At Kohima, the British troops dug in and decided to engage in the final battle with the Japanese forces, that outnumbered them, on the tennis court in the bungalow of the Deputy Commissioner of Naga Hills, as it was then known. The court was located on a hillside, overlooking the only road to Dimapur valley. For the next three weeks or so, the troops of the opposing forces had some of the bloodiest skirmishes of World War II, lobbing hand grenades at each other across the tennis court, but refusing to yield even an inch of the ground, till the time reinforcements arrived, traversing through the thickest of jungles, and the siege of the town, after fighting bitter battles.

This battle of wits, courage and dogged determination and of course, sacrifice proved to be the turning point in World War II. By now the Japanese forces stretched their will to fight to the limit as also their administrative machinery. This time it was the turn of the 14th army (comprising mainly Indian troops), to crush the might of the Imperial Japanese, Army, and turn the tide of the war, fighting heroic battles of the Burma Campaign, which led to the defeat and final surrender of Japan.

In the annals of military history, this great battle of Kohima, is known as The Battle of the Tennis Court, and in this tennis court lie the mortal remains of thousands of Allied soldiers, who could not make it to their homes and to their near and dear ones. At the tennis court, one of the best-maintained war cemeteries is located. Let us salute those great heroes. Their only reward is the beautifully inscribed epitaph at the entrance to the cemetery.

We would do well to pay homage to these great heroes, who indeed gave us a better and peaceful world today.