Vakkom Abdul Khader
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Vakkom Abdul Khader | |
|---|---|
 Martyr Vakkom Abdul Khader | |
| Born | 25 May 1917 |
| Died | 10 September 1943 (aged 26) |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Occupations | A soldier in Indian National Army, which was led by Netaji Subhas Bose |
| Parents |
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Vakkom Abdul Khader (1917–1943) was a member of the Indian National Army, which fought for India's freedom, under Subhas Chandra Bose, allied with Japan. Abdul Khader was a trained radio communicator. He was hanged in Madras Central Jail on 10 September 1943 with three comrades: Satyen Bardhan, Anandan and Fauja Singh. All the three walked to their execution singing Vande Mataram.[1] Abdul Khader also shouted "Netaji Subhas Babu ki jai! Down with the British Government! Victory to India!"[2]
Abdul Khader was born on 25 May 1917, at Vakkom, Thiruvananthapuram District. His father was Vavakunju and mother was Ummusalma. He attended local primary school and received his secondary education at Sree Narayana Vilasa high school (founded by Sree Narayan Guru). He was a school hero and a good football player.[3] He was active in the freedom struggle, delighting people with his exciting patriotic songs. During Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Kerala, the train stopped at Kadakkavur railway station, where locals proudly said that Gandhiji was garlanded in the midst of a large crowd by a young boy named Abdul Khader.[4]
In 1938, when he was 21, Khader moved to Malaysia at his father’s behest, and joined the engineering section of the Public Works Department. The excitement of the Indian freedom struggle, however, shook Khader's mind. He joined the Indian Independence League, which was fighting for Indian independence in Malaysia at that time, and later became a revolutionary leader. He was also the secretary of the Kerala Muslim Union, a group of Kerala Muslims in Malaysia who collaborated with the Independence League. Khader joined the Indian National Army, which was formed by Netaji Subhas Bose, its Commander-in-Chief.[5] After completing his training at the Indian Swaraj Institute (housed in the Free School, Penang, now the Penang Museum), which was set up to train Indian National Army soldiers, Khader became a member of the Choir Squad, a corps of heroes[6] It was decided to send them to India in 3 batches. Japanese submarines were to transport 5 revolutioneries each in two batches to Tanur (in the Malabar coast) and Dwarka (in the Kathiawar coast). Rubber rafts were arranged for landing.[7]
It is reported that it was the decision of a Japanese colonel by the name Hideo Iwakuro to send the cadets to India with a plan to deploy them across India. The colonel did not consult the INA, and the operation failed as the cadets were sent underprepared they were dropped off carelessly.[8]
Revolutionary activities
Abdul Khader, S.A. Anandan and three others landed at Tanur in Malabar Coast on the night of September 27, 1942.[9] On landing, they were noticed by some men on the shore before they could find a safe hideout, and were looked upon with suspicion. The police was informed and Khader and his comrades were arrested within a few hours of their landing.[10]