Kohima: Residents of Mungya village in Nagaland continue to preserve a rare piece of history: a World War II aircraft propeller believed to originate from a crashed Japanese warplane. The artifact has become a local landmark, holding both historical significance and personal memories for the community in the Wokha district.
The story began when a young student named Khontsemo Ezung discovered the wreckage while exploring the Ekhokju area. After he alerted his friends, a group of villagers traveled to the site to retrieve the remains. According to Tsemomo Ezung, the GB of Mungya village, "By the time they reached the location, many of the aircraft parts had already been taken away by others, leaving only the propeller behind."
Facing a lack of transport, the men hauled the heavy propeller back to their village on foot. Because Mungya lacked a proper church bell at the time, the community repurposed the metal propeller to fill that role. It served the congregation for many years, becoming a fixture of daily life. Today, the propeller stands as a testament to the village's resourcefulness and remains a protected relic of the global conflict that once touched the region.
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