A promotional run for a marathon to remember the soldiers of the “Azad Hind Fauj” who fought for India’s Independence alongside the Japanese forces during the WWII was held on Sunday to advertise the event for participants to gear up for the cross country race.
Mayanglambam Merina
‘Kakching Second World War Memorial Run’ which is scheduled to take place on 8 September, started three years back when three ladies volunteered for a run ,” Run for health, run for fun, run for a cause ” and eventually became the motto of Kakching Runners who are organizer of the WWII memorial run.
The marathon will be flagged off from District Sports Association of Kakching district and cover in and around kakching municipal areas for both the 25km and 8km run
The marathon will kick off from Kakching because it occupies a prominent place in the history of Second World War where the decisive Imphal battle was fought in Manipur.
Kakching serve as a nerve centre for allied forces with heavy deployment of the Allied forces in and around Kakching and the Kakching Airfield serving as the main supply line and operational centre.
These reasons made Kakching the hot target for the advancing Japanese forces supported by the Azad Hind Fauz. The importance of the battle of Imphal in the context of the WWII is well known with the Japanese surrendering bringing an end to war. it is recognized by the Rotal British Army as the most fiercest battle ever fought by its troops around world.
In its first edition the memorial Marathon held last year, over a 1000 runners from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Dubai, Kenya took part in the run to promote a world without wars.
The Run which is a tribute to the memory of the Second World War Martyrs brings to the fore the importance of Manipur in the history of the 2nd World War. This event is another small reconciliatory effort to bring together both sides to promote better understanding and world peace.
