 the design of the wheel shall be that of the wheel, Chakra with the brass, the bass, the bow, the bow and the brass. We are connecting. Namaskar, I'm Sagarit Chhabra. Welcome to the Hamaara Itiha series and archive. Today we have a national treasure, Aasha Bharti Choudhary, a woman who was a member of the Rani of Jhansi Regimen, the first all-women's military wing of the world, who braved death to fight for the freedom of India, And who comes from an extraordinary family? Asha ji, Namaskar. Thank you so much for giving us time at your house. Tell me first of all when and where were you born? Oh, I was born in Kobe on 2nd February 1928. So you were born in 1928 in Kobe. How were you born in Japan? My parents were in Japan at that time. My parents are Anand Mohan Sahai and Sati Sahai. Tell us about your father Anand Mohan Sahai and mother. My father was studying MBBS. He joined Gandhiji's movement and left the studies. And so many people did like that. And after that he became private secretary of Dr Rajendra Prasad. And he chewed the whole of India with Dr Rajendra Prasad. In the meantime all the leaders were put into jail by the Britishers. And there was nothing to do because they were without leaders. So many people joined their old profession or studies. My father also thought that no use sitting quietly, we can't do anything just now. So he thought that he will go to America and proceed with his final MBBS in America only. But he couldn't get a passport for America. And somehow Dr Satchidan and Sina, he helped my father and got a passport for Japan only. So he went to Japan. And who did he meet in Japan? Which year is this? 1922. 1922? Yes, 1922. He went to Japan and he started teaching English to Japanese women here. And side by side he started implanting nationalism, patriotism in all these businessmen, multi-million. So many, Sindhi, Punjabi, Bengalis, South Indians, they were there. So they were busy in doing business. So he started slowly. So he started inculcating patriotism in Japan amongst the Indians. How did he meet Rashmi Hari Bose? That was later on. Then after five years he established the Indo-Japanese Friendship Association, the Indian Independence League in Japan. He established the Indian Independence League? Yes, the Indian Independence League. I don't know, it's a high level. With the help of all these friends, all big, multi-millionaires and businessmen, they all helped him. Then in 1930, 1925 or something, he went back to Japan, disguising himself as a businessman. In 1925 he went back where? Back to Calcutta, back to India. And before going to Japan in 1922, he went to Shantiniketan and met my mother. She was studying there at that time. And they knew each other from the beginning. Before in Calcutta, Papa used to go to Siyadasa's house so many times. And she was a niece of Siyadasa? Urmila Devi, her mother. She was a congress leader also. There he promised my mother that she will come back and meet, and I may marry you also if you are ready to wait for me. She waited, she did her Shantiniketan study, came back to Calcutta. So she was also a freedom fighter because of her mother Urmila Devi and her uncle Siyadasa? Freedom fighter, in those days there was no name like freedom fighter. They were all just doing something for independence. Your parents met at the Gaya Congress and after a long period of waiting, your parents got married, Anand Mohan Sahai and Sati Sen. Yeah, after marriage they went to Japan. And... Where did they stay? They have a small two-storey, one room downstairs, one upstairs. Uden house, Japanese Uden house. And just four stairs and that was their new house. This was in Tokyo or Kobe? Kobe. In Kobe. So when were you born? 2nd February, 1928, at Kobe. But I think it is extraordinary that your parents were exceptionally patriotic and amazing freedom fighters, but they were able to imbue you with this love for the country there in Japan. Because Japanese people love Japan more than anything else. And that kind of education in school also. First thing, how to respect the flag and of course, the Emperor's committee. Japan. Japan is everything for them. So they transferred their love for India to you by watching the patriotism that Japanese people had in Japan. And my parents. My parents used to teach how great our India is and all these things. And when we grew up and then the war started and the bombing started. Yes, tell me about that. So what did you see when the war started? All the Indians and Japanese people used to help us so much. And Tokyo became the center. And when Rasvi Haribos, Mahendra Pratap and Chayat Sen, the Chinese revolutionaries, they came to Kobe and met my father. Then they said that you must start in full-fledged all these independence work. So your father was one of the founders of the Indian