First-ever documentary chronicles accounts by Malaysian veterans in Netaji’s INA and its Rani of Jhansi regiment

As India marked the a hundred and twenty fifth start anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a first-ever documentary chronicles the tales of Malaysian veterans of the Indian National Army and its Rani of Jhansi regiment who, impressed by Netaji, joined within the battle for India’s independence from the distant lands of Southeast Asia.

“The movie is an try to see Netaji, the Indian National Army and the Rani of Jhansi regiment by way of the eyes of the Malaysian veterans who fought alongside Netaji,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti, the then High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, says within the documentary.The 30-minute documentary ‘At the Altar of India’s Freedom INA Veterans of Malaysia’, made in 2018, has been directed by journalist Choodie Shivaram and was produced by Tirumurti and the High Commission of India in Malaysia.Tirumurti tweeted Saturday, “1st time ever: INA Veterans of Malaysia on #NetajiSubhasChandraBose. On #Netaji125 watch ‘At the Altar of India’s Freedom’ Malaysian women/men fight for India. Producer @hcikl (when I was High Commissioner to Malaysia) & Director/Creator Choodie Shivaram.”1st time ever: INA Veterans of Malaysia on #NetajiSubhasChandraBoseOn #Netaji125 watch ‘At the Altar of India’s Freedom’ Malaysian ladies/males battle for Producer @hcikl (after I was High Commissioner to Malaysia) & Director/Creator Choodie Shivaram https://t.co/7sG7b7jtib pic.twitter.com/eYWaoFE6XJ— PR/Amb T S Tirumurti (@ambtstirumurti) January 23, 2022
Tirumurti shared the hyperlink of the documentary, which is able to now be accessible on YouTube, on the event of the a hundred and twenty fifth start anniversary of Netaji.Read | Meet Adwaita Gadanayak, Odisha sculptor who will carve Netaji’s grand statue at India GateIn the documentary, veteran Indian-Malaysian freedom fighters recall their journey of getting impressed by Netaji as younger youngsters and becoming a member of his battle for India’s independence whereas being hundreds of kilometers away from India.Through archival footage of Netaji and his Indian National Army and the Rani of Jhansi regiment, the documentary chronicles the valour, braveness and sacrifice of the veterans.INA veteran Dato Saroja Dev Param recalled the time when Netaji addressed a big gathering in Seremban, a metropolis in Malaysia.“It had lit up the whole country so everybody was moving in the same direction that is freedom for India.” INA veteran, Rani of Jhansi Regiment, Datuk Rasammah Bhupalan recalled, “When Netaji came, (it was like) a whole blaze of sunshine, we were spellbound. That really changed the whole scenario,” she stated.Bhupalan additionally recalled that her mom was shocked when she learnt that her daughter was going to affix the Rani of Jhansi regiment.“There were about 8 families, all of them didn’t want the girls to go. All of us went.”INA veteran from the Rani of Jhansi regiment Anjalai described Netaji as a “father to all of us.”“Still he is guiding me, he is guiding my life also,” INA veteran Seethapathi stated within the documentary.“At the mention of Netaji, it evokes some emotion in us like when we see a God in a temple.READ | Sudarsan Pattnaik pays tribute to Netaji on 125th birth anniversary with stunning sand art on Puri beachIn the same way, we feel we are seeing a God in him,” INA veteran Palaniappan Pillai stated.The documentary notes that in true INA spirit, the veterans who as soon as fought alongside Netaji for India’s independence count on nothing in return.“Well, we don’t worry about recognition but this part of Indian history that should be remembered,” INA veteran Tan Sri Dr KR Somasundaram stated.“In golden letters, it should be there in Indian history,” INA veteran N Sundaram stated.India on Sunday paid homage to Netaji on his a hundred and twenty fifth start anniversary, with leaders hailing his “monumental” contribution to the nation’s freedom wrestle and Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiling a hologram statue on the India Gate in New Delhi.The day was noticed as ‘Parakram Diwas’, introduced by the federal government to mark the Azad Hind Fauj founder’s birthday, and a lot of occasions had been organised throughout the states and overseas the place floral tributes had been supplied on the statues and portraits of the enduring freedom fighter.Read | Taiwan, the place Netaji’s airplane crashed, invitations Indians for extra analysis