Some soldiers directly pass through Chindwin River towards Zunheboto, Tuensang and Mon area as the rear front of northeast patrol and security.
Mention to be given for here is \u201cStray stories are told that Subhas Bose was sighted by Nagas in Nagaland\u201d H.S Sluttman incor, The illuatrated worl war 11 encyclopedia vol. 19 USA 1977 page 2633, many villages had physically seen Subhas Chandra Bose in Nagaland. Many prominent people had given their narratives and many recorded in visual videos and in written records.
Historic moments and times cannot be hidden for long, it may be a little late in a day to unearth the historical fact but there is no definite time frame for such research. With this in mind, as there are hundreds of eyewitnesses saying the same thing from various villages and also stories passing down even to their children and grand children about their association with INA and Bose it gives much rooms for researchers to be excited to piece together the missing links of history. The Nagas have been taking Oral tradition as the most authentic source of history for centuries and hence along with many other sources that speaks of Netaji and INA\u2019s presence in the battlefront during the 1944 war this particular event and missing link has been collected and documented as a window to further research. After all Oral history is still a history and can\u2019t be ignored with. Doubts may arise if there are just a handful of witnesses from only a particular village trying to claim Bose presence during the war however, with so many people from various villages in different locations telling the same thing could not just be a fairy tale or some imaginary tale shared to please kids before going to bed. Eyewitnesses\u2019 accounts of Mr Poswuyi Swuro states that one year prior to their arrival some spy came through Ruzazho village placing small overlapping milestone in a regular distance with British Inspection Bungalows (BIB) as their main referred path. \u201cBose choose the spies training centre in Burma for strategic tactical and revamp it to perform the multi-faceted intelligence tasks. It was used as a spring-board for launching spies across the land and the sea to India. Most importantly, the institute paratroopers to be dropped behind the enemy in the North Eastern India. The paratroopers and land-base spies Thingangyung and Kanbe institute infiltrated northern India in a large number in 1943 and early 1944 before the INA\u2019s combined freedom offensive began and prepare the ground for it.\u201d The route which Netaji and INA passes is not so popular as compared to the rest, which probably might not be even in the British list of threat or watch out list, which was made a better strategic for his troops to pass through unknowingly rather then moving along in the unsafe zone of popular route where heavy battle going on viz. Imphal sector at Ukhrul and Chizami-Pfutsero to Kohima. Netaji INA and many Japanese troops came through the safest way i.e. via. Ruzazho village. Probably this is why he not only passed through the village but also stayed for 9 days making it the first administered village by appointing many villagers under his government.
On reaching Ruzazho village, Bose called all the villagers for a meeting to a place called metho chophe zho at the village\u2019s eastern gate. As the meeting was about to begin the British jet fighter flew above them making all the INA, Japanese and Bose fall on the ground and even instructed the villagers to hide too, but for the innocent villagers it appeared silly and did not. Later, they relocated their meeting place under a bamboo grooves near the village gate. Bose addressed the villagers and promised to develop and improve the village conditions: roads, schools and industries. Raising his sword he said, \u201cI will defeat the Britishers and the Indian Governments will deliver developments in the best way\u201d to this village.
Eventually the 1st Assam Regiment battalion guys those had arrested had identified Mr Vesuyi Swuro who was present in the village meeting. In 1940 Mr Vesuyi Swuro was recruited in the 1st Assam regiment and served at Shillong. After 4 years he took medical leave and staying in the village. There Netaji beckon at him and soon he reaches him, ask which language can be comfortable to interpret to the villagers, and then he opt Hindi. First was he asked if the village had any literate person, the villagers responded by Naming Shri. Poswuyi Swuro as the lone candidate. Subsequently, Bose without any hesitation asked for his consent to be the DB (Dobashi) in that area. Poswuyi too agreed to the call and his name was written down in the Bose personal diary. He further opened his invitation to the villagers to stand for the post of Gaun Bura (GB) chief of khel\/clan in the village where ten men stood up and were appointed accordingly. They are 1) Mr Vekhwuyi Swuro 2) Mr Satsoyi Sapuh 3) Mr Selhuyi Veswuh 4) Mr Kahunyi Swuro 5) Mr Pulhucho Swuro 6) Mr Soyira Swuro 7) Mr. Khrukahi Sapuh 8) Mr Nekahi Sapuh 9) Mr Rachoyi Swuro. 10. Mr Netsoru Shijoh. The rest of the village youth volunteered as spies and porter carrying their stuffs from one place to another.
The simple nature of the villagers can be known through some of the outsiders who observed and wrote about the Nagas. For instance Hutton wrote that, \u201cNagas have fine qualities; Simple, Cheerful, Colourful, humorous, courteous and Hospitable\u201d. Petermaster also remarked that the Nagas are distinguished by some Noble quality; their pledge word can always be trusted and they are ever ready to devote themselves for the common safety.
Mention may be made here that, by the time they reached Ruzazho their rations were almost gone according to eyewitnesses.
(To be Concluded\u2026)
Mr. Vevotso sapu
Convenor
India Freedom Fighter (INA) Children\u2019s Welfare in Nagaland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Subhas Chandra Bose was born to Prabhavati Bose and Janakinath Bose on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack Orissa now Odisha. Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child and the sixth son.Once Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacare at Amritsar, which killed hundreds of innocent people on April 13,1919 he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-247197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247197"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247197\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nagalandpost.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}