The mystery of Dr Subhash Chandra Bose’s life and death has been the fuel for conspiracy theories for 70 years now. Finally, the West Bengal government has decided to declassify 64 files regarding Dr Bose, which were lying with the state’s home department. Now there will be more theories abound.
In 2006, the Justice Mukherjee Commission stated that the story of Dr Bose dying in a plane crash in 1945 was not true; an official statement this time. There were already clues that the Bangkok to Taiwan flight that crashed did not have the Indian freedom fighter on board. In fact, there have been many people who claimed to have met a sage called Gumnami Baba in the 1970s and 1980s. This sage was purported to be the ‘late’ Dr Subhash Chandra Bose. In fact, these witness reports were also part of the Justice Mukherjee Commission report.
Dr Subhash Chandra Bose was a good friend of Germany and Japan during the Second World War, prompting theories that he was in hiding to avoid being arrested by the Allied Forces for his role in the war. None of this was substantiated.
However, the declassification of these files will answer many questions. The government’s contention in August this year, that many files will reveal facts that might affect relations with foreign countries only proves that there was more at play than what has been revealed thus far. Dr Subash Chandra Bose is an Indian legend. It’s only fair that his story be told.
