Netaji files: Why his 'ashes' couldn't be brought to India?

There was detailed correspondence between Indian government agencies on bringing back Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s 'ashes' to India in 1976, the 100 secret files that were declassified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reveal. The Cabinet then refused to believe that the ashes were of Netaji.

The Japanese Foreign Office had asked the Indian Embassy to take Netaji's ashes to India. (Photo: National Archives of India)

However, documents released revealed the Indian Embassy in Tokyo proposed then that the ashes of Bose, “kept in the custody of the chief priest of the Renkoji Temple, Tokyo” be brought back to India.

But the Intelligence Bureau pointed out this would be difficult as Netaji’s family did not believe in his death in Taiwan.

The ashes of Netaji were stored in the Renkoji Temple in Tokyo and the government was 'not in favour' of bringing back the ashes 'due to possible adverse reactions from the members of Netaji's family. (Photo: National Archives of India)

A Cabinet note of 1995, however, says there was no doubt about the plane crash.

Read: Netaji died in 1945 aircrash, establishes 1995 Union Cabinet note

The files also reveal that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ensured that money was sent to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s widow Emilie Schenkl in Vienna.

On June 12, 1952, Nehru sought advice from his government on whether “small sums of money can be sent in this way?” The sums are likely to be small and there should be no difficulty in External Affairs in dealing with this matter…”

The government then decided to send hundred pounds to Frau Schenkl “through private channels, to our visa consul at Vienna…”

The External Affairs Ministry offered to send money to Netaji's widow in Vienna. (Photo: National Archives of India)The Government of India sent Netaji's daughter Rs 6000 annually until she was married in 1965. (Photo: National Archives of India)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today released 100 files on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s 119th birth anniversary. The files – 33 from the Prime Minister’s Office – are now on the website of the National Archives of India. Many see a political overtone to the timing of this release – West Bengal goes to polls in a few months.

The files also reveal how Netaji’s belongings after the air crash, purportedly on the outskirts of Taipei in 1945, were brought back to India.

It was discussed in the Lok Sabha on November 22, 1978 how a “treasure box belonging to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was brought to India some years ago and under what circumstances, its custody since then and whether the box was recently opened and details thereof”.

On the PMO's order the sealed diplomatic bag was opened on October 9, 1978. (Photo: National Archives of India)

The question states that “in 1951, the Head of the Indian Liaison Mission in Tokyo was contacted by some Indians who were associated with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. They informed him that they were in possession of some gold and jewellery which, they stated, had been collected from the plane that crashed with Netaji.

The bag had a steel suitcase which contained 17 packages in total. (Photo: National Archives of India)

“After the signing of the peace treaty with Japan, these articles were sent to Delhi in November, 1952… On December 30, 1953, the gold and jewellery were handed over to the National Museum for safe custody.”