India, Aug. 14 -- Lieutenant Rangaswamy Madhavan Pillai, a member of the Azad Hind Fauj, founded by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, is among the last few recognised freedom fighters living in Delhi.

Born on March 13, 1926, in the Saryan township of Rangoon district in Burma (now Myanmar), he is now 99. He joined the Indian Independence League as a civilian in 1942 under Rash Behari Bose.When Netaji arrived in Singapore, Lt. Pillai formally enlisted in the Indian National army, also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, on November 1, 1943, at the age of 17. He served as a recruitment and fundraising officer, mobilising support for INA across 32 locations in Burma.

"We would go to families and ask mothers and fathers to enlist their sons for the sak...