Kohima is in news? Why? | Commonwealth War Graves Commission | Kohima War Cemetery

Have you ever heard of an organization which keeps a track of war graves?

Surprised? Right?

Well, this such organization exist. Its name is Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). This UK-based organization maintain the records of cemeteries. 

Kohima War Cemetery

I was really shocked when first time I got to know about it. Then, I researched more about it and was even more surprised with my findings. Recently, this organization was in news, hence my research got a strong base on which I can explore more. It was more surprising for me when I got to know that the news is related to India. 

Recently, CWGC has listed five sites with unusual features, associated with World War I and World War II. Kohima, the capital of Nagaland has been included in this list because of Kohima War Cemetery. Kohima may have the only cemetery on earth with a tennis court. Kohima War Cemetery is one of 23,000 World War Cemeteries maintained by the CWGC on every continent.

Know everything about Commonwealth War Graves Commission 

Before digging deep into the  Kohima War Cemetery, I was very much intrigued by the CWGC. It is a six-membered intergovernmental organisation (includes Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom) who ensure that people who martyred or died in a war will never be forgotten.

Having headquarters in Maidenhead, UK, CWGC was formed in 1917 as the Imperial War Graves Commission which was later changed to Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the year 1960.

Now let's understand the connection between World War II and Kohima

World War II was basically involved virtually every part of the world during the years 1939-45. This six year long war ended one day after Germany's invasion of Poland on 1st Sept. 1939.

The principle belligerents of World War II were Germany, Italy and Japan with allies to France, great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union and to a lesser extent China. It claimed the lives of an extimated 6- to 80 million people, which conclude to approx. 3% of the world's population.

The present state of Nagaland and the adjoining state of Manipur constitute the only World War II war zone in the Indian subcontinent. In 1944, after fierce fighting in the Burmese jungle, Japanese forces in the area crossed the Chindwin River into India. In their path was the Fourteenth Army, made up of troops from all over the Commonwealth. This invasion depends on two key points, Imphal and Kohima. The defeat of the Fourteenth Army here meant that the Japanese could penetrate further into India.

Strategically located at the highest point across the jungle mountains to Dimapur, Kohima is now the commercial center of Nagaland adjoining Assam. The fall of Dimapur meant Imphal's allied defenders would be at the mercy of Japanese soldiers fighting alongside Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army.