7. Natesan's Burma Campaign and World War 2

 

                                             The Burma Campaign of Natesan

The Burma Campaign of the allied Forces against the marauding Japanese Imperial Armed Forces during the Second World War is a must read for all Military leaders! I will narrate the brief misadventure of Natesan in the jingles of Burma (Myanmar) and his great escape back to his motherland. Those who are aware of the background of   the war may skip the next paragraph.  For those who are interested in more details, these are available in public domain in World Wide Web.

On 1 September 1939, France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany on its invasion of Poland. From late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany conquered or controlled much of continental Europe, and formed the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan.   Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939 enabled Germany and the Soviet Union to partition and annex territories of Poland, Finland, Romania and the Baltic states which have common borders with them. . Following the onset of campaigns in North Africa and East Africa, and the Fall of France in mid-1940, the war continued primarily between the European Axis powers and the British Empire, with war in the Balkans, the aerial Battle of Britain, the Blitz, and the Battle of the Atlantic. On 22 June 1941, Germany led the European Axis powers in an invasion of the Soviet Union, opening the largest land theatre of war in history and trapping the Axis, in a war of attrition.

In August 1939 itself, the Congress Working Committee after ousting Subhash Chandra Bose from the primary membership of the party declared “The Congress Working Committee discussed the critical international situation. It declared its opposition to an imperialist war and reiterated its determination to oppose all attempts to impose a war on India. It condemned the sending of troops to Egypt and Singapore and prolonging the life of the Central Assembly by another year. As a first step in the protest against the flouting of public opinion, the committee called upon all Congress members of the Central Legislative Assembly to refrain from attending the next session of the assembly. The resolution concluded thus: "The committee further reminds the provincial governments to assist in no way the war preparations of the British Government and to keep in mind   the policy laid down by the Congress, to which they must adhere. If the carrying out of this policy leads to the resignations or to the removal of the Congress ministers, they must be prepared for this contingency." (MAHATMA – Volume Five [1938-1940] www.mkgandhi.org Page 214)

Subhas Bose, during his visit to Patna, was received with a black-flag demonstration. There was hurling of stones and shoes resulting in injuries to Swami Sahajanand, a kisan leader. President Rajendra Prasad condemned the act and Gandhi commented on it in the Harijan. "The demonstrators showed an unworthy intolerance," Gandhi observed. The resignation of Subash Bose earlier by the mechanization of Mahatma Gandhi and now his removal from the membership of the Party itself , that Gandhi merely commented on the attack on Bose but did not find it necessary to condemn such acts had a profound impact in the thinking of Natesan. 

The financing of military escalation led to war-time inflation, as land was appropriated from thousands of peasants. Many workers received monetary wages rather than payment in kind with a portion of the harvest. When prices rose sharply, their wages failed to follow suit; this drop in real wages left them less able to purchase food. As far as the farmers were concerned, their produce was compulsorily procured at very low rates by the Government to feed the millions of Indian troops recruited for war in Europe and Africa. The war was yet to enter the boundaries of India but there was all round scarcity of food, clothing and other essential commodities.

Reverting to Natesan’s story:

Natesan as the newly promoted Revenue Inspector was now responsible for collection of land tax, water cess and all other sources of revenues from the people who were already burdened by high inflation, poor income for their crops. When he toured the villages to oversee the collection of tax by the village Patwari, he found that they had nothing to pay. Many of the farmers had to sell their meager possessions of bullocks, carts and other implements to sustain their families. Natesan noted with dismay that many marginal farmers resorted to using the rice paddy seeds kept segregated for the next sowing season to feed the hungry mouths.  They would not be able to even cultivate the lands and would go even more indebted to sell off their meager holding of lands. So instead of collecting cash as revenue, he took an undertaking from all those who could not pay their due taxes, that they would pay the arrears with six percent interest after the next harvest season.  He knew very well the situation was not going to improve till such time the war clouds cleared in Europe.  

During those days, there used to be a monthly   meeting at RDO’s office which is attended by all Tashildars and Revenue Inspectors. They should submit a summary of their revenue collections and the amounts deposited in the treasury and submit the treasury receipts.  This was referred as “Jamabandi”.