Independence League. And how was the INA established? INA. Oh, that is... See, the war started. Second World War started and we were in Tokyo and started. And my mother was sent to Calcutta secretly with my younger sister and brother. When they met secretly, her Netaji's mother and said that she wanted to meet Netaji Subash Babu. Then Netaji's mother took my mother upstairs. She was very ill. He came back from mental health, said, estimated. So she said that we all are waiting for you to come to Japan. Then he said, just let me be there and I will surely go to Japan. And we all were waiting for him to come. Rasvi Haribos became the Indian Independence League whole Asia's president at that time. But Rasvi Haribos knew that he is too old and his idea, he couldn't feel the mass, the pulse of the mass. He was a revolutionist. But he says that till Subash comes, when Subash comes, I give this to him. So your mother actually carried a message to Netaji about the preparations in Japan? Yes, she did and she idea was after her, why you have gone to Subash's office? She is my cousin, he is ill, so I went there to get her fast food. So then now the Indian Independence League was established, the INA was established, secret messages were sent to Netaji through your mother and then finally Netaji comes in the submarine and he reaches. And the provisional government is announced of Azad Hind on 21st October 1943. Then what happens after that? He came to Tokyo, reaching in Japan, he came to Tokyo and stayed in Imperial Hotel, Taikoku Hotel. In the morning we all went to Tokyo Hotel and Netaji and Major Hassan, Major Hassan, Private Secretary of Netaji, both of them came down from the upstairs and came to lobby. And we were just stuck, we can't structure such a dynamic personality. My mother told me, told all of us to touch feet, touch feet of Netaji. We just went down and started, went down but Netaji was so angry. What is this? Shoti? Shoti is called Shoti. Shoti what you have taught your children to bow down to everybody after 150 years slavery. Still you are teaching them to bow down. That's a traditional form of pranam in Bengalis. He scolded your mother for that. And then I told Netaji, I want to go to war and fight for independence. I want to go with you to south. He started, his face was shunned but when he started smiling he was just like child like smile. He said, such a thin fellow, thin girl you are. The ma, ma, gentle, no, she is thin but she is very strong. Both you sisters are very strong minded and she can fight the Britishers. Your mother said you can fight, you can take them. My mother said you can take them. At that time, the time was different. My mother used to be very brave. They would send children for even for gallows. Today I see mothers telling their daughters not to come back late in the night or in the dark. So your mother told Netaji to take you into the freedom movement. Netaji said that I am going and organize the thing. And there will be a women's army also. Then I shall call them to fight. So he went to Singapore. And my uncle, uncle was also very impressed. Netaji, my mother introduced uncle. This is my heaven brother, Satadev Sahay. He can also do something to be with you. So he said, yes, you come with me. Then and there he just embraced Kaka. I used to call him Kaka. You are my brave son. He became the director of intelligence bureau, Azadheen government. Satadev Sahay. Satadev Sahay became the director of intelligence bureau. So when did you join the Rani of Jhansi regime? It was in 1943. And then again they came in the 21st October 1943. Azadheen government was established. And then INA was organized. INA was already there. But more recruitment and all. And next day Rani Jhansi regime. Well, Kanna Lakshmi was asked to organize it. And then in Singapore, Malaysia, all the girls were given training. They were saying, why should we die like a prisoner's award in jail? Like a dog. We will join our independence work. All of them joined. Tell me, Ashaji, when you joined the Rani of Jhansi regime, what was your training like in Bangkok? I joined after was 1944, last of Jhansi regime. It was too late, but still joined. I went with Papa to Bangkok. Papa came and took my children. And this regime was divided into two groups. Fighting squad and nursing squad. It was an option. I joined fighting squad. Perthima Dasgupta was in nursing squad. So many people were there. So tell me, Ashaji, about your training in Bangkok. When you joined the Rani of Jhansi regime, what was the training like? It was for six months. Mine was officer's training for six months. Emergency training. All the people got the emergency. I got one platoon to order and all these things. How to order, how to lead the platoon. And all kinds of training. From beginning with cycle, jeep, how