Kuala Lumpur, February 9: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with veteran Jayaraj Raja Rao of the Indian National Army (INA) during his visit to Malaysia. Rao recalled their meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, praising Modi for elevating India’s standing across various sectors.
During his two-day official visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Modi engaged with former INA soldiers, emphasizing the historical significance of the army and its enduring legacy among Indians in Southeast Asia.
Rao described the conversation with Modi as highly inspirational. In a special interview, he expressed, “As an emotional person, I feel very fortunate to have met another great Prime Minister of India. In my view, PM Modi is a passionate and caring individual. He has done a lot for India’s villages, building toilets, establishing water systems, and ensuring their maintenance, while also strengthening the economy.”
He added, “He has maintained equality by treating everyone—Muslims, Hindus, Christians—equally, without granting special rights to any particular community. He has also taken a strong stance against Pakistan. India is economically growing, remaining neutral, and wisely distancing itself from exploitative nations, especially the U.S., which I consider aggressive and imperialistic. Therefore, I want to congratulate him and quietly thank him. I feel lucky to have met such a great person.”
Rao reminisced about meeting Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose when he was just 12 or 13 years old, noting that Modi has a deep admiration for Bose, whom he described as a truly great man.
Rao shared, “In fact, he was very happy to meet someone who met Netaji at such a young age. I clearly told him that I am an Indian Malaysian, not a Malaysian Indian. I proudly identify as Indian first. I also congratulated him on how he has managed to unite so many ethnic Indians in a democratic country; it is a remarkable achievement.”
Reflecting on his memories of Bose, Rao highlighted three key aspects of Bose’s personality and leadership that left a lasting impression on him.
“First, through his eloquence, charismatic personality, and energy, he succeeded in uniting all Indians. Before him, during both Japanese and British times, people identified as Tamils, Malayalis, Telugus, Jaffna, etc. Bose introduced the idea that to free India from colonialism, we must first identify ourselves as Indians. This was the first profound impact on me.”
He continued, “Secondly, he emphasized the need for aggression, military action, and revolutionary efforts to liberate India from the British. This was very different from Gandhi’s concept of non-violence, which Nehru also opposed at that time. Bose led this movement with firm conviction.”
Rao added, “Thirdly, he firmly believed in equality between men and women. He promoted women’s active participation and even established the Rani Jhansi Regiment in Malaysia. I draw inspiration from him in many ways.”
The INA veteran also expressed concern that the contributions of the Indian National Army are not widely recognized, either in India or among those living abroad.
“It is very sad that I feel many people in India or our country (Malaysia) do not fully understand the significant contributions of the Indian National Army to India’s independence. They not only helped organize resistance but also marched towards Jammu to liberate India. Very few people know about their sacrifices. I may not remember all the details now, but I know they were great soldiers.”
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose took command of the Indian National Army in 1943, revitalizing the force after arriving in Southeast Asia from Germany.
From his base in Singapore and Malaya, now known as Malaysia, he reorganized and expanded the INA by gathering Indian civilians and prisoners of war captured during World War II. On October 21, 1943, he also established the Provisional Government of Free India, which played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement.
The historical significance of the INA is closely tied to the Indian community residing in present-day Malaysia and Singapore, as the force was largely organized and formed in these regions. Initially composed of war prisoners, the army was bolstered by a large number of volunteers from the Indian populace in Southeast Asia. A notable group within the INA was the Rani Jhansi Regiment, a complete women’s unit formed by Indian women living in Southeast Asia.