During the Jamabandi  in the month of March  after the harvest season in January, Natesan read out the receipts and deposits which was very low compared to previous year after harvest, When questioned by the RDO for the poor revenue collection, Natesan declared that he could collect revenue only from rich land owners. He said that he had however taken a written undertaking from all farmers who could not pay, that they would pay the arrears with interest. The RDO blew his top.  Any amount of reasoning that the farmers are not able even to feed their family would not convince him. Natesan requested that the RDO could verify what he had said by deputing any official of the rank of Tashildar to any of the villages under his jurisdiction. He even requested that the RDO, if he so wished might tour a few villages.  This infuriated him even more.  All the provincial Governments were under tremendous pressure for increased collection of revenue for the war effort.  The RDO shouted that he would not only demote him   for dereliction of duty but would also ensure that his salary was deposited in treasury along with the promissory notes he had collected from the farmers till such time the dues were liquidated. Only a few years ago the same RDO had given him a commendation for his exemplary work and asked the other staff to follow his example for devotion to duty!    Natesan left the meeting leaving a hand written letter of his resignation. His tryst with the Revenue Department of British India ended on the onset of the Second World War!

Now that he had tendered his resignation, Natesan was planning to wind up and return to Nemam. While the joint family was occupying the ancestral house built by Subbier, Natesan and Dharmamabal were mostly in various towns where he was posted.  His eldest brother already got a good house constructed in the Serpatti allotted.   In the Serpatti given to Natesan in the middle of the agraharam, he made a two room house with a front Veranda with dome type roofing. He also got a kitchen and a cattle  shed made of thatched roof.

The day after he returned from the Jamabandi and planning his next move to Nemam, his head clerk from his office brought an express telegram intimating his father’s demise at Nemam. shattered by the news initially, he composed himself quickly. His father was a severe asthmatic patient and there were many instances that he would be on the verge of breathing his last in the past.  Otherwise most of the time, he was confined to the watershed building of the family on the road side. His blind mother was managing the household. Though

It was already eight in the evening and he knew that the cremation would take only by early next morning as no one would cook food in the village as long as the body was not cremated. It was almost 50 miles to Nemam. There was no transport at that hour.  Catching a train would take him only to Trichy by next morning. He , therefore, decided to cycle down all the way to Nemam. . His reliable Raleigh had a good and powerful dynamo headlight with a long beam.  He planned to cycle down to Lalgudi or Anbil where he could take a few hours rest as there were family friends in both places.  Then he would cross Kollidam River to the other bank by coracle (Oodam).   Koviladi on the other bank was just opposite Nemam with Kavery in between.  He could get the coracle service at Koviladi also to cross Kavery. That was his mental plan to be in time at Nemam for the cremation and the associated ceremonies.

Since his resignation was yet to be accepted, he handed over a copy of his resignation and also a copy of his leave application for fifteen days on extreme compassionate ground to perform the ceremonies connected to his father’s death. Asking his staff to take care of his room, he started from there around 9’ O Clock at night.  Steadily pedaling in the dark unlit village roads, he could average at most ten miles an hour and reached Anbil around 3 O’Clock in the morning.  Not wanting to wake up his friends at that unearthly hour, he parked the cycle near the Odakkarai   to have some rest and catch a wink. Though he was physically and mentally drained sleep eluded him. 

Those days it was very rare that fathers would converse with their sons.  Any requirement of the children were always routed and fulfilled through their mothers. Worrying about his mother and his own future without a job, as he had by now a wife and two small children to care for, he wondered whether he did the right thing in quitting his job. But the plight of the poor farmers and the ruthless exploitation of the country by the British even during very trying times dispelled all such doubts.   He knew that his father had not been attentive to his lands and had borrowed heavily pledging his lands to meet the expenses of marriages of his elder sisters and educating his elder brother to become an advocate.  He had to foot the bill for not only his education but also for running a family while studying Law in Madras. 

