Even in Travancore, where the freedom movement had not been very intense, hordes keenly followed the Indian National Army (INA) floated by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, recalled K. Ayyappan Pillai, Gandhian.
He was conversing with a delegation led by Utkal Vikas Juba Parishad, who is on a ‘yatra’ carrying the soil from Netaji’s birthplace, Odiyabazaar in Cuttack. The team had called on Mr. Pillai at his residence at Thycaud.
When Captain Lakshmi, an officer of the INA, reached the capital city in 1941 for a public function, the Thiruvananthapuram railway station grounds were overflowing with young men and women, Mr. Pillai said, adding that he was right in front to receive Captain Lakshmi.
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The five-member delegation led by Deviprasad Prusthi visited Mr. Pillai after paying floral tributes at the Netaji statue at PMG Junction. Netaji’s stand was that Indians should not fight against the Nawabs and Maharajahs.
Hence the Congress did not lead a fight against the royal rule in Travancore. It was in these circumstances that Travancore State Congress and Kochi Prajamandalam was formed, Mr. Pillai said. The Information and Public Relations Department is coordinating the ‘yatra’ in Kerala. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate a reception to the delegation at the Durbar Hall in the Secretariat on Monday morning.