Declassified documents reveal Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s widow wanted an early solution to the issue of her husband’s ashes

August 31, 2016: Declassified files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has been made accessible to the public on August 30, 2016 by Government of India. Last year on October 14, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had made the announcement regarding declassifying the documents; when he met the delegation of Netaji's family members at his residence in New Delhi. Since then, files pertaining to the time and life of Netaji are being released, in batches, and the records are being analysed thoroughly.

One of the disclosed records claimed that Netaji's wife Emilie Schenkl wanted the issue of Netaji's ashes, being brought to India from Japan, to be resolved as quickly as possible.

Pranab Mukherjee, the then external minister had met with Schenkl and Netaji's daughter Anita Pfaff in Germany on October 21, 1995. Following which he wrote a signed memorandum on October 28, 1995 to late Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao: "I feel that Netaji's widow and daughter are keen that an early solution be found to the issue of return of Netaji's ashes to India."

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Mukherjee further recorded in his Memo that "Anita Pfaff made it clear that while she would like to consult other members of the (Bose) family in India, the final decision will rest with her alone." He further added:" she would prefer that the family is not divided on this issue."

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Mukherjee also made a prediction in his memo stating: "There appear to be some sections of Netaji's family, if articulated publicly, as sure it will be, may be used for partisan political ends."

The declassification of Netaji's files held by the Indian Government had resulted in baseless defamation of Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Indian National Congress, of which Netaji twice held the position of the President.

Mr. Satish Lambah, then Indian ambassador to Germany had accompanied Mr. Pranab Mukherjee to the meeting with Netaji's wife and daughter, mentioned theindiandiaspora.com report.

Ashis Ray, a residence of London and a veteran Media person, stated: "I cross checked with Ambassador Lambah. Not only did he corroborate President Mukherjee's description of the meeting, but said Mukherjee was welcomed with great cordiality, courtesy, respect and warmth by Schenkl, Pfaff, and her family."

Netaji's ashes are preserved in Tokyo's Renkoji Temple since September 1945. Schenkl, Netaji's wife had passed away in March 1996 and Anita Bose Pfaff is now an economist in Germany.

The comments are revealed in a declassified document and can be read at – www.bosefiles.info.

– prepared by Usman Zafar from NewsGram. Twitter: @HalkiSiChuban

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