Soon it was day break and he quickly readied himself. Odakkran(Coracle man or boat man))   was a familiar face as Anbil Pillayar was  their family deity and people from Nemam clan  used to visit Anbil at least a dozen times an year. He loaded the bicycle and got on to the coracle and without waiting for others; the Odakkaran pulled away. The far bank was more or less dry except for a small stream of water of knee high that also could be negotiated where the depth was only a foot.    The Odakkaran indicated the route to the other bank showing the foot prints and wheel prints of bullock cars on the sand.  Natesan criss- crossed the river and reached the other bank quickly. Crossing the paddy fields and footpaths, he reached Koviladi. To his dismay, the Odakkarai of Koviladi was unusually deserted and there was no sign of the Odam.  He leant that the Odam got damaged and the service was not likely to resume. Kavery on the other hand was flowing full. He had to cycle down three miles East  to Tirukkattuppalli, cross the bridge on Kavery and cycle another two miles back to Nemam. Time was at a premium.

Cycling a mile further East, he came directly across   Nemam Padithurai (Bathing Ghat) on the other bank. Kavery was in full flow but the current was not very fast. One could even hear people talking on the other bank as sound travels through water!    At that very moment, he saw the body being carried on the other side coming on to the main road   with a huge following. He left the cycle to the care of a farmer who was tending his field and without a second thought, dived into the swirling Kavery and swam diagonally keeping the Irawatheswarar temple as the land mark. He reached and climbed on to the bank and was in time to receive and shoulder the body before it reached the cremation ground. The whole village was astounded as to how he could reach Koviladi overnight from Ariyalur by crossing Kollidam and swam across Kavery in full flow! That was the talk of the villages for a few decades! (The whole incidence was narrated to me by his nephew Achcha aka Y Natarajan).

After the thirteenth day ceremonies, he got the confirmation from the Revenue Department granting his leave as well as accepting his resignation. He left for Ariyalur to complete the formalities, wound up his personal effects and returned to Nemam. The property was still undivided among the brothers and his mother was controlling the finances. It was agreed by everyone that the division of the property would take place only after the first Shrardham of his father. It was indeed remarkable that though blind, his mother had a good grasp of accounts pertaining to agriculture, household expenses and equitable distribution of the produce among all. With additional expenditure on house building for the two sons, his father had accumulated a large amount of loan pledging apart of his land holding.  There was no scope to liquidate the loan while paying yearly interest itself was a big burden.   

  Natesan was wondering as to what to do further to augment his income as the farm produce would be    barely sufficient for their sustenance. The war is raging in Europe and the political climate within the country was chaotic. There was galloping inflation, scarcity of supplies and strict rationing of essential items. How he could pay his share the interest payment was the major issue.  While he was deeply worried about his future, he received a letter from his erstwhile employer in Penang! He wanted Natesan to manage his business in Rangoon immediately promising him a monthly salary which he could never imagine even in his wildest dream! 

 A brief on Rangoon. 

Japan had invaded China in 1937, isolating it from the rest of the world. Only two tenuous supply lines composed of a narrow-gauge railway originating in Haiphong, French Indochina and the Burma Road, an improved gravel highway linking Lashio in British Burma to Kunming in China. Only along these routes supplies could be sent to Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Chinese government to resist the Japanese offensives into the interior.

In 1940 Japan took advantage of the German invasion of France to cut both supply lines to China. In June, with France focused on the war in Europe, Japanese warships moved into French Indochina and closed the railroad from Haiphong. A month later, threatening war if its demands were not met, Japan secured an agreement from the hard-pressed British government to close the Burma Road to war materiel temporarily.

The Burma Road reopened in October 1940 and literally it was the sole lifeline to China. By 1941 the United States was shipping lend-lease materiel by sea to the Burmese port of Rangoon. Here it was transferred to railroad cars for the trip to Lashio in northern Burma and finally carried by truck over the 712-mile-long Burma Road to Kunming. This was to help China to contain Japan from advancing into interiors of China mainland.

Abdul Kadar, His erstwhile employer in Penang, was having his business in Rangoon also. While his business in Penang was in a down swing, he was more or less making a killing by supplying timber, metals and other supplies to the British and American Armed Forces and also for their effort to help China.  His business in Rangoon therefore urgently needed an English speaking office head well versed in accounts. Though he had tried to employ people from India, there were no takers. Abdul Kadar wanted an employee of high integrity to handle his galloping business in Rangoon and he knew Natesan’s reputation.

