New book chronicles strife of ‘Indo-Naga war’

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 30(EMN): A book chronicling martial exploits of the “Naga army” has been released. The book, ‘The battles we fought Indo-Naga war – A Few Exploits of the Naga Army in the Naga National Defence,’ written by Sanguto Chase minutely narrates the journey of ordeals and hurdles faced by the “Naga army” during the “Indo-Naga war.”

Seventy-five year old Chase had joined the Naga nationalist movement at the age of 21 years on October 17 1963 then. 50 years after the turmoil of the ‘Indo-Naga war,’ he has given in his book an account of the experiences in the land of northern Burma, Kachin and eastern Nagaland besides deep and dark events of grief.

Chase interacted with media persons following the release of the book. He said to have dedicated 15 years of his life to the nationalist cause and that his primary intention in writing the book was to narrate the journey of the “Naga army” in “the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth” for the people and their posterity ‘…lest their sacrifices for the motherland be forgotten.’

Chase claimed that many had tried to distort history ‘according to their convenience.’ However, he asserted that the narration put forth in the book was ‘most sincere, honest and humble on how he and his many comrades have experienced in the battlefields.’

Vividly recounting the incidences when they faced near death experiences, Chase said, “We could have most certainly been killed and liquidated many times over, had it not been for the ever preserving hand of God. I revisited the many agonising moments when dear comrades would be shot dead right in front of our every eyes offering the supreme sacrifice for our nation.”

He said that the ‘truths’ chronicled in the book were neither figments of anybody’s imagination nor the distorted concoction of a ‘sick’ mind, but firsthand experience and personally verified facts most true.

Dedicating the book to the memory of his former comrades and that their sacrifices would not go waste or unreported, Chase said: “Not a single one of them had died in vain. They had all become sacred martyrs and would live on for all times to come.”

Chase also narrated how he and his comrades languished in various jails for eight years and two months in Tihar Jail in Delhi; Hazaribagh Central Jail in Bihar (then); Nowgong Special Jail in Assam and the infamous Mawlai Special Jail in Shillong.

Retired “general” Thinoselie M Keyho in the foreword states: “The battles we fought Indo-Naga war deals more at length, not too much on the Naga political history, but rather pays focused attention on some of the very many ordeals and hurdles faced, tackled and successfully overcome most resounding by the Naga army in the sacred duty of defending the Naga nation and her precious land”.

Keyho asserted that the authors were most trustworthy for the very reason that the events were intimate, first-hand and personal experiences.

The 446-page book comprises 76 episodes. It is priced at INR 1800. It narrates the first journey of the Naga nationalist movement since the submission of the Naga memorandum to the Simon Commission; and to the spiritual revival era, among others.