Unsung Heroes From Odisha In Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauz – ODISHA BYTES

Bhubaneswar: The Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauz of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose consisted of many Odia troopers.
The Odia troopers had displayed their unusual heroism as an integral a part of the battle. The checklist of those Odia veterans of the INA is obtainable within the information of the Home Department. They have been categorised beneath three classes equivalent to “Black”, “Grey” and “’White”.
Well-known historian Anil Dhir, who has performed intensive analysis on the INA, says that he has met and interviewed 27 of the previous troopers in Odisha itself. The majority of them have been from Ganjam and Puri districts; nonetheless, he has additionally listed many different veterans in numerous districts of the state. An in depth checklist of the Odia troopers was ready by the INA Association of Odisha, which was shaped in 1948 and had its headquarters at Hinjlikatu in Ganjam district.
Out of the 1,100 civilians, who have been detained by the British forces in Burma for his or her suspected hyperlinks to INA, 55 have been Odias. They have been stored on the Central Jail in Rangoon for six months earlier than being launched.

Many Odias had died within the battlefield, however most of them returned residence and led depressing lives of ignominy and neglect. The distinguished and recognized troopers included Braja Mohan Pattnaik, Krishna Chandra Tripathy, Lakshmi Rath (of Rani Jhansi Brigade), Nakula (of Bala Sena), Narashimha Das of Lochapada (Ganjam), Utsaba Pradhan (of Pakidi), Mohan Pradhan, Somanath Panigrahi, Bira Patra of Gobindapur, Rajan Sarangi of Mahulia. Ganesh Rath of Pitala, Ananta Choudhury of Kukudakhandi, Khageswar Panda of Ganjam, Ehsan Quareshi of Khariar and Dr Birakishore Bhuyan.
Dhir laments that the veterans of the INA got a uncooked deal by the newly shaped authorities of India. The Mountbatten-Nehru pact, by which all of the detained INA veterans have been launched, got here with the situation that the Indian authorities wouldn’t make use of or rehabilitate any of the INA individuals in navy, police or authorities companies. They wouldn’t be given any recognition or any pensions. In reality no {photograph} of Netaji or some other INA heroes have been allowed in any of the navy regimental headquarters or mess.

On the directions of the Centre, all state governments had stored tabs on the actions of the disbanded and launched INA troopers. The Odisha authorities too had shaped a Special Intelligence Wing and stored the INA veterans beneath surveillance from 1948 to an unspecified interval. Not solely did the federal government ignore their plight, however put roadblocks in the best way of their rehabilitation and resettlement.
When the Orissa Military Police was shaped in 1946, many INA veterans had utilized, however all their purposes have been rejected. In spite of their navy observe report, not one single INA Odia was taken within the new wing of the Police. In reality, in March 1948, Gurkhas have been inducted, however the INA Odias have been ignored. In later years, even surrendered Chambal dacoits have been inducted. This was a gross injustice meted out to Netaji’s troopers.
Many of the INA veterans got small jobs on the Hirakud Dam web site throughout its development. They had experience in jungle clearing, driving vehicles and blasting with explosives. This was performed on the insistence of Biju Babu, who nurtured softness in the direction of them. He had even attended a couple of of the conferences organised by the INA Association at Hinjlikatu. However even subsequent governments did little for them, even after they’d been recognised by the Centre. The story of Laxmi Panda is one such story, who was conferred the Rashtriya Swatantra Sainik Samman simply three days earlier than her dying.

It is tragic that most of the Odia veterans needed to eke out their lives doing menial work. Many of them have been ashamed to inform of their involvement within the INA and died in penury. It was solely after 1972 that the Government of Odisha began giving them meager pensions of Rs 200 /- monthly, which was afterward elevated considerably within the coming years. Dhir says that almost two dozen of the veterans needed to make their residing by opening pan retailers in numerous cities.
Dhir has met and interviewed 170 INA veterans all around the nation. He is of the opinion that every one different states, particularly Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal and West Bengal, gave the veterans their due after the 1970’s. Many got land and good pensions.
However, the Odisha authorities ignored their plight. He has repeatedly written to the authorities {that a} correct survey needs to be carried out within the state and particulars of all INA veterans collected. According to him, the final veteran Ehsan Quareshi, died in 2018, no different surviving INA soldier exists in Odisha.
The Odisha authorities ought to construct up an acceptable memorial for the INA troopers and a correct analysis needs to be carried out of their contribution and sacrifice for India’s freedom motion.
Also Read: Odisha Govt Urged To Release Names Of 1500 Odia Patriots In Netaji’s INA