Army flags off Chindits trail expedition

Babina, Jhansi : A Chindits Trail Expedition is being carried out by Indian Army from 16 February to 08 March 2018 to commemorate the indomitable spirit and ethos of Indian troops employed on Burma front in the Second World War.

The expedition will cover a total distance of 400 kilometers in four phases over a period of 20 days. Moving through jungle trails and surviving off the land, without recourse to any modern amenities, the troops plan to truly relive the Chindits experience. Lead by Captain Sachit Sharma, the team comprises of 25 soldiers for each phase. The expedition will cover the areas of Deogarh, Shadpur, Damoh and Nauradehi and will collaborate with the local civil administration and forest department to connect with indigenous tribes inhabiting the region, to spread the message of national integration and organise medical camps for their benefit. 

The expedition was ‘Flagged Off’ by Lieutenant General DR Soni, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army’s Southern Command on 16 February 2018 at Babina. He exhorted the team to imbibe Chindits Motto – “Boldest Measures Are The Safest”  

The remote and inaccessible region of Central India was specially chosen by the British in 1943 during the Second World War to train a Guerilla force called the ‘Chindits’ to conduct operations behind the lines of Japanese forces in Burma (present day Myanmar).  The training was conducted in inhospitable jungle and hilly terrain between Narmada and Betwa river basins, under the legendary General Orde Wingate and comprised mainly of Gorkha troops of the Indian Army. The Chindits operations were crucial in breaking the will of Japanese troops, leading to their ultimate defeat.