Kohima: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, on Tuesday laid stress on strengthening of partnership between India and Britain, in various fields, for the benefit of the new generation.
Speaking at a public reception accorded to him here, the Prince said the Commonwealth nations have great potential for growth through mutual cooperation and partnership and also insisted on strengthening partnership between India and Britain.
The 52-year-old Duke said Queen Elizabeth instructed her family members to visit all the Commonwealth nations for strengthening cooperation and partnership as part of the diamond jubilee of her coronation.
The Queen also asked her family members to pay homage to British and Allied Forces soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the world wars, he said.
Paying homage and remembering those who gave their lives in battle, the Prince said, north east should also make the younger generation aware about the sacrifices made by soldiers to ensure the freedom of another generation.
“Shortly after the war, Lord Mountbatten visited Kohima; the Queen knows the Nagas well; we recognized the past and cherished it, but future is more important,” the Prince said.
Welcoming Prince Andrew, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said while an entire generation grew up hearing the painful stories of war, his visit was expected to usher in new era of greater partnership and better understanding between the Nagas and the British.
“Your visit will also re-kindle old friendship and shared history,” the chief minister said.
Rio reminded the Prince that during the First World War thousands of Nagas served in Europe in the labour corps and mentioned the crucial role played by the Nagas in the victory of Allied Forces in the decisive battle of Kohima during World War II.
Rio presented the Duke of York with a Konyak brass gong, a head gear, a spear and a dao and two bamboo baskets to the Prince amidst applause.
Naga folk dances and music were presented before the Prince during the public reception which was accorded to him. The prince was accompanied by the British officials including the High Commissioner to India.
Earlier, immediately after his arrival in the town from Dimapur by road, the Duke visited the Kohima War Cemetery and paid homage to those who were killed in the battle of 1944.
Later he also visited World War Museum at Kisama Heritage Village, 12 km south of Kohima before his departure.
Prince Andrew also unveiled a monolith during his day-long visit here at the entrance of the World War II Museum at Kisama Heritage Village, 12 km south of this capital town of Nagaland.
The monolith was erected to commemorate his visit and mark the presence of the Prince in Nagaland, officials said.
After visiting the museum, set up in 2009 by the Nagaland government to convey the message about the futility of violence and war, the Duke shook hands with the World War II veterans here numbering around 12 and gave a patient hearing to the war stories and their problems narrated by them.
“I will see what I can do,” the Prince told the veterans, saying “the whole of India holds you in high esteem, and what you did change the course of history. You took a clear stand and nothing can be said more than that, thank you,” he commented.
His Kohima visit was part of the Prince’s week-long tour of India to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation to the British throne.
He had also lunch along with accompanied British officials at Bamboo Hall of Kisama Heritage Complex.
The menu included mixed vegetable soup while the main course comprised Nagaland special steamed rice, assorted bread, stuffed potato chops, fish wrapped in spinach, grilled chicken, chicken amsu broth, sliced roasted pork with ginger and roasted beef. (PTI)