New Delhi, March 13: The Indian Army organized a special centenary celebration for Lieutenant Rangaswamy Madhawan Pillai, a 99-year-old veteran of the Indian National Army (INA), as he commenced his 100th year by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial and the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Kartavya Path, New Delhi.
The event, attended by senior armed forces personnel and the public, was a powerful tribute to India’s freedom struggle and the legacy of the INA.
Born on March 13, 1926, in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar), Lt. Madhawan Pillai joined the Indian Independence League in 1942 under Rash Behari Bose. When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose took charge, he formally enlisted in the INA on November 1, 1943, at just 18 years old.
Trained at the Officers Training School in Burma, he served as a recruitment and fundraising officer before joining the Administrative Branch at INA Headquarters in Rangoon under Major General KP Thimayya (elder brother of General KS Thimayya). His contributions to India’s freedom struggle were officially recognized by the Government of India on August 1, 1980.
On January 23, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated him during the Parakram Diwas celebrations at Red Fort, New Delhi.
The Azad Hind Fauj (INA) was first formed by Mohan Singh in 1942 and later revived by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on October 21, 1943. With the battle cry “Chalo Delhi,” the INA united Indians across communities, including women in the Rani of Jhansi Brigade, to fight for India’s complete independence from British rule.
Lt. Madhawan’s wreath-laying ceremony serves as a poignant reminder of India’s sacrifices for freedom and the ongoing journey to uphold their legacy. His centenary year is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the unwavering resolve that shaped India’s struggle for independence.
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