The life story of Saraswathi Rajamani, who served as one of the youngest spies in the history of the Indian freedom struggle, is filled with courage and sacrifice. Her contributions while serving in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 'Indian National Army' (INA) are remarkable.
Here are the key highlights of her life story:
Early Life
* Birth: Born in 1927 in Myanmar (Burma) into a wealthy family. Her father was a staunch patriot and a gold mine owner.
* Upbringing: She grew up with a strong sense of patriotism from a young age. Once, when Mahatma Gandhi visited her home, Rajamani, who was engaged in shooting practice, argued with him that armed struggle was superior to non-violence.
Meeting with Netaji
In 1942, when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Burma, 16-year-old Rajamani donated all her precious gold ornaments to the Indian National Army. Surprised to see a young girl giving away so much jewelry, Netaji went to her house to try and return them.
However, Rajamani refused to accept them back. Impressed by her determination, Netaji praised her, saying, "You possess Saraswathi (wealth), but you are Rajamani (like a jewel)," and bestowed upon her the name 'Saraswathi'.
Serving as a Spy
Following Netaji's advice, she joined the Intelligence Wing of the Indian National Army along with her friends.
* Disguise: She disguised herself as a boy and worked as a cleaner in British army camps. She seized secret files from there and handed them over to the INA. * Adventure: To rescue her friend who had been captured by British officers, she disguised herself as a dancer, administered sedatives to the officers, and rescued her friend. While escaping, a British soldier shot her in the leg, but she managed to escape despite the injury, achieving a remarkable feat.
After Independence
* After World War II, her family lost all their possessions and returned to India.
* She lived in a small house in Chennai in very simple circumstances. In 2006, the Tamil Nadu government provided her with a house.
* Death: She passed away on January 13, 2018, at the age of 90.
The sacrifices of people like Saraswathi Rajamani remained a hidden chapter in Indian history for a long time. Her last regret was, "If Netaji had been alive, India would have progressed long ago."