Khodao Yanthan, was born and brought up in a humble family at Lakhuti village, Wokha district, Nagaland. Since childhood, he was honest, straight forward and diligent to his daily work. He is an admirer of patriotic leaders, freedom fighters who did justice and loved the motherland.
He did his tenth standard from Christian Mission High School at Jorhat, in Assam and later joined Serampur College for his college education. He fi-nished his intermediate in Arts examination in the year 1942 and by that time, the Second World War II has already started in Burma. It was through the missionaries at jorhat where he came in touch with the British Admistration. Then he marched on to Burma with the British forces.
Along with Khodao Yahtan, thousands of Nagas had enrolled in the Labour Corps for cutting new roads and constructing bidges for conveyance of the British and with great hardship and difficulties, he and the Brtish forces reached Burma.
The battle of Burma which took place between the Imperial Japanese forces and the Allied British forces fought terribly. But the British Allied Forces could not halt the advancing Imperial Japanese forces because many Burmese men and women defected to the Japanese Army, for their support in every way.
The 15th Japanese Army supported by the forces of the Indian National Army (they are mostly Indian army deserters), under the command of Subash Chandra Bose, over ran Burma and occupied Nagaland in 1944. Their objective was to march towards Delhi.
With the intiative of Khodao Yanthan, as a guide/scout the Nagas organized (a ‘V’ FORCES) VOLUNTARY FORCES and helped the British forces in Nagaland in every possible ways-in jungle warfare, scouting/escorting, carrying food supplies carrying wounded British soldiers. The mighty Allied British Forces could not halt and penetrate the army until they reached the Naga territory.
A small hill in Kohima turned the tide of World War II in South East Asia, and the battle of Kohima ended in 1945.
Khodao Yanthan had rendered a great service to the British forces, leading them safely to Burma and then back to Kohima, bearing all the physical dangers, fighting back enemies day and night to halt the 15th imperial Japanese Army Forces from entering in to Kohima.
They saved the Indians from the devastation of the World War II. This World War II is really an account of bravery for Khodao Yanthan.
Khodao Yanthan, possessed an inherent gift of nationalism and patriotism. He was a man of principle and a far sighted leader and an enthusiast for reaching the goal of justice for all.
B.C Ezung, Retd. Major and Deputy Kilonser, GPRN. Government, Nagalim
