As India marks the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, for the first time a documentary chronicles the stories of Malaysian veterans of the Indian National Army and the Queen of its Jhansi Regiment, inspired by Netaji to join the fight for India’s independence. Had happened. Far lands of Southeast Asia.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti, the then High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, says in the documentary.
The 2018 30-minute documentary ‘At the Altar of India’s Freedom INA Veterans of Malaysia’ has been directed by journalist Chudi Sivaram and produced by Tirumurti and the Indian High Commission in Malaysia.
Tirumurti tweeted on Saturday, “For the first time: INA Veterans of Malaysia at #NetajiSubhasChandraBose. #Netaji125 on ‘At the altar of India’s independence’ Watch Malaysian women/men fight for India. Producer @hcikl (When I’m in Malaysia) High Commissioner) and director/producer Chudi Sivaram.”
First Time: Malaysia’s INA Veterans On #Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
Feather #netaji125 Watch Malaysian women/men fight ‘at the altar of India’s independence’
the creator @hcikl (when I was High Commissioner to Malaysia) and Director/Producer Chudi Shivaram https://t.co/7sG7b7jtib pic.twitter.com/eYWaoFE6XJ
— with PR/TS Tirumurti (@ambtstirumurti) 23 January 2022
Tirumurti shared the link to the documentary, which will now be available on YouTube on the occasion of Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary.
In the documentary, veteran Indo-Malaysian freedom fighters recount their journey as young teenagers being inspired by Netaji and joining his fight for India’s independence while living thousands of kilometers away from India.
Through archival footage of Netaji and his Indian National Army and the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the documentary chronicles the valor, courage and sacrifice of the veterans.
INA veteran Dato Saroja Dev Param recalled the time when Netaji addressed a large gathering in Seremban, a city in Malaysia.
“It had illuminated the whole country so everyone was moving in the same direction which is freedom for India.” INA veteran, Rani of Jhansi Regiment, Datuk Rasamma Bhupalan recalled, “When Netaji came, (it was like) there was a complete gleam of sunshine, we were mesmerized. It really changed the whole scenario,” she said.
Bhupalan also recalled that his mother had learned that her daughter was going to join the Rani of Jhansi regiment.
“There were about 8 families, they all did not want the girls to go. We all left.”
Anjalai, an INA veteran from the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, described Netaji as “the father of all of us”.
“Yet he is guiding me, he is guiding my life too,” Sitapati, a veteran of INA, said in the documentary.
“On the mention of Netaji, it creates some feeling in us like when we see the deity in a temple.
In the same way, we feel that we see a god in him,” said INA veteran Palaniappan Pillai.
The documentary states that in the true spirit of the INA, the veterans who fought alongside Netaji for India’s independence expect nothing in return.
“Well, we don’t worry about recognition but this part of Indian history should be remembered,” said Tan Sri Dr KR Somasundaram, an INA veteran.
INA veteran N Sundaram said, “In golden letters, this should be in Indian history.”
India on Sunday paid tribute to Netaji on his 125th birth anniversary, with leaders lauding his “commemorative” contribution to the country’s freedom struggle and Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiling a hologram statue at India Gate in New Delhi.
The day was observed as ‘Parakram Diwas’, which was announced by the government to mark the birthday of the founder of the Azad Hind Fauj, and several events were organized in the states and abroad where statues of the iconic freedom fighter and Wreaths were laid on the paintings. ,
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