Situated on the eastern coast of India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a deep rooted history. They are the only part of the country to have been occupied by a non-European power, namely the Japanese. The Japanese occupation of the Andaman is one of the less well-known aspects of the Second World War. It began on March 23, 1942, when Japanese forces landed in South Andaman, and within three to four hours, they had taken complete control of the region. The Japanese occupation of the Andaman coincided with the occupation of the area by the Indian National Army (INA), and their mutual understanding ensured that the Japanese would encounter no opposition when attempting to seize control of the island. After the Japanese stepped foot on the islands, they went on a rampage, killing and looting anything they could lay their hands on. The death toll from Japanese brutality in the Andaman Islands is estimated to have been around 2000 Indian deaths. On November 6, 1943, Japan finally turn

Author-Gopi Shah