Netaji's driver finally gets govt accommodation

Port Blair, Feb 24 (UNI) Member of the erstwhile Indian National Army (INA) Pratap Singh, who was appointed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's driver in Germany during World War II, was today allotted government accommodation here by the state administration.

Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt General (Retd) Bhopinder Singh had allotted him a Type II government quarter in recognition to Mr Singh's service to the country.

The 84-year-old freedom fighter was living in a dilapidated rented house in Dollygunj village in South Andaman along with his family members, comprising his aged wife and seven children for the last 25 years.

''I met the Lt Governor and requested him to do something as I am unable to pay the house rent and take care of my family members with the INA Freedom Fighter's pension,'' Mr Singh told UNI here.

Mr Singh, originally from Punjab, migrated to the archipelago in search of job in the early 1980s.

''In 1942, during World War II, I was captured along with 5,000 Indian soldiers by the German forces. When they took us to Germany, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was already there. He asked us to fight against the British forces and we all got ready,'' recalls Pratap Singh.

During three three-month training in Germany, all the INA soldiers were very enthusiastic due to Netaji's presence, he said.

''Netaji was always with us to oversee our training. He stood and watched us from a distance,'' Mr Singh said.

Mr Singh, adept in driving tanks and firing 110 mm guns, was selected as the personal driver to Netaji Subhash Bose.

After Independence, Mr Pratap Singh moved to Andaman to work for a private company.

Mr Singh, also a member of the Celluar Jail National Memorial Committee, had attended the Republic Day celebration at Delhi four times on the President's invitation.

UNI