Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 2
Major-General David Murray Naylor, Chairman KET, arrived here for his first ever visit to Nagaland, accompanied by his wife and a family friend. In a press conference held at Dimapur Airport, he stated that he was no stranger to India as he had come to the Indian Defense Staff College, Nilgiri Hills before. He said that the other Trustees had visited Nagaland 4 times previously. This is the first interaction with the press regarding the issue. He commanded the British 2nd Division from 1987 – 1989.
In 2004, which was the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Kohima, the reunion of the Kohima war veterans was officially brought to a close. The Kohima Educational Trust was established in 2003 in order to maintain the close links between the British and the Nagas, to keep the memory of those who had lost their lives in the battle alive and ensure that the sacrifices made by the Nagas are acknowledged and recognized.
The KET aims to do this through the medium of education. He stated that this focus on education is because it is not a controversial subject as it does not involve politics. Education is also universally accepted as an important gift that can ensure development to the highest levels. The Kohima Advisory Committee, chaired by Pfelie who is the Principal of Baptist High Secondary School Kohima, is of a purely advisory nature whereas it will be the Trustees who will be monitoring to ensure that the money being spent is done so in the appropriate and right manner.
He stated that he’s honoured to be here in Nagaland and that the purpose of his visit is to see, firsthand, the work that has been done on the ground level. He informed that the number of Trustees has gone up from 5 to 9 members.
The British 2nd Division was the only all - British Division in India. There are about 200 – 250 Kohima war veterans. Their families including their children and grand children have taken more than a keen interest in KET and are doing their best to help the Trust grow. He stated that the Trust would carry on doing its good work as long as the resources are there and the money is generated.
He ended the press conference with a few words – that as much as we have come to learn from him, he has come to Nagaland to learn from us, the Nagas.
Ironically, the men of the 2nd Division saw action for the first time only in the Battle of Kohima. According to Lord Mountbatten, the Battle of Kohima was the most important battle, in the Eastern Front, for the Allies in the 2nd World War.
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