netaji-subhas-chandra-bose-a-saga-of-leadership-freedom-and-an-unfolding-mystery

Early life and political ascendancy

 

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, born on January 23, 1897, in Bengal province's Cuttack, Odisha, emerged as a formidable leader in India's quest for freedom. Hailing from a distinguished Bengali family, Bose's formative years in Cuttack set the stage for his academic pursuits at Scottish Church College and Presidency College in Calcutta. His expulsion in 1916 for nationalist activities did not deter his resolve, and he continued to pursue his passion.

 

In 1921, after achieving success in the Indian Civil Service examination in England, Bose made a pivotal decision to return to India, driven by an intense commitment to the nation's independence. Aligned with the Indian National Congress, his rapid ascent saw him becoming the president of the All India Youth Congress in 1923.

 

Charismatic and dynamic, Bose assumed the presidency of the Indian National Congress in 1938 and 1939, dedicating himself to fortifying the party and rallying support for the freedom struggle. In 1939, he founded the Forward Bloc within the Congress, uniting anti-colonial forces against British rule. 

 

Amid World War II, Bose's leadership reached its zenith with the formation of the Indian National Army (INA) in 1942, a pivotal force in India's fight for independence, capturing the nation's imagination through courageous battles against British forces.

 

Legacy and controversy surrounding demise

 

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's life has become a beacon of inspiration, but the mystery surrounding his final days casts a shadow over his legacy. Despite the formation of committees and commissions, including the Shah Nawaz Committee, Justice Khosla Commission, and Justice Mukherjee Commission, appointed by the Indian government, the enigma of his reported death in the Taihoku air crash on August 18, 1945, remains unresolved.

 

Theories and speculations

 

While Netaji remains an enduring icon, various theories surrounding his final days have persisted. Some believe that his reported death was a strategic ploy orchestrated by Bose himself to mislead Allied forces, enabling him to continue his struggle in safety. Another theory suggests that he assumed a reclusive life in North India. A more contentious narrative insists that betrayal by leaders like Nehru and Gandhi led to his imprisonment in a Soviet concentration camp. These theories, in recent years, have overshadowed Netaji's achievements, reducing his legacy to elements of a political murder-mystery.

 

Recent events and the declassification of files provide an opportunity to reexamine these theories and scrutinise the circumstances surrounding Netaji's demise.

 

Initial investigations

 

Early investigations involved the British Army, the government of British India, the government of Japan, and the Allied Forces. The primary objective was to ascertain whether Netaji, known for his staunch opposition to the British, had indeed perished in the crash.

 

1. Soon after Japan's surrender in 1945, Admiral Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of the South East Asian Command, sought an inquiry from General MacArthur, Supreme Commander for Allied Powers in Japan. The Japanese government's preliminary report confirmed Netaji's injuries and death in the air crash on September 19, 1945.

 

2. Independently, the British India government dispatched officers to Bangkok, Saigon, and Taihoku in September 1945. Interrogations of airport staff, military officers, and medical personnel consistently supported the conclusion that Netaji had died in the crash.

 

3. In 1946, Colonel John G. Figgess, a senior British intelligence officer, conducted further investigations in Tokyo. Testimonies, including that of Japanese doctor Toyoshi Tsuruta, affirmed Netaji's injuries and subsequent death. Dr. Tsuruta's detailed account described the futile attempts to save Netaji, administering injections until his eventual demise.

 

4. Captain (Dr) Yoshimi Taneyoshi, the medical officer in charge of the military hospital at Taihoku, provided a consistent account in 1946, stating that Netaji died between 1900 and 2000 hours on August 18, 1945, due to extensive burns sustained in the crash.

 

5. In 1956, Japan shared a comprehensive report, incorporating interviews with 13 witnesses, including Netaji's co-passengers and doctors who attended to him. The report detailed the events leading to the crash and Netaji's subsequent death in a military hospital.

 

6. The Formosan government, responding to a UK inquiry in 1956, interviewed eyewitnesses, whose accounts corroborated the details of the crash and Netaji's death.

 

These early investigations, conducted independently by multiple entities, consistently pointed to Netaji's demise in the Taihoku air crash.

 

Netaji inquiry committee

 

In 1956, amidst mounting public demands, the Indian government established the Netaji Inquiry Committee to probe the circumstances surrounding Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's alleged death in a plane crash on August 18, 1945. 

 

Comprising Shahnawaz Khan, Suresh Chandra Bose, and S.N. Maitra, the committee scrutinised 67 witnesses, including those present during Netaji's final flight. Diplomatic constraints prevented a visit to Taihoku, the crash site. The committee's draft report, signed by all members, affirmed an air crash, Netaji's death, and the cremation of his remains at Renkoji Temple in Tokyo. 

 

However, Suresh Bose later dissenting, contending the crash never happened. The final report, accepted by the Indian parliament in September 1956, stirred controversy due to Suresh's dissent and his allegations against Nehru, Khan, Maitra, and B.C. Roy.

 

Second inquiry by the GOI

 

In 1970, the Government of India initiated the Justice Khosla Commission, led by retired Justice G.D. Khosla, to investigate Netaji's disappearance. Despite a prolonged inquiry involving interviews with witnesses, including Shahnawaz Khan and Suresh Bose, the commission echoed earlier findings that Netaji suffered severe injuries in the Taihoku crash and died the same night. Notably, the Khosla Commission documented various purported 'sightings' of Bose, prompting Justice Khosla to question the boundary between fantasy and distorted truth.

 

The two inquiries failed to provide conclusive evidence, sustaining the enduring mystery surrounding Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's fate and fuelling speculations about his potential survival after the reported incident.

 

Declassification of files by state, centre

 

The West Bengal government in 2015 released files related to Netaji and his family, followed by the declassification of a total of 304 'Netaji files' by Central ministries in January 2016. Contrary to popular belief, these Central files were not the only batch released. The Government of India, since 1997, has released a total of 2,324 files, and has made it clear that there are no more classified 'Netaji files' left.

 

These files offer a comprehensive view of independent investigations into Netaji's reported death, providing valuable insights into the circumstances surrounding the Taihoku air crash.

The investigations into Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's reported death, spanning committees and commissions, remain inconclusive. Despite detailed inquiries by national, international, private and government entities, the mystery endures, fueled by conflicting accounts and dissenting opinions. 

 

Recent declassification of files, while shedding light on the circumstances, hasn't decisively resolved the controversy. The enduring enigma surrounding Netaji's fate underscores the complexity and opacity of this chapter in history, leaving his legacy as both an icon of independence and an unsolved historical puzzle.