‘Bose Deserves to Return Home’: Netaji’s Daughter Appeals for Ashes’ Return as Modi, Yogi Pay Tribute
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On the 128th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, observed as Parakram Diwas on January 23 his daughter, Anita Bose Pfaff made a heartfelt plea to the central government, urging them to bring back her father's mortal remains from Tokyo, Japan. Subhas Chandra Bose's ashes have been kept at Renkoji Temple in Tokyo for the past eight decades. In her statement, Pfaff highlighted that for decades, successive Indian governments either "hesitated or refused" to bring Bose’s remains back to India.
According to documents declassified by the Modi government in 2016, successive administrations believed that Bose had died in an air crash in 1945. However, they refrained from making this public due to fears of a potential public backlash. At one point, Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao withdrew his announcement to posthumously award Netaji the Bharat Ratna facing criticism that such an action would confirm Bose's death. In 1995, the Indian government officially accepted that Bose died in an air crash on August 18, 1945 near Taipei, Taiwan. This position was reflected in a Cabinet note, signed by then home secretary K Padmanabaiah which stated, "There seems to be no scope for doubt that he died in the air crash of 18th August 1945 at Taihoku. Government of India has already accepted this position. There is no evidence whatsoever to the contrary."
Pfaff pointed out that despite this, Indian governments continued to hesitate in bringing Bose's remains back. She remarked that the priests of Renkoji Temple and the Japanese government had long been ready and willing to return the remains to India. Pfaff further emphasized that many freedom fighters, including Bose had to flee India to escape persecution during the colonial period. Many of them never returned and their remains stayed abroad. She urged the government to bring an end to Netaji's "exile," noting that while many people, including his family had hoped he survived the crash it was now clear that he died in the 1945 air crash, a conclusion supported by numerous investigations and documents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose, honoring him as a symbol of courage and determination. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also recalled the iconic slogan, "Tum mujhe khoon do, mein tumhe azadi dunga" ("Give me blood and I will give you freedom") stating that it had become a rallying cry for the nation during the freedom struggle.
