Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Moscow, a veteran sports journalist and grandnephew of Subhash Chandra Bose, Ashis Ray, released a set of documents in London on Monday evening, that he claims are part of the classified files of the Indian government on the former Indian National Congress President and founder of the Indian National Army, also popularly known as Netaji.
The documents are in forms of letters exchanged between the Indian and Russian governments from 1991 and 1995, that re-affirm that Bose, did not visit the Soviet Union in 1945 or after.
Speaking to Asian Voice exclusively, Ray said, “To arrive at a conclusion, we first need to eliminate what is not correct.
“This is my 25 years of investigation, and I feel this is the right time to come out with this information. I am putting forward these documents, to ensure people can judge for themselves what happened to Netaji in his last days. From 4 January, I will officially reveal these documents, periodically, and they will be part of an official narrative website on Bose, which is currently under process.”
When asked if those government documents could be relied on, and if Nehru-Bose had a fall out, Ray added, “The two great leaders have had their difference of opinions, but both always ended their letters with 'yours affectionately'. These concluding words speak volumes about their relationship as friends.”
The documents declassified by Ray revealed, in September 1991, the Indian government wrote to the Russian Federation, asking whether Netaji had entered or stayed in Russia. The Russians wrote back in January 1992, saying, "No information whatsoever is available on the stay of the former President of INC (Indian National Congress)."
Three years later, India on request of an MP in the Parliament had again written to Russia. "There has been further speculation in this context reportedly on the basis of archival material. Please examine all material for a final determination on whether or not Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose entered or stayed anywhere in territory of Soviet Union in 1945 or subsequently." Russia repeated its earlier reply.
In the last few months, the campaign for declassification of government files on Netaji has picked up momentum. Though it is believed that the freedom fighter died in an airplane crash at Taipei in Taiwan on August 18, 1945, many in India have rejected the theory, and believed he lived as a hermit in Madhya Pradesh. Anuj Dhar, a campaigner has done extensive work in establishing that Bose lived on after the plane crash in 1945, in various locations.
Mr Ray concluded by saying that he feels Bose's daughter Anita in Germany deserves a closure, and this is his independent effort to find out the truth.