He promised Natesan an unthinkable high salary of Rs300 Rupees per month, a small house to stay and his travel expenses to Rangoon urging him to travel by the next available steamer. Rangoon was predominantly an ‘Indian’ city in that the majority of its population consisted of people of sub continental origin or descent. For the financially stressed and unemployed Natesan, it was a God sent. He was well aware that many were planning to return from Malaya and   other countries fearing the Japanese onslaught. But there were also many who discounted the possibility of Japan invading Burma as it was more aggressive against China. Natesan decided to venture out! Rs. 300 per month was almost ten times what he was getting in the Revenue Department of Madras Province! He could not only pitch in with his share of interest on his father’s loan but also save considerably to settle a portion of the capital in a year.  Little did he foresee that his “Burma campaign” would be equally perilous as that of the Allied Forces against the Japanese!

 

 In August 1941 he set sail from Madras to Rangoon by steamer, this time as a cabin passenger .But he did not leave his Raleigh bicycle behind! Though with the promised salary, he could buy a new one in Rangoon!   On board ship he became friends with two other   passengers, an Anglo Indian by name   Joseph Franklin who was in the next cabin and a deck passenger Mohammed Rahim, an elephant keeper. He came to know that Mr. Franklin was an employee of Nizam Railways and his services were loaned to the British for running a train service from Rangoon to northern areas of Burma to transport materials and troops for the British forces in Burma. Mohammed Rahim was returning from Kerala to his job in an estate of a British owner on the Northern part of Burma.      Their chance acquaintance in the steamer would turn out  to be a crucial relationship for their very survival not very far in future!        

Natesan was received in the jetty by the staff of Abdul Kader. As soon as he settled down, he straight away plunged into his duties. The enormity of his business stuck immediately. The timber had to be sawn and supplied to the British as per their demand which was ever increasing. Abdul Kadar had taken a labour contract for unloading of the supplies from ships and loading them in the train at Rangoon. The manual labour force consisted of mostly Tamils. To his surprise, he even found a few of them from the villages which were under his jurisdiction as Revenue Inspector!  Many farmers had left for Rangoon with promise of jobs with good wages.  Natesan streamlined the contract labors in suitable batches for unloading from ship and loading on to the train and ensured their payment every three days. He had to project the bills and take payment from the British Army Camp Administrator.   He managed to get a kitchen contractor for cooking meals for the labour centrally at a very competitive rate. He got his meals also from the same supplier. The labour who would otherwise waste their time money for their food were highly motivated since they were assured of timely meals at cheaper rate and wages paid every three days. The Camp Administrator was impressed by his meticulous preparation and submission of bills and cleared the payments. Natesan got the money transferred to Calcutta Office of Abdul Kader every week so that the Company did not lose on interest.

 

During one of his inspection for unloading from ship, he noticed that many items from the US were packed in card board cartons which were getting damaged in transit and resulting in loss and pilferage of contents.  He learnt that the cartons before loaded in the port in US were bundled in huge nets of manila rope and lifted by cranes in the jetty and unloaded in Rangoon in a similar fashion. While high value items like arms and ammunition were packed in wooden boxes, clothes, medicines and leather items, food items  were packed in cardboard cartons. The nets were released after the items were taken out in the jetty by the labour and an inventory check was made by the British troop before they are loaded on the wagons in the railway siding in the port.  While the process of checking inventory of items received in wooden boxes were quick, it would take a lot of time to physically count the individual items which have spilled out of torn card board cartons wasting a lot of time. The process of checking and loading would be repeated again in the receiving rail head.

When he went to the Railway siding, he met his acquaintance Joseph.  He learnt that Joseph was in charge of the special regular train service for transportation of supplies to Lashio every alternate day. He was also equally peeved by the time wasted in taking inventory of loose items spilled out of the cartons.  Natesan suggested that why not pack them in wooden boxes and wooden crates till they reach China and bring back the empty boxes in the returning convoy to Lashio and load them in the train on its return to Rangoon. The   cartons and loose items can be loaded on to the boxes and the written inventory could be pasted / left inside. This would not only save loading and unloading time but also the clerical effort of the British troop in checking the inventory in every loading /unloading point. Natesan promised that he would be able to make about 500 cartons in ten days time. He had enough waste teak wood shavings which were otherwise had no use. Natesan requested Joseph to take up this idea with the British.   Since Joseph was an Anglo Indian, he got the membership to the European club in Rangoon where many British military officials were members. Joseph promised Natesan that he would broach the subject the next time he sees an officer in the club.  Within a week, Natesan was given order for supplying 500 wooden boxes of standard dimension and designed for easy loading and unloading. With a dedicated team of ten carpenters, Natesan delivered them to the British Jetty of the Rangoon port in time.  Joseph got all the appreciation for the plan from the British and he became quite close to Natesan.  

