Family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's driver awaits road to house in Himachal village

Tribune News Service

Dipender Manta

Mandi, January 24

The demands of family members of freedom fighter Mool Raj Thakur have remained unfulfilled.

The family is demanding to name the Narla degree college in Darang in his name and construction of a road up to his house at Narla but the governments have paid no heed.

Died in 1974 during work at Pandoh Dam

• Mool Raj worked on an Indo-German project in Mandi after Independence
• Later, he was appointed as an operator on Pandoh Dam
• During construction on October 8, 1974, a boulder from a hill hit him, killing him on the spot
• His name was inked on the list of the martyrs of the Pandoh Dam in Mandi

Born on June 13, 1917, at Narla village under Kunu panchayat in Mandi district, Mool Raj had fought the freedom struggle as a soldier of the Indian National Army (INA) led by Subhas Chandra Bose. He was married to Mohini Devi. The couple had no child.

Mohini Devi told The Tribune, “My husband drove the vehicle of Bose and was considered his close aide.”

“During the freedom struggle, my husband was tortured and was kept in prison at several locations, including Burma, currently known as Myanmar, by the British during 1942 to 1946. In prison, he, along with other freedom fighters, had dug out a tunnel with bare hands to escape from the prison. He, along with his comrades, escaped from the prison and reached India,” she added.

Prakash Chand Thakur, the nephew of the freedom fighter, said, “After Independence, he worked on an Indo-German project in Mandi. Later he was appointed as an operator for the construction of Pandoh dam. During construction on October 8, 1974, a boulder from a hill hit him, killing him on the spot. His name was inked on the list of the martyrs of the Pandoh dam in Mandi.”

“In 1972 Mool Raj was awarded Tamra Patra by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for his contribution to the freedom struggle,” he added.

He said, “Earlier, the district administration had used to invite the family on the functions of Republic Day and Independence Day but for the past few years, we have not been invited.”

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