Saraswathi Rajamani was 16 years old when she became the youngest spy in the Indian National Army. Born on January 11, 1927, in Rangoon, Burma (present-day Myanmar), Rajamani's father was one of the wealthiest Indians in Rangoon. The family owned a gold mine and were staunch supporters of the Indian freedom movement, even financing it. At the age of 16, she was deeply inspired by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's speech in Rangoon and donated all her jewellery to the Indian National Army (INA).
Believing that the young girl might have donated the jewellery impulsively, Netaji visited her home to return it. However, Rajamani was adamant that he use it for the army. Impressed by her determination, he renamed her Saraswathi, marking the beginning of her journey as a part of the INA.
First Indian Female Spy
In 1942, Rajamani was recruited into the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, one of the all-female combat regiments of the Second World War. She became part of the Indian National Army's (INA) military intelligence wing.
During the war, Rajamani was sent as a spy disguised as a worker in the British military base in Kolkata to uncover British secrets and share them with the INA. She played a pivotal role in exposing a British plan to assassinate Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during his secret visit to Indian borders in 1943.
For nearly two years, Rajamani and her female colleagues disguised themselves as boys to gather intelligence. While undercover, she went by the name "Mani." On one occasion, when a colleague was captured by British troops, Rajamani infiltrated the British camp disguised as a dancer. She drugged the officers in charge and successfully rescued her colleague. While escaping, she was shot in the leg by a British guard but managed to evade capture.
Her service in the INA came to an end when Netaji disbanded the army after World War II.
Post-Independence Life
After World War II, Rajamani's family gave away their wealth, including the gold mine, and migrated back to India. By 2005, a newspaper reported that she was living in Chennai and struggling to make ends meet despite relying on a freedom fighter's pension.
In response, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, extended assistance by gifting her a rent-free housing board flat and a sum of ₹5 lakh after Rajamani appealed to the Tamil Nadu government for help.
Saraswathy Rajamani and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalitha
Rajamani passed away on January 13, 2018, due to cardiac arrest. Her courage and unwavering determination for the nation continue to inspire generations to this day.