 The life became busy but routine. But Natesan was keeping abreast of the happenings in Europe and the steadily threatening attitude of the Japan.  From the reverses, the allies were facing in Europe and Africa , Natesan had a nagging doubt that Japan would not keep quiet especially after Allies had imposed a trade embargo on Japan in response to its continued campaigns in China and its occupation of French Indochina.  The Japanese 25th Army invaded from Indochina, moving into northern Malaya and Thailand by amphibious assault on 8 December 1941. This was virtually simultaneous with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which was Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 in USA.  This precipitated the United States entry into the war. The Japanese then proceeded overland across the Thai–Malayan border to attack Malaya. At this time, they also began bombing strategic sites in Singapore.  The attack on Pearl harbour was huge shock not only to the Americans but to the entire world. If Japan had the audacity to attack and destroy the greatest sea power in their own fortress, no further proof was necessary that they would run over East Asia in no time in future.

 Abdul Kader wound up his business and transferred his assets to India. He instructed Natesan to transfer all cash assets to his account in Calcutta, keeping only the running expenses. He also urged Natesan to leave Rangoon if Burma was threatened and reach Calcutta. However the supplies to China were still continuing and business was brisk. Natesan transferred the business earnings of the company as before. . Japan over ran Malaya in a month’s time much to the dismay of the British planners who predicted that the Japanese Army would not be  able to cross the mountainous rubber forests of Malaya!

It is necessary to update the events of World War in the Indo pacific region for the information of the  readers.  

“The Battle of Singapore, also known as the Fall of Singapore, was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II when the Empire of Japan invaded the British stronghold of Singapore—nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East".  The fighting in Singapore lasted from 8 to 15 February 1942, after two months during which Japanese forces had advanced down the Malayan Peninsula.

Singapore was the major British military base in South-East Asia and was the key to British imperial interwar defence planning for South-East Asia and the South-West Pacific. The campaign, including the final battle, was a decisive Japanese victory, resulting in the Japanese capture of Singapore and the largest British surrender in history. About 80,000 British, Indian and Australian troops in Singapore became prisoners of war, joining 50,000 taken by the Japanese in the earlier Malayan Campaign. Famously, about 40,000 mostly Indian soldiers would join the Indian National Army.” (Wikipedia)

(Notes on INA

” The Indian National Army (INA) was originally founded by Capt Mohan Singh in Singapore in September 1942 with Japan's Indian POWs in the Far East. This was along the concept of—and with support of—what was then known as the Indian Independence League, headed by expatriate nationalist leader Rash Behari Bose. The first INA was however disbanded in December 1942 after disagreements between the Hikari Kikan and Mohan Singh, who came to believe that the Japanese High Command was using the INA as a mere pawn and propaganda tool. Mohan Singh was taken into custody and the troops returned to the prisoner-of-war camp. However, the idea of a liberation army was revived with the arrival of Subhas Chandra Bose in the Far East in 1943. In July, at a meeting in Singapore, Rash Behari Bose handed over control of the organisation to Subhas Chandra Bose. Bose was able to reorganise the fledging army and organise massive support among the expatriate Indian population in south-east Asia, who lent their support by both enlisting in the Indian National Army, as well as financially in response to Bose's calls for sacrifice for the national cause. At its height it consisted of some 85,000 regular troops, including a separate women's unit, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (named after Rani Lakshmi Bai) headed by Capt. Lakshmi Swaminathan, which is seen as a first of its kind in Asia.” )

 

January 30, 1942, had been the last day of civilian evacuation from southern Burma to Rangoon. By mid-February, tens of thousands of refugees had congregated outside of Mandalay where they registered for evacuation by way of routes laid out by government. These were based upon an inadequately mapped Indo-Burmese frontier that was known only to the indigenous people.  

