Darthawma, the lone surviving Mizo member of Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA), died of multi-organ failure in south Mizoram's Lunglei District on Sunday morning at the age of 99, his family said. He was born on May 15, 1921 at Pukpui village.
The freedom fighter's last rites were performed at Lunglei, 170 km from here, this afternoon. It was attended by representatives from the district administration, Army, paramilitary forces, non-governmental organisations and Ex-Servicemen.
He is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Darthawma had joined the Army Medical Corps of the British Indian Army on November 27, 1940, during the World War 2 and was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army in early 1942 during his posting at Malaysia's Penang Island.
Once Netaji visited their prison, Darthawma was among other soldiers to join Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) to fight for India’s Independence. He fought the British Army along with his comrades of INA and Japanese soldiers in Burma. But they ultimately surrendered to the British with the surrender of the Japanese Army due to bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Once Netaji visited their prison, Darthawma was among other soldiers to join Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) to fight for India’s Independence. He fought the British Army along with his comrades of INA and Japanese soldiers in Burma. But they ultimately surrendered to the British with the surrender of the Japanese Army due to bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
He joined the INA in May 1942 to fight against the British colonial rule. Two years after joining the INA, Darthawma was captured by the British in 1944 but was released from Lucknow Jail on January 15, 1945, following the intervention of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Indian government awarded him the 'Tamrapatra Award' in 1972 for his role in the struggle for Indian independence.