PAYYANNUR: Chindan Nair, veteran freedom-fighter and soldier of the INA, who served as the driver of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, died at his house at Mathil here early on Saturday morning. He was 96.
Chindan Nair, the last link of the nation with the INA and Netaji, had been living a quiet and secluded life since he came back to India after independence.
Chindan Nair, born in 1913 as the only son of the Sreekandan-Munhimathi couple, had his school education upto Standard II. He later left for Madras.
Nair joined the INA led by Netaji while he was working as a mechanic-cum-helper in the Public Works Department in Madras. Chindan Nair who obtained training at the INA had served the INA camps in Thailand . He was also part of the INA group which fought for Japan during the World War-II against Britain. When the erstwhile Burma was conquered by Japan, Chindan Nair served in Burma also for some time.
Nair served as a loyal driver of Netaji for a long period. He came back to India in 1954, after Independence.