to drive a jeep. All these things. And rifle and bayonet and bayonet. You could use a rifle and a bayonet. Yes, everything. A pistol, everything. And rifle and bayonet. We used to have effigy of rules, rules, belt and Churchill. And we used to take the bayonet like this and then say, ek do tinh cha pa chhe sathar no das jain. And you should trust the bayonet in glueses and Churchill's faith. Like that, fighting spirit. And then it was... Then by training I became sub lieutenant. Then I got sub lieutenant. Then lieutenant. We all were this Pratima Das Gupta, Anjali Bhomek. We all went for Burma. Started marching to Burma. Started marching to Burma from Bangkok? Sometimes marching, sometimes truck. So it was part walking and part truck. Sometimes we used to march. And this was you? Who was with you? Anjali Bhomek, Pratima Das Gupta. And Rasma, Janki Bhai. And once we were bombing Hordakha, the one soldier was injured, which is not like the other. So our first set works were in building, in a building where we set camp. So me and Anjali Bhomek, we both said, let's go and bring Hordakha, but the other bayonet, they said, no, no, don't go now. We just said cha chalo. We just ran to the building and then took the ripsack, first set box and ripsack and came out. As soon as we went out of the building and reached in the place where bombing was in, the bomb fell on the building and there was building. We could have died there also. When we started, for the Burma, in the jungle, there was a space for space. So we just got down from the truck and we rested there for some time. And by that time, enemy plane came and came down so low and started saffing us. So we just ran under the truck and this Anjali became, Anjali was a bit late and she was got injured in the head. We just pulled her leg and then we put inside. Then plane went away, enemy plane went away. Then we came out and sat on round. Then Janki Bhai started doing roll call and called everyone and I was asked, Bharti Sahaya, I got up, said Jai Hind, salute, and sat down. Other people was then left Janki Bhumi. He got up, he got up and said Jai Hind and fell and died. Did you ever feel, when you see your own friend being killed, did you ever feel, oh, I should not have joined Rani of Jhansi Residence? Like that, nothing. We had no feeling at all. We were fighting, no. No feeling. Even somebody died, we don't care. They died for the country. We will get it back. Anjali Bhumi died and we were thinking, how nice their death is. He got, we also could get the death. So this happened on your way from Bangkok to Burma? No, tell us when you arrived. Then by sometimes, it was raining also. By in rain also, we would march for sometime when truck also was there, like that. But we couldn't pass across the Ilawadi river, Ilawadi in Burma. Ilawadi river, people crossed already, INF people went. But we couldn't cross. It was in space. We had to stay there only and then we came to know information we got that they are also retreat. But first they were flying their flag in Moirang, in Manipur, all of them. And on the road, so many died of hunger, malaria, fever. Then by bombing, like that, so many. About 3,000 people, so INF people died. Sajis order was not to stay in Nepal, come back. We shall proceed again after rain. So we all came back. So it was a tactical retreat during heavy tropical monsoons and then we stayed in Bangkok. And the war was at the end of it. We stayed in Bangkok, in Bangkok camp we were. So there we just, bombing was everywhere. We used to practice this, military practice we used to do. Then occupation, then atom bomb, atom bomb fell. Where were you when the atom bomb fell? I was in Bangkok. And you were staying in the house of Pandit Sharma because your parents could not be found and they were not there? My father was with Netaji and now they came back and went to Singapore. They all went. They came to Bangkok, but they went away to Singapore. What to do next? They were planning what to do next. Netaji, you did not see him again. He died in the air crash. So the iron is now retreating, Japan is losing the war. What happened? Were you interrogated? We, we all were house arrest in occupation army camp and we were not allowed to go out of there. Netaji came and went away. That was the last. It was impossible to fight more. The Japanese people retreated before INA people and then they were permanent. One permanent was there. He, he, he had a sugar factory there in Rangoon in Mandalay or somewhere. So he arranged for their food and all these things. And then after that some were arrested there. Some went back to they went back to Bangkok. We also went back to Bangkok and INA people were in the camp and then they were, they were arrested there only. So where, where did you go? I, the girls, the girls the, the