Singapore and Malaysia reminisce Netaji

Singapore, Aug 14: Singapore and Malaysia payed homage to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in a seminar on his struggle for India's independence in the 1940s and emotionally recalled their interaction with the India's freedom fighter.

The seminar, organised by the Singapore's Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS), India Club and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce&Industry yesterday, had a keynote address by Netaji's grand nephew, Prof Sugata Bose, son of Sisir Bose, who drove the car that took Netaji disguised as a muslim salesman to Kabul when he was put under house arrest in Calcutta by the British forces.

The drive was the turning point for Netaji's struggle as he travelled the world campaigning against the British Raj, seminar speakers recalled.

Mrs Rasammah Bhupalan, member of of Netaji's Jhansi Ki Rani force, recalled her interaction with the pre-Independence leader in Thailand while others spoke about the 'walk back' from the Burma jungles in a retreat after Japanese support fell short for them on surrendering Singapore to the British Empire.

Captain John Jacob, though overweight, came in his new uniform and 'toppi' of the Indian National Army (INA), which was formed in the 1940s and led by Netaji under the Singapore-based Free India Government. Its achievement was not only crossing the Burma border into India but raising the independence voice as well as global gaining the recognition of the Free India Government.

ISEAS director Mr K Kesavapany reminded more than 500 delegates at the seminar that Singapore was the main operation theatre of INA.

The seminar was inaugurated by Singapore's Education Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam and attended by the High Commissioner of India, Mr Alok Prasad.

"This is yet another thread that binds the people of Malaysia and Singapore together," Mr Kesavapany said, honouring the INA veterans, which include Malaysia-based retired school principal Mrs Janaky Nahappan, who joined the INA at the age of 15 and donated her earings and necklace to the Netaji, and Mr Badal Guha Thakurta.

Prof Suguta Bose added that he was only a blood relation of Netaji while the INA members were his rightful and reverred children.

UNI