Nagaland’s story must stand as a beacon of peace and unity, says Neiphiu Rio on Remembrance Day

KOHIMA — Nagaland marked Remembrance Day on Tuesday with a solemn tribute at the Kohima War Cemetery, calling for renewed commitment to peace and unity as leaders and representatives from India and abroad honoured soldiers who fell in the Second World War.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, officials from the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, representatives from the Embassy of Ireland, the Armed Forces, ex-servicemen, veterans and others laid wreaths and observed two minutes of silence.

Nagaland designated November 11 as Remembrance Day last year, eight decades after the 1944 Battle of Kohima. The state held its second edition this year in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The cemetery holds 1,420 Allied graves, while another 917 soldiers were cremated nearby.

In his address, Rio said the Battle of Kohima was a defining moment in world history where Allied, Indian and Naga forces fought “outnumbered, outgunned, yet unbroken.”

He recalled stories passed down from the battle, including the siege of the Deputy Commissioner’s bungalow where fighting drew so close that “soldiers could hear each other breathing.” Messages carved on ration tins, urging troops to hold on until reinforcements arrived, symbolised the resolve that shaped the outcome, he said.

Rio called for remembering not only those buried in the cemetery but also Nagas who guided, sheltered and stood with the troops. Their courage, he said, remains one of the proudest chapters of the state’s history.

He added that the epitaph at the cemetery is a reminder of the price paid for peace and urged people to honour that legacy by upholding compassion, unity and mutual respect. “Nagaland’s story — once shaped by battle — must now be a voice for peace, unity and universal brotherhood. This is our solemn commitment: that Kohima will continue to stand as a beacon of hope and as an advocate for humanity,” he said.

Om Birla paid tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in Kohima, saying their sacrifice continues to inspire. He also commended Rio, noting that the chief minister’s father served during the Second World War, and said leadership in remote regions keeps morale high among security personnel.

“This day will remain etched in the memories of all of us that India has always been a land of warriors, a land of bravery”, he said.

WATCH MORE:

Deputy Head of Mission at the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata, Bhaarat Dave, said the Battle of Kohima halted the Japanese advance into India and remains remembered for its intense close-quarters combat, including around the tennis court that has since become an emblem of resistance. He said the words on the epitaph serve as a call to reflect and uphold peace.

He further called for renewing commitment to peace, to international friendship and to the enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and India.

A conversation titled The Battle of Kohima – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow was held later in the evening.