I joined the INA in February 1942 when Rash Behari Bose and Gen Mohan Singh were the guiding force of INA. Later on due to a difference of opinion between the INA leaders, Gen Mohan Singh left. With Netaji's arrival, the INA emerged resurgent than ever under his inspiring leadership.

I rose from a sub-officer to the rank of 2nd lieutenant in the INA. I was in the critical intelligence department. On our information depended the plan of action of the troops.

Before the march ahead
Before the troops could advance, we had to collect information about the area. I had to prepare a map, an eye-sketch and pinpoint the tactical points where our troops could launch an attack on the army and identify strategic points from where the enemy could be caught unawares. These eye-sketches were prepared on the spot by hand.

All activities were carried out at night, under the dense cover of darkness. Clothes were chosen according to the area we moved in. Sometimes we were in Khaki and sometimes covered in a shroud to escape detection.

The minutest details of the path which the army would take was noted down: here is a hill, a gentle slope after the next 30 steps and a steep incline next. 30 inch ka ek kadam, that was my unit of measurement.

The responsibility at hand required intense concentration and caution. Compared to the troops, we were instructed to use ammunition stringently. "A shot fired has to kill the enemy," was the curt command.

Our guiding instruments were a compass and a soldier covered in a white shroud. The compass showed the direction and the white figure showed the path.

Face-off
On one of these missions I along with 2 other intelligence men, 3 from the secret service and 25 Japanese men went to attack an enemy picket and in the ensuing crossfire, a a bullet hit me on the skull. I still bear a mark of the bullet.

There was no hospital nearby and we did not have any medicines with us. Fortunately for me a British soldier we had captured was a doctor. He had an ointment with him which I applied to my wound. I was to keep the wound untouched by water which was a difficult proposition. But a solution was found even when means were short. I simply tied a polythene over my head!