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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Independence Day Special: Foot soldiers who won India freedom
Independence was won not just by stalwarts but also ordinary people, 13,212 of whom are still alive today. People line up outside the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15, 1947, to hear Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru address the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument. Over the years, the venue has become the centre stage of Independence Day celebrations in the country.(HT Archive) HT profiles some of them. P Vasu: He fought for freedom, and against Emergency P Vasu P Vasu might be 102 but still moves about his house in Cheruvannur in Kerala's Kozhikode district with the help of a walker, reads at least two newspapers a day, and watches television news with great intent, trying to keep himself informed of what's happening in the country. Born in January 1923, Vasu got a whiff of nationalistic sentiments early when his father took him to hear Mahatma Gandhi when the latter visited Kozhikode in 1934. He was just 11 then, but by the time he was in his late-teens in 1942, Vasu found himself leading an agitation by the Congress in his native Cheruvannur on the sidelines of the Quit India movement. That year, he was arrested and sentenced by a judge to three-and-a-half months in jail , where he was tortured. In 1943, Vasu had to go underground in erstwhile Madras for over nine months after the police attempted to put him in preventive custody in connection with a case of a bomb threat on Farook bridge. 'I had nothing to do with it but because I was jailed previously, my name was on the police list and I had to go into hiding. It was an extremely tough period,' Vasu told HT over phone. After Independence, Vasu joined the socialist party and was given its membership by stalwart Jayaprakash Narayan in Kozhikode. His strong beliefs in socialist ideals earned him the nickname among locals -- 'Socio Vasu'. In 1951, the then Madras presidency, under which the Malabar region in Kerala fell at the time, offered 10 acres of land in Wayanad and ₹2,000 to several freedom fighters including Vasu. But he refused to accept. 'Jayaprakash Narayan told us that we fought for the country's freedom, not for financial gains. Accepting it would have gone against my socialist ideals,' said Vasu. In 1975 during the Emergency, Vasu was beaten by the police for picketing the local post office. He spent 23 days at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital for treatment. In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of independence, Vasu was felicitated in Delhi by then President KR Narayanan. Is he happy about the present state of the country? 'No,' came the reply. 'It is not the India we envisioned in 1947. We are losing our secular ideals,' he said. Lt Rangaswamy Madhavan Pillai: 'Freedom demands sacrifice...' Lt Rangaswamy Madhavan Pillai Lieutenant Rangaswamy Madhavan Pillai, a member of the Azad Hind Fauj, founded by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, is among the last few recognised freedom fighters living in Delhi. Born on March 13, 1926, in the Saryan township of Rangoon district in Burma (now Myanmar), he is now 99. He joined the Indian Independence League as a civilian in 1942 under Rash Behari Netaji arrived in Singapore, Lt Pillai formally enlisted in the Indian National army, also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, on November 1, 1943, at the age of 17. He served as a recruitment and fund-raising officer. 'We would go to families and ask mothers and fathers to enlist their sons for the sake of the country. Freedom demands the sacrifice of blood, that is what Netaji said. We had a mission that could be accomplished only at a cost. We had to return to those families and inform them about the passing of their sons when they fought and paid with their lives,' said Pillai, now bedridden for the past six months. He was imprisoned for eight months in Rangoon Jail in 1945. He returned to India with his family in 1971 and was officially recognised as a freedom fighter by the Government of India on August 1, 1980. His son Ganesh Pillai said that around 1945-46, when most of his recruits died during World War II, Pillai was disturbed, took up Buddhism and learnt the Pali language. Iqbal Singh went to jail when children his age learnt the alphabet Iqbal Singh At an age when most children are busy learning the alphabet and numbers, Iqbal Singh was learning the harsh realities of colonial oppression — inside a prison cell. Now 89, the freedom fighter from Ferozepur district, who has lived in Ludhiana for 45 years, recalled how he was just 7 or 8 when he joined a protest against British rule. 'They arrested me along with other protestors and sent us to Lahore Central Jail. My age didn't matter to them; the British officers thrashed me mercilessly,' he said. After coming to Ludhiana, he started dairy farming. His son Gursewak Singh is continuing the business. He takes pride in India's development but he has one regret. 'The state government used to invite us to attend Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations every year,' he said. 'Now, very few of us freedom fighters are alive. Yet many of our demands, like proper housing and free medical facilities, remain unmet.' Tarachand Jain: 'I am happy with the country's progress' Tara Chand Jain Born on December 12, 1925, in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, Tarachand Jain aspired to become a teacher, just like his father. