Bose files

On 15/10/2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi met members of the Bose family and said the process to declassify Bose files will begin after 100 days on 23/10/2016 on the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose. That reminds me of his promise to bring back black money from foreign countries and put 15 lakh rupees in every Indian’s account within 100 days of coming to power.
Making public Bose files was one of the promises Modi made during his election speeches and it should have been fulfilled more than a year ago. Modi did not fulfil many of the promises he made. The promise of One Rank One Pension was partially fulfilled after ex-servicemen began fast unto death and there was huge negative publicity. In September West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made public Bose files with her government and that forced Modi’s hand. He agreed to meet Members of Modi family but delayed it by one month and process of publication is delayed by further 100 days.
Congress while in power refused to make public Bose files claiming it will adversely affect relations.
It is said there was surveillance on Bose family till 1968. It is known West Bengal State Intelligence Bureau opened letters addressed to Bose family members and some letters did not reach Bose family members.
Some claim Bose did not die on 18/8/1945. Some claim he was a prisoner in USSR for 12 years and died there. Some claim he went to China. WB files did not put an end to that speculation.
M. O. Mathai was Principal Private Secretary to Jawaharlal Nehru. Mission Netaji was an organisation involved in finding out about Subhash Chandra Bose’s death. Mission Netaji got hold M. O. Mathai’s letter UO No. DS/13170 dt. 2/12/1954 which indicated Bose’s ashes were received in India between 1950 and 1954. India’s official position is Bose’s ashes are in Renkoji Temple in Tokyo Japan. It is possible that some ashes were received in India and some are in Renkoji Temple. Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Indira Gandhi and Atal Behari Vajpayee had visited the temple.
Shah Nawaz Committee, Khosla Commission and Mukherjee Commission inquired into the death of Bose. Shah Nawaz Committee and Khosla Commission concluded Bose died in plane crash. Mukherjee Commission concluded Bose did not die in plane crash. The Government of India rejected the findings of Mukherjee Commission.
The publication of Bose files with the Government of India will hopefully put an end to speculation about Bose’s death.