Neta Ji – The Unforgettable Hero
On Friday, 64 files related to Neta Ji Subhash Chandra Bose were declassified and released for the public by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee. Neta Ji’s family were first to receive the files consisting 12744 pages. And then files were released to journalists and the public. The files will be kept on display at the Kolkata Police Museum and will be digitised.
These files contains personal letters between Neta Ji and his elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose, analysis of the British intelligence’s about Neta Ji and his speeches.
There are some serious facts which have come out from these files.
1. A long snooping on every movement of Bose family
The files raise questions over death of Neta Ji in a plane crash in 1945 in Taipei. But it also reveals that till what extent government intelligence was used for the surveillance of his family. Many files have various references where it is mentioned that Neta Ji “being alive”. In one such instance of 1949, a letter written by Swiss journalist Dr Lilly Abegg to Neta Ji’s brother Sarat Chandra Bose was intercepted by the state intelligence. In that letter, Dr Abegg had quoted, “I heard in 1946 from Japanese sources that your brother is still living.”
2. Even after his disappearance, Neta Ji wife Emilie remained in contact with his family
Even after his disappearance, his wife Emilie Schenkl kept sending letters to Neta Ji’s family. Calcutta Police Security Control’s Weekly Survey on 04th May 1946 refers Schenkl as widow of Subhash Chandra Bose”.
3. Neta Ji’s family wants Centre Government to declassify files
Now relatives of Neta Ji’s are demanding that central government should declassify all documents under its possession in similar manner. Neta Ji’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose and other family members are also demanding a probe in the surveillance of their family done by the Congress led government.
4. Mamata too demand Centre to declassify files
Mamta Banerjee said that “It has been 70 years and it is extremely unfortunate that mystery still shrouds the life of one of India’s biggest national heroes and freedom fighter. The truth must come out now. It will come out. How long will the central government keep the files hidden?” Bengal CM has asked BJP led central government to declassify the files.
5. The Gumnami Baba story
The declassification of files has once again bought the Gumnami baba in focus. Gumnami Baba, an ascetic from Faizabad was believed to be Neta Ji. Some select followers, including former Indian National Army veterans, had on many occasions claimed that he said about the difficulties he and the country would face from superior powers if his presence became public.
Gumnami Baba was died on 19th September 1985. His body was wrapped in tricolour and moved out of Ram Bhavan, a house in front of the circuit house. 13 people including Saraswati Devi Shukla, Dr. Priyabrat Bannerjee and Dr. RP Mishra, Ram Kishore Panda accompanied it till the banks of Saryu at the Guptar Ghat.
Everyone present there was sure that the person cremated at Guptar Ghat that night was none other than Neta Ji Subhash Bose.
Several Forensic evidence which were examined by a top expert were said to be a match. But as expected, the Central and State appointed experts gave no deed to those findings and gave wishy-washy reports. They even refused to come to the Mukherjee Commission along with B. Lal for proper questioning.
