What many are not aware of is Netaji’s lesser-known visit to Madurai in 1939. Interestingly, Madurai was the only place in Tamil Nadu visited by Netaji, apart from Chennai.
It was on September 6, 1939, that Netaji reached Madurai thorough a train, which offered a once in a lifetime opportunity for thousands in the temple city to have a glimpse of him, says 97-year-old I Mayandi Bharathi, freedom fighter and writer.
Flipping though a scrapbook containing photos and information – which he plans to compile as a book -Bharathi proudly boasts about his lifetime opportunity to welcome Netaji in Chennai on his way to Madurai. Bharathi was the then president of Chennai Province Extreme Youth Wing.
Talking about Netaji’s Madurai visit, V Swaminathan, Madurai-based Netaji National Association said he collected some information from Parasuram, who died three years ago at the age of 77. Parasuram was 14 years old when Netaji visited here and had said that he was attracted to the towering leader from the first glimpse.
“Netaji’s visit to Madurai was amidst high drama, as he decided to come only at the last minute at the behest of U Muthuramalinga Thevar, who compelled him to visit the temple city,” says Swaminathan. When Netaji was addressing the public in Chennai on September 3, 1939, he received information that the World War II broke out. He was called for a high-level meeting convened by Mahatma Gandhi to discuss the situation then. Netaji had to cancel his plan to tour across Tamil Nadu when he was on a six-month campaign across the nation.
“However, he agreed to visit Madurai. He reached the temple city in the morning and met many important personalities here including Karumuttu Thiagaraja Chettiar. Since the visit was unplanned, no public meeting was held,” Swaminathan said.
While the whole nation was waiting for the reaction of Netaji on the WW II, he remained composed. An incident which took place during his visit was quite evident to prove his composure. Parasuram, who was 14 then, followed Netaji wherever he went requesting for an autograph. Since Parasuram could not go near Netaji, he conveyed to him from a distance, through sign language that he lost his autograph given earlier. Surprisingly, Netaji too replied to Parasuram with the sign language that he would give two more autographs. Netaji called him later and handed over a bouquet, which was presented to him. Parasuram had a chance to share space with Netaji and Muthuramalinga Thevar, said Swaminathan recollecting Parasuram’s narration.
Bharathi said that Bose loved Tamils a lot. “Netaji once said that if he were born again, he loved to be born as a Tamilian. He said this after he was overwhelmed by support of Tamils in establishing the Indian National Army in Burma (Myanmar) and Malaysia,” Bharathi said.
Courtesy: The Times of India dated 24.01.2013.
