His mysterious death has always been a hot topic of discussion when Indians sit together to discuss patriotism. Blaming the govt for neglecting investigation in his death case and cursing the World War –II for the loss of the hero, Indians in general and Bengalis in particular have always been a bit emotional and sentimental about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
His death has always been a mystery. Some say he was killed in a plane crash in Taiwan in 1945, while many believe he was alive years after India’s independence.
And almost 68 years after India’s independence, the government of West Bengal decides to make the secret files about Bose’s disappearance public, thanks to the chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s endeavour.
The secret files on Bose have been declassified at Maniktala Police Museum in Kolkata this morning by the Police Commissioner S Purakayastha. While the dvd of the files have been given to Bose’s family members, the police haven’t mentioned when will it be accessible for the public.
People aware of the files believe Netaji was alive till 1964.
In 1960s , an intelligence report prepared by the US indicated that Bose returned to India in the February of 1964. Without mentioning Russia, Netaji researchers believe American intelligence units had learned about his imminent return from Russia via China
"The report was prepared by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the US intelligence agency formed during World War II that later metamorphosed into Central Intelligence Agency or CIA. Remember, it was in 1949 that Netaji's elder brother Sarat Bose wrote an article: 'Netaji in Red China'. I believe this is conclusive proof that Netaji did not die in 1945," Netaji researcher Jayanta Chowdhury told The Times of India. Chowdhury had concluded before Justice Manoj Mukherjee Commission that the Taihoku plane crash hadn't happened.
Among the contents of the 64 files, US intelligence reports on Netaji's escape from house arrest on January 16, 1941.
While history records that Bose, disguised as a Sikh, was driven away by his nephew Sisir, the CIA report - declassified and published 50 years later in the early 1990s - states that five Sikhs had arrived at 38/2 Elgin Road and all five had left in a wagon. One of them was Bose. But there is no mention of a relative. Intelligence Bureau records contain names of visitors to the Netaji residence on that date.
Another indicator that the Allied powers did not believe Netaji died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945, is the sixth volume of the Transfer of Power document published in the UK after the War. It explored several options about how to deal with Subhas Bose - considered a war criminal for his alignment with Axis powers Germany and Japan - including court martial, deportation to a Sicilian island and a suggestion that he wouldn't be made to surrender or tried "if he stays where he is".
Gumnami Baba - the ascetic of Faizabad, who some believe was Netaji - had told his followers, including former INA veterans, about the difficulties he and the country would face from superior powers if his presence became public.
However, the most important file that could have contained definitive evidence on Netaji after 1945 has been destroyed. Only the front page of File No. 12(226)/56-PM regarding 'Investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Subhas Chandra Bose' is left. The rest of the file was destroyed in 1972 when Congress was in power in West Bengal and Siddharth Shankar Ray was chief minister.
"I believe some historical missing link may be obtained if successive state governments haven't already tampered with the files. While Congress had every reason to distort facts, so do Communists whose role as secret service agents in India during the Freedom movement is clear in the contents," said Chowdhury, adding that there is also a file on role of chief ministers in the Netaji mystery.