Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid homage to the fallen soldiers of the Second World War at the Kohima War Cemetery on Tuesday, describing the site as a “sacred ground of courage, sacrifice, and inspiration”. The ceremony formed part of the 2nd Remembrance Day of World War-II, organised by the Nagaland government at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery.
Birla, attending the event during the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Zone-III Conference, said the day carried “emotion and remembrance”, honouring warriors who defended the nation during one of history’s most brutal conflicts.
“It was on this very land that our soldiers fought during the Second World War to protect this nation and made the ultimate sacrifice. When we come to this place, we pay tribute to those martyrs who gave their lives for their country,” he said.
The Speaker reflected on the famed Kohima epitaph, ‘When you go home, tell them that we gave our today for your tomorrow’, noting that it continues to inspire citizens to dedicate their present for a better future. “Our brave soldiers sacrificed their today for our tomorrow. This day is not just one of remembrance but also of inspiration,” he added.
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Birla also thanked Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, acknowledging his family’s wartime history and the efforts of the Rajya Sainik Board in supporting soldiers and ex-servicemen in the region. “India has always been a land of warriors, a land of heroes,” he said, stressing that the legacy of sacrifice must guide the country towards unity and peace.
Rio, addressing the gathering, recalled the resilience of the Naga people during the conflict and their role in assisting both Allied and Japanese forces. “Many Nagas suffered great hardship, yet their resilience and humanity shone through even in those dark times,” he said.
He added that the annual commemoration serves as a reminder of the need to uphold peace, unity and reconciliation. “We must continue to remember the lessons of war and work for peace. It is our duty to preserve these memories for the younger generations,” Rio said.
Recalling the Battle of Kohima as the ‘Stalingrad of the East’, he described it as one of the fiercest and most decisive turning points of the war. British Deputy High Commission’s Bhaarat Dave echoed this view, calling the battle a “turning point in the Second World War” that safeguarded freedom in Asia.
“These words inscribed here are not just a tribute but a call to remember and uphold peace,” he said, emphasising the enduring ties between India and the United Kingdom.
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