The emotional meeting left Rao overwhelmed. Speaking to IANS, the former soldier hailed Modi as ‘energetic and caring,’ crediting him with revolutionizing village life through sanitation drives, water infrastructure, and equitable governance. ‘No special privileges for any group – equality for all,’ he noted, praising Modi’s tough stance on Pakistan and savvy diplomacy avoiding over-reliance on domineering nations like America.

Rao’s eyes lit up reminiscing about his childhood brush with Netaji. ‘He put a garland around my neck when I was just 12,’ he shared. Modi, visibly moved, celebrated Rao’s firsthand link to the icon who reshaped Indian unity in Southeast Asia.

A Malaysian of Indian descent, Rao asserted his identity fiercely: ‘I’m a Malaysian Indian first.’ He commended Modi for harmonizing India’s diverse ethnic tapestry in a democratic framework.

Netaji’s leadership lessons, as per Rao, were transformative. First, his charismatic oratory fused fragmented identities into a singular ‘Indian’ consciousness against colonial chains. Second, embracing armed revolution over passive resistance, leading with unshakeable conviction despite opposition from figures like Nehru. Third, pioneering women’s empowerment via the all-female Rani Jhansi unit in Malaya.

Yet, Rao lamented the fading awareness of INA’s exploits. Revived by Bose in 1943 from war captives in Singapore, the force built a provisional Azad Hind government and pushed into Burma aiming for Jammu. Their valor, bolstered by local volunteers, remains a cornerstone for Indian diaspora in modern Malaysia and Singapore, but demands greater acknowledgment.

This encounter symbolizes continuity – from INA’s defiant marches to Modi’s vision of a strong, united India.