Some of the living Oriya Azad Hind Fauj soldiers depicted in the album include 104-year-old Sheikh Ramzan Qureshi, who had suffered bullet injuries during a battle with British Indian troops. The centenarian now survives on a paltry old-age pension of Rs 300 provided by state government
Post News Network
Cuttack: The authorities of Netaji Birthplace Museum here have compiled the names and addresses of 337 Oriyas who had joined the Indian National Army (INA) raised by legendary leader Subhas Chandra Bose to fight against the British government.
A 30-page album prepared by the museum authorities bears all the salient information on the Oriya soldiers of the INA. “A majority of Oriyas who had joined the INA, or Azad Hind Fauj, have passed away. We have contacted those alive and the family members of the deceased ones to collect information for this album,” said museum curator Jyotiprakash Das.
Many rare photographs of the INA, the provisional government and national bank established by Netaji have found place in the album. “This album will be made available at the museum’s library January 23 on the occasion of Netaji’s birth anniversary. We may prepare more copies of the album taking into account the visitors’ demand,” said Das.
Some of the living Oriya INA soldiers depicted in the album include Sheikh Ramzan Qureshi (104), of Mandosil under Paikamal block in Bargarh district, who had suffered bullet injuries during a battle with British Indian troops.
The centenarian now survives on a paltry old-age pension of `300 provided by the state government. Officials of the Indonesian embassy and Netaji’s granddaughter Jayanti Bose had felicitated Qureshi at a programme in Bhubaneswar a few days ago.
Similarly, Laxmi Indira Panda, of Koraput, had joined the women’s unit of Azad Hind Fauj. Felicitated a few years ago by then President Pratibha Patil, she worked as a housemaid to earn a livelihood.
Former INA soldier Khali Pradhan (95), of Ranapur in Nayagarh district, has been bedridden for the last three years. Sources said he had worked as a labourer to earn a livelihood after the defeat of INA. “At present, we are receiving a monthly pension of Rs 22,000 from the government. But no government official has ever visited the ailing freedom fighter,” said Sulei, Pradhan’s wife.
Uchhab Jena (95), of Siko area in Puri district, who had joined the INA, was captured and jailed after the INA’s defeat.
He had chosen farming to sustain his family after his release from jail. Jena’s family is now receiving a monthly pension of `25,000 from the government. “I had fought against the British to free our motherland. But the scenario in free India has saddened me,” rued Jena.