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he was dismissed from his school at 17 for participating in the Quit India Movement in 1942. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Jain joined the freedom struggle and was imprisoned for six months. An athlete and long-time supporter of the Indian National Congress, Jain expressed concern over the party's current state. 'I am happy with the country's progress — be it access to water, road construction, housing for the poor, or improvements in education. But I feel distressed about the Congress's condition due to weak leadership,' he said. Jain is also disappointed with the growing influence of caste and religion in politics. 'When we fought for freedom, we were united by a dream of a united India—free from divisions based on caste and religion. Even after 78 years of independence, political parties continue to promote reservation and division. Progress should not only be material but also mental and social,' he said. Narayan Chandra Maiti: 'I went underground to evade arrest, used to hide in jute fields' Narayan Chandra Maiti Today, the nation marks its Independence Day. But 101-year-old Narayan Chandra Maiti, a resident of Chakdurgadas, a remote village in West Bengal's East Midnapore district, is still fighting a legal battle in the Calcutta high court to get a pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme. 'I had to go underground to evade arrest. I used to hide in jute fields. But one day when I was hiding in an abandoned village house, a villager recognised me and informed the police. I was arrested. Later I got bail,' he said. Maiti participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942 under the leadership of Sushil Kumar Dhara, freedom fighter who was later elected as an MLA in the West Bengal assembly and a Lok Sabha MP. A certificate given to Maiti by Dhara in 1981, states that between 1942 and 1944, Maiti was a worker of the government styled Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar and a soldier of its militia. 'Several decades have passed since we gained independence. But there are many freedom fighters who are yet to get their due respect. There are many like me who are still fighting to get a freedom fighters' pension,' said Maiti. Dharam K Singh: My family was placed under house arrest Dharam K Singh Dharam Kumar Singh was 10 when the Quit India Movement swept across the country in 1942. His grandfather, father and uncles were deeply involved in mobilising people against the British in Shivli and Rasoolabad regions, then part of Kanpur. 'When the authorities failed to trace my father and others, our entire family was placed under house arrest,' he said. At that time, bands of children aiding the freedom movement were popularly called the Vanar Sena. 'I was part of one such group in my village. Our role was to raise patriotic slogans, distribute pamphlets, paste posters, and carry food to revolutionaries in hiding, including my father, all while evading British spies,' he said. Eventually, the chowkidar of the village, Tendi Khurd in Shivli, alerted the police. 'I too was placed under house arrest, along with my siblings, for over three months,' he vision of independent India that Singh had cherished, however, remains unfulfilled, he claimed. 'Crime has risen sharply, and corruption has reached alarming levels. Although we have made remarkable economic progress, crime and corruption have also grown alongside it.'
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
P Vasu: He fought for freedom, and against Emergency
P Vasu might be 102 but still moves about his house in Cheruvannur in Kerala's Kozhikode district with the help of a walker, reads at least two newspapers a day, and watches television news with great intent, trying to keep himself informed of what's happening in the country. P Vasu: He fought for freedom, and against Emergency Born in January 1923, Vasu got a whiff of nationalistic sentiments early when his father took him to hear Mahatma Gandhi when the latter visited Kozhikode in 1934. He was just 11 then, but by the time he was in his late-teens in 1942, Vasu found himself leading an agitation by the Congress in his native Cheruvannur on the sidelines of the Quit India movement. That year, he was arrested and sentenced by a judge to three-and-a-half months in jail , where he was tortured. In 1943, Vasu had to go underground in erstwhile Madras for over nine months after the police attempted to put him in preventive custody in connection with a case of a bomb threat on Farook bridge. 'I had nothing to do with it but because I was jailed previously, my name was on the police list and I had to go into hiding. It was an extremely tough period,' Vasu told HT over phone. After Independence, Vasu joined the socialist party and was given its membership by stalwart Jayaprakash Narayan in Kozhikode. His strong beliefs in socialist ideals earned him the nickname among locals -- 'Socio Vasu'. In 1951, the then Madras presidency, under which the Malabar region in Kerala fell at the time, offered 10 acres of land in Wayanad and ₹2,000 to several freedom fighters including Vasu. But he refused to accept. 'Jayaprakash Narayan told us that we fought for the country's freedom, not for financial gains. Accepting it would have gone against my socialist ideals,' said Vasu. In 1975 during the Emergency, Vasu was beaten by the police for picketing the local post office. He spent 23 days at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital for treatment. In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of independence, Vasu was felicitated in Delhi by then President KR Narayanan. Is he happy about the present state of the country? 'No,' came the reply. 'It is not the India we envisioned in 1947. We are losing our secular ideals,' he said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian surfing looks to ride the crest of change
