This is the story of a victory that not many cared to remember. April 14, 1944 was the day when tricolour was unfurled for the first time on a liberated Indian soil. Led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Indian National Army (INA) defeated the British, to establish the provisional independent government in Moirang, a sleepy little town about 45 km from Imphal, the capital of Manipur.
The 100-year-old building, which was the headquarters of INA still stands in Moirang, though it cries out for help and has developed a number of cracks, following the recent Manipur earthquake. But close by, at the very spot where India’s flag was hoisted by the INA warriors, is a museum, which has painstakingly kept the history alive. Enter here and you would be taken back in time to those heady days of Second World War, where a man dared an audacious dream, joining forces with the Japanese to win India back.
Speaking about Netaji, Second World War historian Rajeshwor Singh says it shows the grit in the man that he could travel in a German U-boat (submarine) for over three months to reach Singapore from Germany. That travel is well documented in the INA museum. Mrinashree Mairembram, the curator of Museum since 2009, points out they have collected relics of that era from all across Manipur and the adjoining areas, to preserve an important part of Indian history, which was often overlooked.
She adds that a series of interlinked exhibitions mounted in the museum provides a vivid account of the total mobilization of the INA in South East Asia for the cause of the country's liberation. The exhibition also highlights Netaji's achievements as President of India Independence League and head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind.
Inaugurated on September 23, 1969, by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the museum also documents the crossing of the Indo-Burma border by the INA soldiers and the battles of Imphal and Kohima. Standing here one can almost hear the brave soldiers of the INA shout out their battle cry 'Challo Delhi'. From hand written letters of Netaji addressed to his soldiers, currency and stamps of the provisional government, to the bullets and the guns used by the INA soldiers, this museum has preserved them all.
Historians suggest that the significance of the battle of Imphal goes beyond the establishment of the provisional government. They believe that even in defeat, INA led to a new awakening in the country, which followed the Red Fort trials, the rebellion of the rank and file, which as Rajeshwor points out, rattled the British enough to accelerate India’s march towards independence.
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