On March 1, 1942 the military authorities began the destruction of Rangoon. All items of use were ordered to be destroyed. This included all kinds of transport, machinery, power lines. Joseph who wanted to leave early was retained as his services were considered essential. Natesan by now had dismissed a few remaining staff paying them off their salaries. Having transferred most of the cash to India a month ago, he was still left with about four thousand rupees and his own salary. He had to lock up the office and take the key along to Calcutta. He was particularly sad to leave the new Remington Type Writer behind. Compared to the Imperial Typewriter he was used to in the Revenue Department this needed a very light feather touch! He wondered whether it will be left intact by the marauding Japanese when they ransacked Rangoon! He took a few letter heads of the Company, his appointment letter, the company seal and an Ever-Ready flash light made in USA. Locking the door, he took the key with him to hand over on reaching Calcutta.

Hurriedly packing his stuff in a bag, he left for the railway station to meet with Joseph.  Joseph was planning to take the last trip to Mandaley or up to wherever point the railway track ended due to the bombings of Japanese. The locals had abandoned their jobs and gone away. Natesan would be a great help assisting in loading the coal in the engine .Natesan was only too willing to give him company. In fact he had come to meet Joseph for the very purpose of requesting him to take him as a stowaway in one of the wagons!

A few non essential military items were still there in some of the wagons. After the bombing of Lashio railway track ahead of Mandalay, the British were no longer sending the military supplies nor prepared to give their staff for preparing inventory or accounting. They carried of items whatever they wanted and left the few cartons in the railway wagons.  Natesan suggested that they rummage through some of the boxes to see whether there could be any items for their use during their long, arduous, dangerous and unpredictable journey of escape to India. Natesan was particular to have a fairly waterproof bag to hide the currency, a military water bottle, a rain coat and medicines and mosquito repellant oil. He had seen the British soldiers marching down the streets of Rangoon fully equipped carrying a back pack.  As luck would have it, they could locate  military ruck sacks fully equipped with a soldier’s need of personal items.  They also managed to rummage a pair of rain capes, two rubber ground sheets, half a dozen manila rope rolls, a pair of machetes with sheath of webbing and a web belt. A kakhi military short and a singlet fitted Natesan perfectly.  In one of the cartons there were tins of beans and corn beef, a box of safety matches, a tin of cigarettes and a gas lighter. Natesan felt that it would be prudent to look for a pair of sturdy military shoes as they might need to walk hundreds of miles in rough mountain terrain. He could find a pair suiting his size and a pair of heavy duty socks to go with.  Stuffing their find in their respective rucksacks, they kept them in the engine compartment.  Joseph and Natesan retired to the staff room of the station to sleep through the day.  They had a long night to be awake in running the train.  Waking up in the evening they managed to get hold of some coffee and bread and a few pieces of cake from the more or less abandoned Railway Restaurant.   

 Natesan latched his bicycle on to the side railing of the engine as the drivers and coal handlers usually do. Natesan would be the coal handler along with Joseph for the trip. Joseph had informed all the intervening station to keep the outbound track clear all the way like the special train he was running as before ferrying supplies to Lashio. In any case there were no in bound trains unless run  by Joseph! Uncoupling all other wagons except the engine and one loaded wagon to ensure good speed, Joseph started the train at the twilight of the evening on the 2 of March 1942 without giving the customary hoot!  If they could reach Mandalay, which is about 350 miles before first light it would be a miracle. If tracks were damaged enroute, they would have had to alight and trek   East to reach Tamu.  If the going was good, the train would cross major stations of Bago, Madauk, Nyayiung Pin Thar, Hanzar, Thea Taw, Minzu and finally Mandalay.  News had already reached that Mandalay was flooded with Lakhs of migrants   from the Northern Burma fleeing from the onslaught of Japanese bombings.

After a brief stop at a railway Station Minzu to draw water for the engine, Joseph continued and managed to reach Mandalay   by early next morning.   Leaving the engine and the wagon on a siding Joseph informed the Station master that he would be leaving for India.  Being Anglo Indian, Joseph got a retiring room. The station was flooded with Europeans and Anglo-Indians and no natives or black people were permitted inside.

