Azad Hind Fauji to turn 109 today

109th birthday on Tuesday. Born in Pakistan state of undivided India on September 1, 1901, Athwal has an amazing memory and looks far younger than his age.

“I was born in Bangupura village in Lahore district. Now it’s part of Pakistan. Initially I studied in this village and later joined the British army. In World War II we were fighting in against Japan. We lost the battle and became prisoners of war. Then we joined INA with the help of Japanese government,” he told TOI.

But after Partition Athwal decided to move to India. “First we reached Kurukshetra refugee camp, and were then allotted land in Rajasthan. But my children settled in Ahmedabad so I moved here.” He has been here for last 20 years and shows amazing fitness level. “Even now he wakes up early in the morning and can recollect small details of his life,” says grandson Kashmir Singh.

Athwal has three daughters and a son and now lives with the fifth generation of his family. “I believe that today we lack unity,” he says recalling the patriotic fervour of pre-Independence days. “We will celebrate his birthday in a simple ceremony involving family members,” says Kashmir Singh. Athwal lives in Juna Vadaj area, a mile away from Sabarmati Ashram, from where Gandhi led the freedom march. But Athwal would rather worship Bose and his philosophy.