Mamata Banerjee kept up with her tradition of remembering significant events in India’s history, especially those concerning Bengal or anyone associated with the state.

On Saturday, the West Bengal Chief Minister took to Twitter to remember a very special incident from the days of the British rule which not only triggered the patriotic sentiments of people but also became a defining symbol of nationhood.

Advertisement

“On this day in 1944, the flag of the Indian National Army (INA) was hoisted for the first time on Indian soil at Moirang. My tribute to all those who gave their lives in the struggle for our independence. Jai Hind,” wrote the charismatic chief of Trinamool Congress, who is angling for a federal alliance of non-BJP and non-Congress parties to take on the NDA government at the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

On this day in 1944, the flag of the Indian National Army (INA) was for hoisted for the first time on Indian soil at Moirang. My tribute to all those who gave their lives in the struggle for our independence. Jai Hind

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 14, 2018

So where is Moirang? Located in Bishnupur district of Manipur in India’s northeast, Moirang is today a city. It is home to the Loktak Lake – the biggest freshwater lake in all of northeast and a national park.

In 1944, the place was chosen for the headquarters of the Indian National Army (INA), led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, after they liberated a part of Manipur from the British rule and established the provincial independent government.

After securing around 1,500 square miles of area in the region, the INA decided to etch the memory of the victory with an even more powerful gesture which would act an emblem of the sentiments of the people.

Thus on 14 April 1944, Colonel Shaukat Ali Malik of the INA hoisted the flag of the provincial government in Moirang. It was the first time that a flag symbolising an independent India was raised on Indian soil.

The INA flag was a tricolour comprising three bands – yellow, white and green. The image of a springing Tiger was in the middle of the flag.

Moirang remained the headquarters of the INA for three months till they were pushed back by the Allied forces.

Yet Moirang found a prominent place in India’s history. The building which the INA used as their headquarters still stands.

On 23 September 1969, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated a museum dedicated to the soldiers of the INA. The museum houses memorabilia and important documents related to the actions of the INA during World War II in the Burma theatre.

The place also has a few memorials erected to honour the brave sons of India who fought against the British rule and gave a ray of hope to the people.

In fact, Moirang was selected as the site of the first memorial dedicated to the INA soldiers as per a proposal of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru following India’s independence.