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Beyond the Lines | Greatest battle: How a tennis court in Nagaland decided the end of World War II
The Battle of the Tennis Court is sometimes called the Battle of the Cherry Tree, since the historic tree marks the last point of the Japanese advance.
There is a flowering cherry tree on a quiet slope atop a busy Kohima road. The tree holds an astonishing story. Close to it is the grave of Major MJ Johnson that captures the essence of the tale. Let us revisit this tree and the grave at the end of this piece.
When the history of World War II was written, most Western historians believed that the battles of Stalingrad and El Alamein turned the tide in favour of the Allies. Even the catastrophe at Dunkirk became a British badge of defiance. However, the outcome of the war, especially in Asia, was decided on a tennis court in India.