Manipur in World War II
Seminar by Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research
- Date: September 3, 2013 at Jamia Millia Islamia -

The Young Research Scholars Seminar Series
of the
Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research
Jamia Millia Islamia

invites you to

Manipur in World War II
a talk by
Hemanth Katoch
Visiting Fellow, CNESPR
Coordinator, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)
Chair: Prof. David Syiemlieh
Renowned historian
Member UPSC, former Vice Chancellor Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh

Date: September 3, 2013, at 3:00 pm

Venue: Seminar Room, Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research
2nd Floor, Academy of International Studies Annexe Building

AGENDA

3:00 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. Introduction: Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, CNESPR
3:05 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Remarks by Chair: Prof. David Syiemlieh,Renowned historian, Member UPSC
Former Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ‘Manipur in World War II’: Hemant Katoch, Visiting Fellow, CNESPR, Coordinator, INTACH
4:00 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. Discussions
4:25 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. Concluding remarks: Prof. David Syiemlieh
4:35 p.m. – 4:40p.m. Remarks: Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika

High Tea

Concept Note:

Manipur and the Second World War

Manipur was a key battleground during the Second World War. A quiet corner of the Raj until then, in 1942 it suddenly found itself on the frontier between the Japanese in Burma (now Myanmar) and the British in India. It turned into a massive battlefield in 1944 when the Japanese, together with Indian National Army (INA) units, launched Operation U Go, with its main objective of capturing Imphal, Manipur’s capital. The period from March to July of that year saw fierce fighting take place across the state in what is called the Battle of Imphal. In April 2013, the combined battle of Imphal/Kohima was named ‘Britain’s Greatest Battle’ by the National Army Museum in the United Kingdom.

The talk will look at Manipur’s experience of the Second World War from 1942-45, including the key Battle of Imphal. It will explore how the War years affected Manipur and at how this phase of its history connects the state to the rest of India and the world. It will also consider what this Manipur’s rich Second World War past and heritage could mean for its future, especially in terms of war tourism. Finally, the speaker will conclude by presenting a brief overview of his own work in this regard over the last year.

With regards,

Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika
Director
Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research