In a fervent appeal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called upon the Centre to declassify the files of iconic Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from the Central archives. Speaking at a function in Kalchini, Alipurduar district, on Netaji’s birth anniversary, Banerjee emphasized the need for transparency and truth.
The Enigma of Netaji’s Death
At the age of 48, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose reportedly died from third-degree burns after his plane crashed in Japanese-occupied Taiwan on 18 August 1945. His body was cremated at the Taihoku crematorium on 20 August. However, his death has remained shrouded in mystery and controversy, with numerous theories suggesting he survived the air crash. Despite extensive investigations, no official evidence has ever confirmed these theories.
One of the most popular beliefs at the time was that Bose faked his death to escape British authorities and continued to live in disguise. Some speculated that Netaji was held captive by Japan, while others believed he was murdered to prevent him from becoming an influential political figure post-independence. Banerjee highlighted the state’s efforts in declassifying 64 classified files of Netaji and urged the Union government to follow suit. “Netaji was the victim of a conspiracy. The state government has 64 classified files of Netaji which we have already declassified. Now the Union government should declassify the files in the Central archives,” she asserted.
The Unanswered Questions
“It is unfortunate that though the people of India know the date of Netaji’s birthday, no one is aware of the date of his death. I feel sad when I think that we could not even know what actually happened to Netaji,” Banerjee lamented. Despite investigations by the Shah Nawaz Committee, the Khosla Commission, and the Justice Mukherjee Commission, no irrefutable conclusion has been reached.
Banerjee praised Netaji as the true political mentor of the nation, acknowledging his contributions to the Indian National Army and the erstwhile Planning Commission. “He believed in the unity of all religions. He used to think for everyone. But it is unfortunate that we do not have any idea on where he actually vanished,” she said.
At a separate function at Red Road in central Kolkata, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari paid floral tributes at Netaji’s statue. Adhikari questioned the alleged “double standards” of the West Bengal government regarding Netaji’s birthday, citing a notification that declared 23 January a public holiday while stating that the CMRO grievance redressal office would be functional on that day. “This not only violates the norms for a public holiday declared under the NI Act but is also tantamount to disrespecting Netaji,” Adhikari claimed.
