Karunanidhi unveils statue of "Jaihind" Senbagaraman

Chennai, Jul 17 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today unveiled the statue of freedom fighter ''Jaihind'' Senbagaraman on the occasion of 'Martyrs Day' at the Gandhi Mandapam premises here.

The state government, with a view to honour martyrs, had unveiled portraits of 1,235 martyrs and freedom fighters, hailing from the state, at the Martyrs Mani Mandapam.

Mr Karunanidhi, during his previous tenure as Chief Minister, had also unveiled statues of Martyr Arya alias Bashyam and Martyr Sankaralinganar in front of the Mandapam.

Paying glowing tributes, the Chief Minister said Senbagaraman continued the freedom struggle even after moving to Germany where he had worked as the advisor of German King Gaisor and later in the German Army, headed by Hitler.

He had poineered the slogan ''Jaihind'' and made Indian National Army (INA) Chief Subash Chandra Bose to raise the slogan by the INA, the Chief Minister said.

Senbagaraman was closely associated with German and Russian leaders like Lenin. He was a close friend of Hitler, and while serving in Hitler's Army, Sengabaraman made him tender an apology for making a disparaging remarks against the Indians.

History had it that if Hitler had apologised to anyone during his lifetime, it was to Martyr Senbagaraman, Mr Karunanidhi said.

During the first world war in 1914, Senbagaraman, with the help of German's Empton ship, bombed the High Court and Fort St George to drive out the British, Mr Karunanidhi recalled.

TNCC president K V Thankgabalu thanked the Chief Minister for honouring the martyr, by unveiling his statue. This would make the present generataion to know about the history of Senbagaraman, he added.

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