‘At the Altar of India’s Freedom – INA Veterans of Malaysia’

Mysuru: The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) in association with National Cadet Corps (NCC), Maharaja’s College, University of Mysore, is organising a Special Documentary and Lecture on the topic ‘At the Altar of India’s Freedom — INA Veterans of Malaysia’ by Choodie Shivaram, Senior Journalist and Researcher from Bengaluru, at Junior B.A. Hall of the College, on Aug. 8 (Wednesday) at 11.30 am.

Major General S. G. Vombatkere (Retd.) will the chief guest. Prof. C. P. Sunitha, Principal, Maharaja’s College, will preside.

The documentary captures the stories of valour, sacrifice and the saga of Malaysian INA veterans who, as teenagers, fought for India’s freedom from the distant lands of Southeast Asia. Many of them had never even seen India. The film documents a significant part of Indian history, hitherto unknown, that is the role of Malaysian Indians in India’s freedom struggle.

The documentary is produced by the Indian High Commission at Malaysia. The Concept, Script, Research and Direction is by journalist Choodie Shivaram, who has based the film on her extensive research on INA, Netaji and Southeast Asia’s role in the Second World War.

In this first-of-its-kind documentary, INA veterans recall in-depth their war experiences, the training and the impact that Netaji Subash Chandra Bose had on their lives. Young men and women hastened to support Netaji, leaving behind their homes, families, and lives of comfort. The remarkable young women of the INA formed the ‘Rani of Jhansi Regiment’ which was the first all-woman combat regiment in the world.

Choodie Shivaram is a senior freelance journalist and researcher with over three decades of experience spanning print, radio, television and digital media. Writing for both National and International publications, her articles have been used by Universities abroad as study material. She has earlier scripted several documentary films including one for UNICEF as also on the oceanographic excavations at Dwarka and Poompuhar for the National Institute of Oceanography. A regular researcher at the National Archives of India, Choodie Shivaram has authored a book which is due for release this year.