Even as the nation is going to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniversary on Sunday (January 23), 58-year-old Zakir Hussein Hazari remembered his grandfather's association with Netaji in his village Korei in Jajpur district.
"My grandfather Abdus Sattar Hazari was first associated with Subash Chandra Bose during the outbreak of the dreaded Cholera was in the 1910s in many rural areas and hundreds of people were dying like flies," said Hazari.
He said his grandfather died in 1970. But he worked with Subhas to treat the Cholera hit in the villages.
"My father three years back had donated a wooden box of Netaji to the Netaji Museum at Cuttack. He also donated a
lantern and a stone glass of Netaji to Mohammed Mustaque, a lawyer of Kendrapada who preserved these items in a museum in his house," said Hazari.
He further informed that as Zamindars, his family members were well known in the region. Subhas as friend of his great grandfather at the Ravenshaw Collegiate School at Cuttack used to come to their house many times. Subash and his great grandfather had treated many cholera affected
persons in nearby villages.
Subash had brought bleaching powders and some medicines in a wooden box to treat the patents, said Hazari.
Subhas during his stay in their house used to drink water in that stone glass, said Hazari.
Subash had stayed a week in the house of Hazari when he was treating the patients.
In 1920s Subash had also visited their house and spent two days. At that time the area was covered with hundreds of trees. Subash used to take bath in a tank in the middle of the house for which the family is keeping the tank in a perfect manner even after so many years.
Each year the villagers observe Netaji's birthday on January 23 in the village by hoisting the flag of the Indian National Army.
"My grand father during his lifetime believed that Netaji did not die in the air-crash.
With Japanese monetary, political, diplomatic and military assistance,
he formed the Azad Hind Government in exile, regrouped and led the Indian National Army in battle against the allies at Imphal and in Burma. But few persons know about Subhas's work in Korei,” said Dr Manzoor Alli.
Writer Er Taraprasad Mishra Said, "Netaji is one of our most beloved national heroes who made extraordinary contribution to India's freedom struggle. Netaji's patriotism and sacrifice shall always inspire us. We are committed to strengthen the spirit of freedom so strongly espoused by him."