Family members of veteran Bel Bahadur Nirola, an officer in Netaji Subhas Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) visited Netaji’s Birthplace Museum here on Monday. Nirola was a close associate of Netaji on the Burma front. He was in charge of the Azad Hind Bank. He passed away in 2016.
The veteran’s family, comprising three generations, was greeted at the museum by Anil Dhir and Hitesh Seth, who took them around the galleries. His son Youdishter Kumar spoke of his father’s undying love for Netaji. His great grandson garlanded the Netaji statue. His family promised to donate all his documents and memorabilia to the museum.
According to Anil Dhir, the Netaji Birthplace Museum is a Mecca for all freedom fighters and nationalists. The Government of Odisha should invite all the living INA veterans to Cuttack and honour them. Dhir is in touch with R Madhavan (97), who had joined the Indian Independence League and had been a fundraiser for the Azad Hind Bank.
