The 18th of September was a revolutionary day for India and especially Bengal. The underrated national hero and freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose grabbed the centre stage once again.
There had been crucial debates regarding his final years and how his life ended (or not). Due to lack of proper evidence, Netaji always remained as a big question in the minds of people. Due to the oblivion regarding his end even history books failed to give a proper account.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose occupies a very tender place in the hearts of Bengalis due to his Bengal origin. But sadly the Bengalis never got answers to their questions as investigations were never carried out on a regular basis and gradually the files were shut.
As history records go, after Bose retired from the congress due to his difference of opinion with Gandhi, there were hints of a political hitch between them. Formation of Indian National Army was an immediate reaction from Subhas’s side against Gandhi. It was in the INA formed in Japan that he was hailed as the Netaji (The Leader). But he was never accepted as the leader, which he actually was.
When the Congress formed the central government, they did not take any effort to investigate the files regarding his death. Even the then Bengal state government did not take initiative which is quite astonishing.
On the 18th of September, 2015, the present Bengal government took the first step towards declassifying the files regarding Subhas Bose. Though the present Bengal government is in a mesh of scandals, which are being unravelled every day, this was an exemplary step they took.
Netaji made a huge contribution in the freedom struggle of India. But he was denied the stature he deserved due to various political tiffs. Therefore it was bold step taken by the Bengal government to uncover those heaped files which were shoved up in the shelves for good.
With this disclosure, several issues are coming up. Why is it that the central government refused to take the initiative? Why is it that a freedom fighter who dedicated his whole life towards the independence of this country is not being given the rightful esteem? Is it because he did not hail from a legendary family? Or is it because that he did not leave behind a family that would later come to create a legacy in the Indian politics as did the Gandhi family? Why is it that in a progressive country like ours such discriminations is still carried out? Are we not being the victims of racism within our very own land? Who are supposed to give us these answers? More of all are we even allowed to ask such questions today in public? Are we safe enough to ask such questions in the present political scenario?
The Bengal government by declassifying the files have put the central government in the face of numerous questions. The declassification has brought out the ugly truths of the Indian political stage. The Bose family was put under surveillance by the Nehru government. Evidences show that the surveillance that was put on this unrecognised hero is exactly like the present day watches that are kept upon terrorists. This is at the same time shocking and immensely shameful for a country like India. The oppression of the British rule which once united India for a common cause has such underlying layers of dark politics- it is a sad truth which we the common people have to come in terms with and accept today.
The declassification has even re-kindled the debates surrounding his mysterious disappearance. The files which were in the clutch of the IB for the past 60 years according to many learned men will give a new turn to Indian politics. It may even change the history of India.
It was a major step taken by the state government. Now the wait begins as to when the central government responds to this revelation and how does the government assist in the whole procedure.
