Retired IAF Officer pays tribute to freedom fighter

Port Blair, Mar 13 (UNI) Retired IAF officer DK Bali paid homage to his grandfather Ram Rakha who fought for the nation's independance and breathed his last in the historic Cellular Jail at a function - 'Come Home to History' here today.

Sqdn Ldr Bali said he came here to pay homage to his grandfather and conduct a prayer to pay obeisance to the departed soul.

''I am grateful that I was able to participate in the commemorative function organized here to reminisce the arrival of the first batch of 200 prisoners of first war of Independence,'' he said.

''It was a call from my inner soul that I should visit this sacred place where my grandfather made a supreme sacrifice to the cause of the motherland and his sacrifice along with many others bore fruit with our country achieving its Independence,'' said Sqdn Ldr Bali.

Talking about his grandfather's childhood, Mr Bali said his grandfather, Ram Rakha, born in Sasili Sadar village in Hoshiyarpur ditrict of Punjab, studied in a Madarsas. He stood first in class IV, which was the highest class in those days. To celebrate his achievement, the Sarpanch of that village took him for a ride on a horse.

After his studies, he left home to join the police department as an Inspector.

When he realised his country was suffering under the clutches of British, he =quit his job and made up his mind to fight against the British to liberate his country.

''He was arrested on February 11, 1918 in a second conspiracy case and sentenced for deportation to Cellular Jail in Port Blair,'' said Mr Bali.

He breathed his last on July 14, 1918.

UNI