Hon’ble Chief Minister,
•-I salute you on behalf of the few surviving would War II veterans from Nagaland. Sir, may I draw your kind attention, the miserable accounts of the lives that those WW II have dragged since the end of the war to the verge of their graves today.
During the WW II the British government through the Grippe's Plan had promised to grant freedom to India if the Indian soldiers should fight and win the war for the Empire. Hence thousands of Indian soldiers including a few hundreds Nagas had sacrificed their schooling, their cultivation and their whole lives to fight the Japanese? The answer is for the freedom of India and of Nagaland so we are freedom fighters.
But when the war was won and over the British government simply dismissed 1,40,000. Indian soldiers including hundreds of Nagas like me. We had to return to our villages without any gratuity nor pension benefit our lives were wasted, uneducated and unemployed.
Only in the recent past, the Govt of India assisted by the British commonwealth, had declared a pension benefit to all the surviving WW II veterans which is yet to implement fully. Unequal amounts of pension are being given in different states. We in Nagaland are receiving @ Rs. 500/- P.M. which comes to us once in a year of Rs. 6000/-
Ironically, the veterans of the I.N.A. of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, were given a gratuity of Rs. 1,00,000/- each plus a pension of Rs. 1000/- P.M. where is the justice?
Recently one WW II British Army General had visited Kohima war cemetery. While remembering his dead comrades, he also remembered one famous Naga soldiers by inquiring whether Mr. Nangshi Ao is still alive perhaps the official accompanying the General could not answer if he is living. They are not to blame because we are all forgotten and unknown heroes long..long ago.
Sir, speaking about Mr. Nangshi Ao, you may know there are many heroic deeds about this brave soldiers. He single- handedly killed a score of the invading Japanese soldiers. Had we Nagas not been that backwards, he would have most deservedly been awarded the Victoria cross but he never cared to claim such honour nor there was anyone who cared to recommend him for it.
Sir, leave aside the few of us, but the government must do a better turn to Mr. Nangshi Ao at least. He is now 86 and struggling to survive he and his family through a small panikheti at Changki Village of Mokokchung district leave aside a Victoria cross, Mr. Nangshi Ao surely deserve at least a better gratuity.
The British Commonwealth is spending huge sum of money maintaining the war cemetery, thousand of visitors come every year to honour the dead heroes, what about the few living heroes? Does anyone remember them? Why did the British General remember Mr. Nangshi Ao but are totally neglected and forgotten.
Is there no way to compensate their sacrifices in the last lap of their rugged lives? Cannot our beloved Chief Minister lend his humane heart to the sobs of these aged heroes?
Dr. T. Aonok, 84
WW-II Veteran
Psalm One Cottage
Signal Basti, Dimapur
•-I salute you on behalf of the few surviving would War II veterans from Nagaland. Sir, may I draw your kind attention, the miserable accounts of the lives that those WW II have dragged since the end of the war to the verge of their graves today.
During the WW II the British government through the Grippe's Plan had promised to grant freedom to India if the Indian soldiers should fight and win the war for the Empire. Hence thousands of Indian soldiers including a few hundreds Nagas had sacrificed their schooling, their cultivation and their whole lives to fight the Japanese? The answer is for the freedom of India and of Nagaland so we are freedom fighters.
But when the war was won and over the British government simply dismissed 1,40,000. Indian soldiers including hundreds of Nagas like me. We had to return to our villages without any gratuity nor pension benefit our lives were wasted, uneducated and unemployed.
Only in the recent past, the Govt of India assisted by the British commonwealth, had declared a pension benefit to all the surviving WW II veterans which is yet to implement fully. Unequal amounts of pension are being given in different states. We in Nagaland are receiving @ Rs. 500/- P.M. which comes to us once in a year of Rs. 6000/-
Ironically, the veterans of the I.N.A. of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, were given a gratuity of Rs. 1,00,000/- each plus a pension of Rs. 1000/- P.M. where is the justice?
Recently one WW II British Army General had visited Kohima war cemetery. While remembering his dead comrades, he also remembered one famous Naga soldiers by inquiring whether Mr. Nangshi Ao is still alive perhaps the official accompanying the General could not answer if he is living. They are not to blame because we are all forgotten and unknown heroes long..long ago.
Sir, speaking about Mr. Nangshi Ao, you may know there are many heroic deeds about this brave soldiers. He single- handedly killed a score of the invading Japanese soldiers. Had we Nagas not been that backwards, he would have most deservedly been awarded the Victoria cross but he never cared to claim such honour nor there was anyone who cared to recommend him for it.
Sir, leave aside the few of us, but the government must do a better turn to Mr. Nangshi Ao at least. He is now 86 and struggling to survive he and his family through a small panikheti at Changki Village of Mokokchung district leave aside a Victoria cross, Mr. Nangshi Ao surely deserve at least a better gratuity.
The British Commonwealth is spending huge sum of money maintaining the war cemetery, thousand of visitors come every year to honour the dead heroes, what about the few living heroes? Does anyone remember them? Why did the British General remember Mr. Nangshi Ao but are totally neglected and forgotten.
Is there no way to compensate their sacrifices in the last lap of their rugged lives? Cannot our beloved Chief Minister lend his humane heart to the sobs of these aged heroes?
Dr. T. Aonok, 84
WW-II Veteran
Psalm One Cottage
Signal Basti, Dimapur