girls who had home at home in Bangkok or Thailand they went home. Some people were to send back to Malaysia or Indonesia or anywhere in Southeast Asian country. Wherever their homes were. Before they went they were put in a church. Nanarime, they were, they stayed there. I was, I stayed with Pundit Dagnath Sharma's family and they were sent back to their own home from there. And then how did you, how long were you at Pundit Sharma's home? For eight months. Eight months. Were you reunited with your parents? I was there, I stayed there. No, no news from my father, no mother, what happened. Atom bomb gira, I thought it was it felt, no news at all. How did you feel when you heard about the falling of the atom bomb? Nothing, no feeling. Atom bomb gira hoga. I didn't know what happened, how it happened, after month. All these things we didn't know. You did not have any information? When I heard that somebody, all those who were, that's why the wind of the atom that they became some, this is all my mother and sister told me when they came, went back to India. Before that we don't, we didn't know anything about how it happened and all. You were there in Japan when Japan surrendered? No, no, my mother and my siblings were there. Papa, Papa, Mr. Iyer, Mr. Devmabdas and other people from Papa Scaling infiltrated into Vietnam and was in Hanoi. He was in Hanoi. After eight months, Papa was taken, Papa and others were from Hanoi. They were taken to Singapore and put into jail, Pearl Hill Jail. Ashati, your father was arrested in Hanoi along with other leaders of the INA. When was he sent to Singapore Jail and how long was he there for? See when they infiltrated into Hanoi and they themselves went to the Chinese commander-in-chief, Ho-Han and said that we came to be arrested by you. Ho-Han said why are you enemy of Japan? He said no, we are not enemy of Japan, neither China. He said that okay we are common, our enemy is common. So we won't arrest you. Chinese army said, commander-in-chief said, you are a free man here. You can stay there, you can go anywhere. So they hired a house and about six of them I think. But how did they end up in Singapore Jail? Then after some time in December this general toy this toy major toy they came to arrest these people. So Chinese people can do nothing because they came to arrest the Indian army. So they went this major toy went to their house where they were saying I have come to arrest you all come with me too. And then they were saying four, five months or six months like in March they all were released unconditionally because Nehruji went there and had negotiation with Makassar and all this and Nehruji said that it is it will be a big massacre if you harm the even one of them should not be harmed. Then otherwise there will be a massacre all English child English woman and English men will be massacred by Indian people. So you'll never do this harm them. After that negotiation they were released. Then they went to their own say my father went and stayed with Dr. Mitra Dr. Mitra he was I and a doctor but he was in here. And then my father informed Panditji that you please send Asha to Singapore. So you met your father in Singapore? So I went to Singapore. And then from Singapore you both came to India? We stayed there for one month more we were waiting for passport. The Mr. Chair was the person who was reluctant to give passport. He was British so when after running about we got passport and we came back. How did you reach India? 1946. So this is just before independence. So where were you when independence went on? We came back to Kolkata first and met my grandmother my mother my mother and children were in Tokyo and after that we went to Delhi, Lahore Karachi all the places I went with my father for the INA team. How were you received in all these places? He he gave he used to give speech everywhere. My goodness it was a hero's welcome it was a hero's welcome after his speech I used to sing I also had to What would you sing? Can you sing Kadam Kadam Badaya Jaan? Kadam Kadam Badaya Jaan Badaya Jaan Badaya Jaan Ghaaya Jaan Ghaaya Jaan This life is a little little little Kadam Kadam Badaya Jaan Badaya Jaan Badaya Jaan So after having spent a life contributing to the freedom of India how did you feel on 15th August 1947? We were not very happy it was our mother India was divided into two. So what message do you have for the younger generation? We should remember those days and she children that how India was India suffered under the foreign hand foreign rule, tortured and so many things. So now that we should always remember and children should be taught that India progress is in their hands and honesty there is patriotism honesty and then how to progress how to progress we are progressing still lacking so many things. Thank you so much.