The battle began on April 3, 1944, when 15,000 Japanese men attacked a British garrison that had just 1,500 men.
The ceremony took place at two war cemeteries in Imphal, and was attended by Manipur Governor V K Duggal, deputy Chief Minister and a host of foreign dignitaries.
Hemant Katoch shifted from Delhi to Imphal two years ago and is now actively involved in popularising this battle through tours and treks in Manipur. He says, "I think it's very important from an Indian point of view. When you talk about the British Army you forget that it was the British Indian Army. Also, you had Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA) fighting alongside the Japanese."
The battle began on April 3, 1944, when 15,000 Japanese men attacked a British garrison that had just 1,500 men. Though outnumbered, the men stood their ground for nearly two weeks, until reinforcements arrived.
Through this period, the role, both political and military, of the INA came into sharp focus. Thousands of British Prisoners of War, crossed over to Mr Bose driven by visions of an independent India and fought for Japan.
The organisers have bigger plans for the 75th anniversary of the battle, an event that may put a bigger spotlight on a chapter in history that has been largely forgotten.