I want to sleep” were the last words of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose before he breathed his last at around 9.30 pm on August 18, 1945.
According to the declassified documents, one person Juichi Nakamura who was an eyewitness of the Netaji’s last moments at the military hospital said he was taken to a room where Netaji, critically injured, was lying on a bed.
His body was covered with bandages and he could see blood spots in bandages on head. He claimed that he could see Netaji’s eyes, nose and mouth as they were not covered. Nakamura said that he also saw Col Rehman in the hospital, a close aide of Netaji.
According to Nakamura, Netaji did not complain of any pain or suffering while he was admitted to a military hospital in Taihoku after the crash. ‘I want to sleep’ were his last words. “During all this time not a word of complain, either of pain or suffering came from his lips. Japanese officers at the other end of room were groaning with pain and crying out they may be killed rather than continue to endure their suffering. This composure of Netaji surprised us all. After this he started snoring. This went on for ten minutes or may be longer,” Nakamura said in a statement that was sent to M Kutty, Under Secretary (MEA) by JN Dixit from Indian Embassy in Tokyo on October 10, 1964.
Nakamura said that after a gap of about 10 minutes he saw Netaji’s head fell forward on his chest and that was the last. All the soldiers present in the hospital room stood in a line and saluted Netaji. Col Rehman came close to bed and prayed for about 5-6 minutes.