Here are some interesting facts about the developments following Netaji's death.
Bringing the ashes back
In a note from Feb 95 on the issue of bringing back the ashes believed to be that of Netaji, kept in a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, the intelligence bureau has this to say:
“IB doesn’t consider it advisable to bring back ashes to India as there is no demand from any quarter for this. IB feels that if the ashes are brought back the people of WB are likely to costrue it as an imposition on them of the official version of Netaji’s death.“ MEA was in favor of getting the ashes back, with "respect and honour."
"If no decision is taken by 1995, in which year the Bose Academy proposed to have the last memorial service, India may be asked by Renkoji temple to take charge of the urn containing the ashes whereby we may have no alternative but to store them in our Mission in Tokyo," the 1995 note declassified reads.
GOI has accepted ashes in Renkoji temple are of Netaji: MEA
In 2007, an MP Subrata Bose wrote to PM asking for decision on the ashes of Renkoji temple. In the internal note of PMO, it is mentioned that Manmohan Singh asked MEA to examine the matter.
MEA noted that “government of India has accepted that ashes in Renkoji temple are of Subhash Chandra Bose”. Further, the head priest had conveyed that he would no longer be in a position to ensure preservation of the remains with due respect and honour.
Significantly, it said that the then external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee had agreed “in principle” that the ashes could be relocated to a suitable place in the new building of the Indian embassy being constructed in Tokyo”.
It, of course, never happened – as acknowledging the ashes at Renkoji temple as that of Subhash Chandra Bose was a political hot potato.
Government accepted he was dead
The government had, as late as in 1995, adopted the position that Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was killed in an air crash on August 18, 1945, even when the controversy over the INA chief's disappearance continued.
"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," a Union Cabinet note of February 6, 1995, signed by then Home Secretary K Padmanabaiah, said.
The note further said "If a few individuals/organizations have a different view, they seem to be more guided by sentimentality rather than by any rational consideration."
"The belief of these people that Netaji was alive and out of contact with any individual, but would appear when found necessary, has also lost relevance by now."
The cabinet note was prepared for the government to take a stand on bringing the "mortal remains" of Netaji from Japan to India, kept in the Bose Academy in Tokyo.
Netaji as “War Criminal”
Five days after Subhas Chandra Bose was reported killed in a 1945 air crash, top British Raj official weighed the pros and cons of "trying" Netaji as a "war criminal" and suggested that the "easiest way" would be to leave him where he was and not seek his release.
“In many ways the easiest course would be to leave him where he is and not ask for his release. He might, of course, in certain circumstances be welcomed by the Russians. This course would raise fewest immediate political difficulties, but the security authorities consider that in certain circumstances his presence in Russia would be so dangerous as to rule it out altogether," Sir R F Mudie, Home Member, of the Clement Attlee government's India Office, wrote. Mudie's letter and a note, dated August 23, 1945, dealt with Bose's influence over almost 30,000 Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) and said "it affects all races, castes and communities almost equally strongly."
“False Story”
The intelligence bureau and the government was not in favour bringing back the ashes owing to opposition from Bose’s family and leaders of the Forward Bloc, a party founded by Bose. In a note written by IB joint secretary TV Rajeshwar in 1976, he said if ashes were brought back they will have to enshrined in a monument, which may complicate the matter given the opposition by family. He advised against bringing back the ashes saying it would be construed in India by people as government hosting a false story during Emeregency. he added it could be used as important election plank when polls will be held.
‘Indian government indifferent’
Quoting Indian embassy in Japan it said Temple authorities where ashes were kept felt that Indian government was indifferent towards a national hero who fought for India’s freedom.
Stipend for the Japanese priest
In 1976, the temple priest who held ashes was 90 years old at that time wanted the Indian authorities to take possession of the wooden casket. His son also said so. Indian authorities said As government was paying Rs 5000 per year to priest it should be enhanced, as the financial cost were not high given the political costs back home as no one accepted Netaji was dead.
Netaji was cremated under name of Ichiro Okura: Japan government
In September 1994, Indian ambassador to Japan wrote to the joint secretary (east Asia) on the response given by Japanese foreign ministry to clear the air about the missing cremation certificate of Netaji.
The Japanese foreign ministry then enclosed a letter from July 1956, which was written by a senior Japanese ministry official to an Indian embassy official.
The 1956 letter said that the Ambassador in Japan in Taiwan had made inquires, but could not find a doctor or police report. The cremation certificate, held by the Bureau of Health and Hygiene Taipei Municipal Office, was however “obtained”. The document mentions the deceased as ‘Ichiro Okura’. “Since the death of Mr Subhash Chandra Bose was kept strictly confidential at that time, it is believed that this cremation certificate on Ichiro Okura must correspond to the case of Late Mr Subhash Chandra Bose,” the Japanese foreign ministry official wrote, quoting the Japanese envoy.
The file also included the ‘cremation certificate’, which showed the cause of death as Heart Attack. The date of death was shown to be August 19, 1945, while the date of cremation was August 22, 1945. The place of cremation was Municipal crematory, with the occupation of the decased given as “non regular staff member of Armed Forces”.
Financial aid
Bose’s Germany-based daughter Anita Bose had visited India in 1960 and stayed at the official residence of then-Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Congress had been sending Rs. 6,000 per year to Bose's daughter until 1964. The party ceased to send money as Anita got married to Martin Pfaff, an American citizen, in 1965.
The document also reveals that Bose's wife, Emilie Schenkl, who was a German national, refused to accept the money from Congress.
Nehru seeks the advice of Finance and External Affairs Ministry on June 12, 1952, to facilitate financial help for Subash Bose's widow in Vienna.