South East Asia celebrates Netaji, reaffirms to honour legacy

In a rare and first-ever high-ranked official presence of Malaysian government at a special commemorative event to pay homage to

Netaji Subhash

Chandra Bose, it was the chief minister of Penang,

Chow Kon Yeow

, who inaugurated the 80th anniversary of the provisional government (Azad Hind Sarkar) and

INA Raising

Day, at the precincts of Ramakrishna Tamil school on Saturday by lighting the traditional Indian oil lamp. Addressing hundreds of students of local Tamil schools in Penang, and parliamentarians, exco members of DAP-led government, along with the organisers of the event, the

Netaji Welfare Foundation

(NWF), and

Indian high commission

,

Chow Yeow

said, "As Malaysians, we are particularly proud that

Netaji

chose our beloved country as his base to organize Indians to fight against the fierce colonial master, the British." He thanked the NWF for preserving and promoting Netaji's ideals. "It is our responsibility also to ensure his memory lives on."
In Bangkok, the

Netaji Subhash Vision Thailand

, an organisation set up by the INA families of Thailand, celebrated the 80th anniversary on October 14, in conjunction with India Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Thai Bharat Cultural Lodge. NSVT arranged a 3-day "Netaji Pilgrimage" for academicians, and Indo-Thai citizens who believe their lives are inextricably linked with Bose's historical visits to Thailand to raise the INA. For, the first -ever INA training camp to be built entirely by Netaji and his men was in Chonburi, Thailand. And it was here that several thousand Indian migrant families from UP, Bihar, Punjab, offered Netaji not just their family wealth but also themselves to fight the brutal battles ahead.