Kaitho Sukhai
{{Short description|Naga nationalist and military leader}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kaito Sukhai
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Kaito Sukhai
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1933|5|22}}
| birth_place = Ghukhuyi, Naga Hills District, Assam Province, British India {{small|(Now in Zünheboto District, Nagaland, India)}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1968|8|4|1933|5|22}}
| death_place = Kohima, Nagaland, India
| nationality = Naga
| occupation = Military Leader, Nationalist
| known_for = Youngest General Commander-in-Chief
| movement = Naga Independence Movement
| organizations = Naga Army, Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN)
}}
Kaito Sukhai (22 May 1933 – 4 August 1968), was a Naga nationalist and military leader, known for being the world's youngest General Commander-in-Chief at the age of 23.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-15 |title=Home office frees Naga tribesmen |url=http://www.thenagarepublic.com/fact-check/nagas-history-culture/home-office-frees-naga-tribesmen/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=NAGA REPUBLIC |language=en-US}} He played a crucial role in the Naga independence movement against Indian administration and was instrumental in shaping the military resistance of the Naga Army.{{Cite web |title=Changemaker |url=https://theweseantimes.ink/vow/stories/kaito |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=theweseantimes.ink}}
Early life and education
Kaito Sukhai was born on 22 May 1933 at Ghukhuyi. Sukhai exhibited leadership qualities from a young age. In 1953, he moved to Shillong under the pretext of pursuing further studies.{{Cite web |last=Page |first=Nagaland |date=2024-12-16 |title=Kaito Inaugurated Sukhai Village Council Panchayat Bhavan - Nagaland Page |url=https://nagalandpage.com/kaito-inaugurated-sukhai-village-council-panchayat-bhavan/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=nagalandpage.com |language=en-US}} However, his primary objective was to organize a network promoting Naga nationalism among students and Naga recruits in the Assam Regiment.{{Cite web |title=History on the course of repeating itself Part-1 |url=https://morungexpress.com/history-on-the-course-of-repeating-itself-part-1 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=MorungExpress}} His clandestine activities soon attracted the attention of Indian intelligence, leading to his departure from Shillong.{{Cite web |last=Page |first=Nagaland |date=2022-07-02 |title=Remembering A Martyr GB Inaho Kinimi - Nagaland Page |url=https://nagalandpage.com/remembering-a-martyr-gb-inaho-kinimi/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=nagalandpage.com |language=en-US}} Despite this, his efforts significantly bolstered the Naga nationalist cause.{{Cite web |date=2019-08-04 |title=A tribute to Gen. Kaito Sukhai 1933-1968 |url=https://www.thenagarepublic.com/fact-check/nagas-history-culture/a-tribute-to-gen-kaito-sukhai-1933-1968/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=NAGA REPUBLIC |language=en-US}}
Military career
In 1955, Kaito Sukhai established the Naga Safeguards, an avant-garde army in the Eastern Sumi area under the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). On 23 March 1955, he declared an armed revolt against the Indian Army from NEFA.{{Cite web |title=Sumi Patriots Day observed at Satakha |url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/2023/08/05/sumi-patriots-day-observed-at-satakha/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=nagalandpost.com}} At just 22, he was appointed the first General of the Naga Safeguards. Later that year, from 3 to 10 September, he led a group of 16 Naga Safeguards in the First Indo-Naga battle at Hoshepu against a formidable division of the 17th Indian Rajputs and Assam Rifles Regiments.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-26 |title=The Evolution of Naga Army - Nagajournal |url=https://nagajournal.com/the-evolution-of-naga-army/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |language=en-US}} The battle resulted in the loss of five Naga soldiers and approximately 380 Indian forces.{{Cite book |title=The World's youngest general |date=2022 |publisher=Maurice Wylie Media |isbn=978-1-8384838-7-6 |location=Dimapur}}
Following the declaration of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) on 2 March 1956, the Naga Home Guards and Naga Safeguards were consolidated to form the Naga Army.{{Cite web |last=Forum |first=Wesean High School Students |title=Vanguards of Wesea - Celebrating Young Leaders of Northeastern India |url=https://vow.theweseantimes.ink/story/1 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=vow.theweseantimes.ink |language=en}} Kaito Sukhai was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Naga Army on 22 March 1956, a position he held until January 1963. During his tenure, he led several significant operations, including the second battle of Satakha on 24 March 1956, where 78 Assam Armed Police were captured along with a substantial cache of weapons.{{Cite web |title=You are being redirected... |url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/2022/06/05/tokheho-releases-book-on-gen-kaito/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=nagalandpost.com}}
In 1962, Kaito Sukhai led 168 Naga soldiers to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) for arms procurement and training. On 10 September 1962, he traveled to London to meet Naga National Council President A.Z. Phizo to discuss the future course of the Naga movement.{{Cite news |last=Liezietsu |first=Zhokhoi |date=February 11, 2025 |title=Kaito Sukhai |url=https://vow.theweseantimes.ink/story/1 |url-status=live |work=Vanguards of Wesea}} During this visit, he was invited by the BBC to address the Naga struggle for independence at the Round Table Conference. The British media, including the BBC and 'The Daily Herald,' recognized him as the world's youngest General Commander-in-Chief.{{Cite web |title=Book on life of General Kaito Sukhai released |url=https://morungexpress.com/book-on-life-of-general-kaito-sukhai-released?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=MorungExpress}}
Assassination and legacy
On 3 August 1968, General Kaito Sukhai was assassinated due to his strong anti communism stance, in Kohima by a member of the underground Naga Army. He succumbed to his injuries the following day, 4 August 1968, at the age of 35.{{Cite web |title=PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions |url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/deccan-chronicle/20180805/282325385788813?srsltid=AfmBOor6uvA92fkS2oG6zn0uTa3Xjzwd5obcJc7Bu2vlqeDS0q45o96n&utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.pressreader.com}} His death was a significant loss to the Naga independence movement. In 2022, a biographical book titled 'The World's Youngest General' was released, chronicling his life and contributions to the Naga political struggle.{{Cite web |title=Book on life of General Kaito Sukhai released |url=https://morungexpress.com/book-on-life-of-general-kaito-sukhai-released?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=MorungExpress}}
References
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