In the few hours he spent in the Mandalay station with Joseph, he leant that there were only two trails   primarily used by the migrants heading to India. The first was via the Tamu pass which would lead to Imphal and the second, further North, via the Hukawang Valley to Ledo also in India. . (It was later known as the Valley of Death)

Mandalay was teeming with people. The fall of Southern Burma had also resulted in a mass movement towards Mandalay apart from those who were coming from North.  By the middle of March, more than one lakh Indians were living in refugee camps around Mandalay. With the Japanese shifting their advance towards central Burma, bombing intensified, and the paucity of proper bomb shelters resulted in the deaths of many residing in the camps. The resulting chaos caused thousands of migrants to begin moving towards the Tamu Pass, anticipating a quick collapse of the British forces. . The route involved moving Northwards by road towards Kalewa along the Chindwin Valley, after which a long dirt trail led to the Tamu Pass and then onwards to Imphal.

Most Indians had to begin walking from Mandalay itself as there were very few vehicles available. The few motor convoys that were making the journey to Kalewa were reserved exclusively for the Anglo-Indians and Europeans, most of whom were employees of the Burma Oil Company. This discrimination even extended to the trails leading to the Pass, with a “White” Route and a “Black” Route. The former went through easier terrain and was equipped with basic medical facilities, while the latter was often treacherously unsafe at certain points and remained unmanned.

 Natesan came to know that the Indian border at Imphal was just a few miles from Tamu Pass and the nearest Burmese town was Khampat.  It was about 400 miles ( 600km) from Mandaley..Natesan learnt that the road was a fairly good and motorable   up to  Monyma  about  80 miles  (130km) and further to Kalewa  120 miles ( 200km) . Cars and motor wagons were taking the passengers but only Europeans and staff of Burma Petroleum Company could get a seat . All available motor transport had been reserved in advance and no one else could get it either for love or money. Joseph , by virtue of being an employee on special duty to ferry war material to China on behalf the British and because he was an Anglo Indian could reserve his seat with one of the groups starting from Mandalay in few days time. Natesan had no such luck. Reaching Mandalay from Rangoon in the nick of time itself was a great fortune, he felt.   Natesan had to bid good bye to his friend thanking him in getting him reach Mandalay.

  Lugging his military ruck sack on his back, Natesan walked out leading his Raleigh bicycle dressed in military shorts and singlet like  a soldier  from the battle field! Natesan knew it was a blessing   disguise! Short of stature but fairly well built, he could be mistaken for soldier of the British forces and hence people would think twice before trying to rob him of his possessions!He was more concerned about the cash he was carrying. No petty thief would ever imagine that a soldier would be carrying anything worthwhile and no soldier will part with his meager possessions without a fight. The machete in its slot in the military rucksack was a good deterrent for anyone trying any mischief.  Still he had to be very cautious as there was absolute chaos and no one to oversee the law and order.

 Natesan had a wholesome meal in a hotel catering to Tamils. Talking to the owner after his meals, he got some very useful information from him.  He confided  that he was returning to India border  and  that he planned to cover the 120miles to Kalewa by his bicycle. And the balance whatever means available even by walk if it was inevitable. The owner roughly   gave him the major towns on the route to Imphal from Kalewa.  He had to reach the town of Kale and then from there to Khampat. The total distance he might have to cover would be about a hundred miles. From there the Tamu pass to India border would be another hundred miles.  From the border   to Imphal, he would need to cover another   fifty or sixty miles to reach Imphal.  He warned however not to go by the distance. Some places one might need a whole day to cover even ten miles. There could be rivers or streams to cross. From Imphal, he was told, the government was organizing dispatch of refugees. He was told that from Tamu there are refugee camps.  At some places where the river crossing was difficult due to swift current and depth, he was given to understand that some good Samaritans were helping them wade across the rivulets on elephant backs!  Hearing these encouraging tips, Natesan remembered Abdul Rahim who went north for his job as elephant keeper in an estate. The hotel owner directed him to the building of Burma Tamil Sangam where he could get a room on payment. Having kept awake the whole of the previous night hauling and feeding coal in the engine, Natesan needed a day’s rest and a good night sleep to pedal away at least fifty miles the next morning. He reached the Burma Tamil Sangam house and got himself a single bed room for Five rupees. He had a long sleep till six o’clock in the evening.  

Ordering a cup of hot south Indian Coffee, he planned his great escape! It was on 2 March he left Rangoon.  A day in Mandalay and on 4^th he planned to leave Mandalay to an uncertain trip ahead!