Indian surfing has stopped waiting for the perfect wave and has started forming its own. Once a niche pastime known only in small coastal pockets, the sport now boasts Asian Games quotas, a historic international podium, and a team unafraid to paddle out against Asia's best. The biggest breakthrough came early this month when Ramesh Budihal claimed a bronze at the Asian Surfing Championships (ASC) in Mahabalipuram — a result that signalled to the wider region that Indian surfers were here to compete. This achievement built on the momentum gained at the 2024 edition in Maldives, when India secured its first-ever Asian Games berths in a sport making its Asiad debut, a few years after its inclusion in the Olympic programme. The sport's debut at Tokyo 2020 lit a fire across Asia, with countries such as Japan and Indonesia ramping up their programmes, and India following suit. 'Since surfing was included in the Olympics, India started taking the sport seriously,' said Budihal after his historic outing. In Japan, the effect was just as striking. 'Having surfing in the Olympics in 2020 really brought that reach to the audience in so many countries,' said top Japanese surfer Kei Kobayashi. 'I didn't even know you could surf in India. It's so nice to see the surfing community develop here.' But ambition alone could not get Indian surfers into the line-up at major events — it needed resources, structure, and a willingness to take a gamble. Without government backing and with scarce resources, Indian surfing was stuck paddling in the same place, waiting for a current to push it forward. Taking the helm The tides began to shift during the pandemic — a surge in interest not only boosted participation but also prompted a reset at the Surfing Federation of India (SFI). The newly formed council, headed by president Arun Vasu, had clear intentions. 'India needed the exposure and the competition. We wanted to send an Indian team to the World Games, continental championships, and international events,' said Vasu, an avid surfer. Scenes from the Asian Surfing Championships. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The teams relied on private support for years, hoping to put Indian surfing on the map and attract official backing. Training trips to world-class surf breaks in the Maldives, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka gave Indian surfers much-needed exposure to higher levels of competition and technique. Alongside these efforts, the Surf Turf programme run by the TT Group at Covelong Point, emerged as a crucial grassroots initiative, nurturing local talent and feeding them into the national team. 'Six athletes of the 12-member contingent are products of this project, which has been running for over four years,' remarked Vasu, the Chairman and MD of TT Group. Turning point The combination of international experience and homegrown development began to pay off quickly. Teams sent to events around the world left a mark, and India's campaign at the 2024 ASC — a recently designated qualifier for the Asian Games — signalled a shift. SFI treasurer Nawaz Jabbar reflected on the achievement: 'The idea of actually being able to compete in the Asian Games itself was unbelievable. And then for us to be one of the countries to compete after winning the few available slots was a little bit of a pipe dream.' According to Nawaz, who also serves as SFI's tournament director, the unprecedented outing propelled Indian surfing into the limelight. 'That was a historic moment and huge achievement, and a lot of eyes were on us after that. There was a lot of publicity that we received.' That visibility translated into credibility. For the first time, Indian surfing was seen as a viable competitive sport — and it soon cleared the long-awaited path to gaining recognition. The SFI received approval from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) earlier this year, a major milestone that unlocked government support and resources for the sport. This endorsement has also helped attract sponsors and integrate the sport firmly within the national sports ecosystem — 'It meant that surfing could finally stand on its own legs in India.' New horizons With one major hurdle out of the way, the focus now is on building a competitive pipeline, both for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and beyond. Well aware that the big stage is only a year away, the SFI has begun its mission early to prioritise selection, international training, and nurturing young surfers. 'Age is always a thing, something we have to be wary of. The main effort is really to get more kids involved. The team has to be larger,' said Vasu, referring to nurturing younger surfers, as done in countries like Japan and Indonesia. 'The Japanese team were saying that every year, they have 600 kids taking part in their youth programmes. For India, even finding five kids is a struggle. We need to learn from them, and these events will hopefully get us more participation. 'People will see that they can make a future, and that they can be champions. India is at a very good stage in surfing, and today Asia is watching us. We will be there in the bigger leagues soon,' said Vasu. Going forward, the Olympics remain a challenging but motivating goal. 'I think it's going to be tough getting into the Olympics in two years. But for the edition after that, we will definitely be ready.' The ocean hasn't changed, but India's place in it has — and the next set of waves is already on the horizon.
