States » SouthPosted at: Nov 15 2026 8:26AM


Netaji’s childhood companion Radha, Kerala’s adopted daughter, passes away at 88

Palakkad, Nov 15 (UNI) A childhood spent in the company of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at an Indian National Army (INA) camp in Bangkok, memories of wartime bombing raids and the experience of witnessing India's Independence marked the extraordinary life of Radha, who passed away at the age of 88 at Karalmanna in Palakkad district of Kerala.
Born in Thailand, Radha came to Kerala in 1946 as the adopted daughter of Krishna Pothuval and Narayanikutty Pothuvalsyar of Karalmanna. Her adoptive parents were associated with the INA, which was then engaged in the struggle for India's independence under the leadership of Bose.
Narayanikutty, sister of Njeralath Ramapothuval, was herself a member of the INA. The family was living in Thailand during the period when Bose and other prominent INA leaders, including Captain Lakshmi, were active in Southeast Asia. Radha's childhood memories were thus closely connected with an important chapter of India's freedom movement.
Though she was only a child at the time, her interactions with Netaji left an indelible impression on her. She would often recall how Bose, in a playful mood, hid behind pillars to surprise and frighten her, turning their encounters into moments of childhood fun.
Another incident that remained fresh in her memory was Bose presenting her with a coin. Unable to understand its monetary value, she nevertheless treasured the gift and kept it carefully. However, she lost the coin somewhere by evening and cried for a long time over the loss, her son-in-law and Palakkad District Information Officer I.R. Prasad recalled.
Radha was also a witness to the horrors of the Second World War. She had shared with family members her frightening experiences of bombing raids and how they took shelter beneath buildings covered with wooden planks to protect themselves from the attacks.
Her journey to Kerala at the age of seven in 1946 marked the beginning of a new chapter. She continued her education at Pookkattiri School in Malappuram district, where she gradually became part of the local community.
The attainment of India's Independence brought her one of the most memorable experiences of her life. During the celebrations, Balan Master, a teacher at Pookkattiri School, placed the national flag in her hands and asked her to lead a procession. The same teacher later took her by the hand into a temple, telling her that India had become independent and she could now enter the temple.
The incident remained particularly close to her heart, symbolising her acceptance into a society and country that had become her own. The girl who had arrived from Thailand eventually grew into a woman deeply rooted in Kerala's social and cultural life, although she rarely took an interest in day-to-day political developments.
Radha did not know her exact date of birth and believed that she was 88. She could not recall having celebrated her birthday even once, Prasad said.
In 1969, she married Rajagopalan Nair of Padippurakkal in Alipparamba, Malappuram district, and subsequently settled at Karalmanna. Her husband and son Harigovindan predeceased her.
She spent her final years with her daughter Sreelatha, a teacher at Thrikkadeeri PTM Higher Secondary School, son-in-law I.R. Prasad and other family members. She had been experiencing memory loss towards the end of her life.
She died on Wednesday, and her funeral was held at her residence in Karalmanna at 10 am on Thursday. With Radha's passing, a rare personal account of life around Netaji and the INA in Bangkok, as well as the experiences of an Indian family during the Second World War, has been lost. Her life also represented an unusual journey from Thailand to Kerala, where a child brought up in the surroundings of the freedom movement found a permanent home and identity.
UNI DS
Tags: #Netaji’s childhood companion Radha# Kerala’s adopted daughter# passes away at 88
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