As the country celebrates its 75th anniversary of Indian Independence under the name of Azadi Ka Amrita Varsh, it is Muhammad Abdul Khader popularly hailed as Vakkom Khader, a true patriot and INA activist who fills the minds of Indians with fond memories of Netaji. <br />'' <br />''Born in the soil of Kerala, Vakkom Khader's homeland commemorates the brave martyr who marched boldly to the gallows for the sake of his country.<br />'' <br />''Vakkom, who gave his life for his motherland at the age of 26, points out a fiery message of secularism.<br />'' <br />''On the morning of September 10, 1943, while being hanged in the Madras Central Jail, he had only a request to be allowed to die alongside with a Hindu brother.<br />'' <br />''Vakkom Khader alias Muhammad Abdul Khader was born on May 25, 1917, as  the eldest of four children of Vavakunju and Ummassalumma in Chirayinkeezhu Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram.<br />'' <br />''Khader's first step as a true nation lover was to lead a strike against the police atrocities carried out under the aegis of Diwan CP Ramaswamy Iyer.<br />'' <br />''Khader met Mahatma Gandhi at the Kadakkavur railway station in Kerala when Gandhiji had arrived in Kerala in connection with the Temple Entry Proclamation.<br />'' <br />''Vakkom Khader joined the National Freedom Movement through the State Congress.<br />'' <br />''He went to Singapore in 1938 in search of a job and later became one of the leading fighters in the Indian National Army under the leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.<br />'' <br />''Vakkom Khader was one among the 20 of the suicide squad who had arrived in India to spy on the activities of the British government. <br />'' <br />''However, the British captured Khader and his group and sentenced Khader to death soon after a military trial.<br />'' <br />''Even when he was being taken to the gallows for fighting against the British, Vakkom held his head high and was ardently ready to risk his life and sacrifice it happily for his motherland. <br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">As the whole country bows before the immense courage of this brave martyr,  the pain of not having a deserving monument for him in his hometown still lingers around.</span><br />