The INA Martyrs’ Memorial Complex, Moirang gains its historic significance into a national pilgrimage centre on account of a unique and unparallel event in the history of freedom struggle of India. When the whole of India was reeling under Gandhiji for winning national freedom from the British Colonial rule through its moral weapon Satyagraha Manipur and Kohima become the first and last battle ground for the same cause-liberation of India from the British Colonial rule thousands of INA soldiers with total support from Japanese Government and its imperial army died in the battlefronts and become martyrs.
They liberated 1,500 sq miles in Manipur valley and unfurled the tri-colour Flag off free India ceremoniously for the first time at MoirangKangla on 14th April, 1944 and carried out administration of the liberated territories for three months with its Head Quarters at Moirang. In fond memory of those sacrificed souls the INA Martyrs’ Memorial complex proudly stands at Moirang to testify the historicity and Martyrdom.
The complex has six units-the Netaji Library, the Replica of the INA War Memorial, the MoirangKangla, the INA Auditorium, the Life Size Bronze Statue of Netaji and the INA War Museum. Every year the state government in conjugation with the INA Advisory committee celebrates three calendar events-Proclamation of the Provisional Government of Free India on 21st October, Netaji’s Birth Day on 23rd January and Flag Hoisting on 14th April.
Co-incidentally, Moirang which was one of the seven independent principalities of Manipur happened to be the oldest civilization in Manipur and were ruled by 52 successive kings who were coronated in MoirangKangla, the ancient seat of authority which was the very sacred spot where the said Tri-Colour Flag of Free India was unfurled. Further, the people of Manipur contributed in the war efforts and people of Moirang, in particular provided food and hospitality to the marauding size of 10,000 Indo-Japanese soldiers for three months in addition to espionage services as asked for tactical operations by the INA. Till to-day the people of Moirang sing in praise the bravery and heroic deeds of the Indo-Japanese forces in their offensive against the British forces.