Lieutenant Rangaswamy Madhawan Pillai, a 99-year-old veteran of the Indian National Army (INA), marked his 100th birthday on Thursday. He laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Kartavya Path. The ceremony stood as a powerful reminder of India’s enduring legacy of sacrifice and patriotism, an Army official said. The wreath-laying ceremony not only honours the sacrifices of the brave men and women who fought for India’s freedom but also serves as a poignant reminder of the nation’s ongoing journey to break free from colonial legacies while upholding the spirit of their sacrifice. On January 23, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had felicitated Lieutenant Rang aswamy on the occasion of the Parakram Diwas celebrations at the Red Fort. He was born on March 13, 1926, in the Swryan Township of Rangoon District in Burma (now Myanmar) His father hailed from the Sivagangai District in Tamil Nadu. He initially joined the Indian Independence League as a civilian in 1942 under Rash Behari Bose. He formally enlisted in the INA on November 1, 1943, at the age of 18.