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Imphal War Cemetery

Written By dManipur on Wednesday 4 July 2012 | 17:14


Along the National Highway No. 39 lies the Imphal War Cemetery that preserves the ashes of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Second World War. At present, the cemetery preserves 1,600 burials that are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 

The Imphal War Cemetery lies at a distance of  2 kilometers from the heart of the city of Imphal. Initially, the cemetery housed the graves of 950 soldiers. The administrative authorities of the cemetery brought in the graves of the soldiers placed in two other cemeteries of Imphal thereby increasing the total number to 1,600. The nearest landmark to the Imphal War Cemetery is the DM College which stands at a distance of 1 kilometer from the burial ground. The stone tombstones bear the epitaph that recounts the lives of the soldiers and their bravery in death. Some of these accounts are engraved on bronze plaques. The serene and tranquil atmosphere of the cemetery is well maintained by the commission. 

Imphal War Cemetery is an important memorial that retells the story of the horrific war that claimed the lives of several young soldiers. The peaceful cemetery is one of the popular tourist attractions of Manipur.

The British and Indian Army  cemeteries commemorationg those who  died in the second  world war are serene and wall maintained with little stone makers and  bronze  plagues recording the gloriues sacrifice of the heroes. These graves are maintained by the common wealth war graves commission Imphal.The easiest route from Burma (now Myanmar) to India is through Imphal into Assam and after the invasion of Burma, Imphal became a focal point in the defence of India against the Japanese. Early in 1942, as the Japanese approached Rangoon, a very large proportion of its Indian population fled from the city to India, many of them to Upper Burma and so by Chindwin tracks to Assam.

 In May of that year, Commonwealth forces followed the same route on their retreat to India. In their wake came still more civilian refugees, many of whom died on the arduous journey under ceaseless heavy rain, without transport and food. Of the 400,000 civilians who fled to India about 140,000 passed through Imphal into Assam. The defence of India and the retention of a position from which Burma could be re-entered now became of primary importance. 

The 23rd Indian Division was formed in Manipur State, new airfields were constructed there, and army and air force reinforcements arrived. Eventually there was a considerable concentration of Commonwealth fighting forces in the Imphal area and from November 1944 onwards, No. 38 General Hospital was posted there. Strategically well placed for attacks on the lines of communication by railway, road and river which were vital for the maintenance of all Allied operations in Burma, Imphal with its airfields was a main objective when the Japanese made their thrust towards India in the spring of 1944. There was severe fighting in the surrounding hills and on the outskirts of the plain and the Japanese succeeded in cutting a long section of the Imphal-Kohima road and holding it for over three months. 

The Fourteenth Army held on grimly, inflicting heavy punishment on the Japanese. Of all the battles on this frontier of India the siege of Imphal and its relief in the summer of 1944 rank next in importance to the Battle of Kohima. 
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