It was an emotional moment for the family members of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who have been waiting for years for the truth about Bose’s life to come out in open.
Even though only some parts of the stories revolving around Bose’s life and death have come out in public domain, his family members thanked the Government for the files released and suggested setting up of a committee to study the files. They want public to be informed about various landmarks in his life. Twenty six members of Bose’s family were present during the function on Saturday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi declassified the secret files on him.
“Elated over declassification of files, relatives suggested a committee 2 study files and inform anxious public abt landmarks of life of Netaji (sic),” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Twitter. Naidu had hosted Bose’s relatives over breakfast shortly after the release. “Took them around Central Hall after hosting them over breakfast,” Naidu tweeted. However, the family also wants government to bring out the entire truth surrounding the mystery of his death, his days on foreign soil, and whether he had to actually hide in oblivion fearing arrest.
Welcoming the release of files, Bose daughter Anita Bose Pfaff said: “Truth must come out. Injustice to Netaji must be exposed.”
“This is the first time that Prime Minister of India has taken a move to open the classified files. But these are not the intelligence files. What we need is the intelligence files not only of our country but also of Russia, the UK, the US, Japan to solve the mystery,” said Bose’s grandnephew Surya Kumar Bose.
On whether the declassifying cleared the mystery of Bose’s death, Surya Kumar said: “We did not expect that. It is a monumental task as there are thousands of files. A high level investigative team as well international authority participation is required.”
Expressing happiness, his relative Krishna Bose said that there would not have been speculations (regarding Netaji’s disappearance) if those files were brought out earlier. “We are happy. If the files were declassified earlier, there would not have been speculations. Both Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee have done good work (by declassifying Netaji files), Krishna, widow of Netaji’s nephew Sisir Kumar Bose, said.
However, Bose’s grand nephew and historian Sugata Bose said: “I do not know whether Modi has done anything on the Netaji issue. I don’t feel he had spoken to Abe (Japanese PM Shinzo Abe). He also did not pay his respect by visiting the Renkoji temple... But, other Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the temple to show their respect,” he said of Modi’s Japan tour last year. Sugata is Krishna and Sisir’s son and currently a Trinamool Congress MP.
“The Japanese have shared with us the information they had regarding Netaji... But, I believe Modi should have spoken to Abe, whether it be in Tokyo or in Delhi, or Varanasi... I don’t think he has spoken to him (Abe) regarding this,” he claimed. “It was first from Japan that we came to know what happened in August 1945,” he said.
Bose added: “The PM went to Russia but, has not said whether he had any discussion with the Russian President regarding Netaji. He must come out in the public about his discussions with Putin.” He also claimed former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had contacted the Russians in this connection and demanded that the “outcome of Rao’s communication” should also be made public.