The Hindu
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Filmmaker Sidharth Harikumar on ‘Vasu' being selected as a finalist at the Student Academy Awards 2025
While exploring the German capital of Berlin, where he was a postgraduate student in cinematography at the MetFilm School, filmmaker Sidharth Harikumar often sensed a weight in the air, shadowed by the memory of the Holocaust. He experienced this in public transport and museums. He came across multiple photos with Nazi soldiers holding a gun to someone's head, forcing Sidharth to contemplate whether the soldiers questioned their actions or their superiors. This thought led Sidharth to make Vasu as part of his final-year project at the MetFilm School. The short film tells the story of a retired police officer leading a secluded life in the woods as part of his final-year project at the MetFilm School. Vasu is one of the seven finalists nominated for the Student Academy Awards 2025 in the Narrative category. It is also the only film from India in the running across four categories —Alternative or Experimental, Animation, Documentary and Narrative. 'It is surreal. Vasu, being a student project, was made on a limited budget. This recognition has put us on the international map,' says Siddharth, who has also done the cinematography of the short. Also read: Malayalam short film 'Kovarty' explores romance between a typewriter and the typist 'I started by researching frontline workers and their trauma,' says Sidharth over a call from Chennai. 'I focussed on people in the uniformed services in Kerala who were coerced to follow their superiors' orders and how they lived with that guilt for the rest of their lives.' The 16-minute film explores Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experienced by a retired police officer. 'Vasu's character is shaped by obedience and suppression of his emotions,' says Sidharth. Parameswaran Kuriyathi, 77, a renowned theatre artist from Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, plays the titular character. 'One of my family friends introduced me to him. When I met Parameswaran chettan, he had long hair and a moustache. He looked like a sadhu. He had not shaved in 30 years. And my first question to him was, 'Are you willing to shave it off?' Fortunately, he agreed after our first narration,' says Sidharth. The film was shot at Chitranjali Studio in Thiruvananthapuram, except for a few scenes shot in Peyad. Vasu treats the wilderness as a character. The plot and visual language aptly conveys a disturbing reality. Before he joined MetFilm School in London to pursue a master's in film direction, Sidharth finished his bachelor's in biotechnology. Soon after he finished his course in London, his father passed away, compelling him to take up the family business. 'My father supported my passion. He exposed me to good cinema at a young age. When I was 10, I used to watch movies that might be considered 'boring' at that age,' says Sidharth, who admits his love for legendary Malayalam director G Aravindan, sneaking into Vasu. 'I didn't think of cinema for five years. Then I worked on a project that rekindled my passion and made me want to study more,' says Sidharth. In 2023, he joined the MetFilm school in Berlin to pursue a master's in cinematography. Sidharth's previous work, Saffron Ash (2017), won Best Student Film at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (CICFF) in 2018. Much like Vasu, Saffron Ash centers on reflection, an unintentional creative choice by the maker. 'I have never thought about it that way. But I have learnt a lot by looking back, and maybe the next movie I do might not have such an element.' Sidharth is currently working on the screenplay of his debut feature. 'I received offers to teach at film schools before I got to know about the Student Oscar nominations. Maybe, it was a sign for me not to quit filmmaking yet.'
India Today
27-07-2025
- India Today
Drugs worth lakhs, luxury cars seized from rave party in Hyderabad; 11 arrested
A late-night rave party at a posh service apartment was busted by police in Hyderabad, resulting in the arrest of 11 people and the seizure of banned narcotics and luxury vehicles. The raid was conducted following credible intelligence inputs, raising concerns about the growing trend of drug-fuelled private parties in the to officials, the raid yielded a significant cache of drugs, including two kilograms of marijuana, 50 grams of OG Kush (a high-grade cannabis strain), 11.57 grams of psychedelic mushrooms and 1.91 grams of charas. In addition, six luxury cars parked at the premises were also seized by rave was allegedly organised by Vasu and Shivam Rayudu, both residents of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Police say the duo used forged identity documents to rent the apartment in an effort to avoid detection. A case was registered against 11 people in connection with the case. While nine were arrested on the spot, the remaining two were caught arrested individuals were handed over to the Sherilingampally excise police, who have now taken over the investigation. Digital devices and financial transaction records were seized for forensic analysis, as authorities explore potential links to a larger drug supply network.'We suspect this party is not an isolated incident but part of a larger organised racket involving narcotics and illegal gatherings,' said a senior official from the excise department. 'More arrests are expected as we delve deeper into digital trails and money movement associated with the event.'This incident came amid rising concerns over the resurgence of recreational drug abuse among youngsters in urban pockets of Telangana. Police and excise officials have reiterated that strict action will be taken against organisers, suppliers and users involved in such illegal have urged property owners and service apartment operators to thoroughly verify the identity of tenants and notify them of suspicious activity. They have also appealed to parents and educational institutions to raise awareness among young people about the legal and health consequences of drug abuse.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
