SOURCE: AFI
Every year on April 14th, India remembers a significant milestone in its fight for independence – the hoisting of the Indian National Army (INA) flag on Indian soil for the first time. This historic event took place in 1944, during a critical chapter of the freedom struggle.
The year 1944 saw the Imphal Campaign unfold in Manipur. Launched by the Japanese forces in collaboration with the INA, this campaign aimed to liberate India from British rule. The INA, led by Subhas Chandra Bose, played a crucial role in the fight.
On April 14th, 1944, under the command of Colonel Shaukat Malik, the INA’s Subash Regiment secured a victory against British forces in Moirang, a town in the Bishnupur district of Manipur. To mark this triumph, the INA hoisted its national flag in Moirang, etching a powerful symbol of defiance and hope for freedom in the hearts of Indians.
The INA’s presence in Moirang, though temporary, held immense symbolic importance. It demonstrated the growing strength of the Indian independence movement and the unwavering spirit of the INA soldiers fighting for their motherland.
Today, Moirang stands as a testament to the sacrifices made by the INA in India’s freedom struggle. The INA Memorial Complex in Moirang serves as a reminder of this historic event and a place of pilgrimage for those who cherish India’s hard-won independence.