Kannur, May 23: INA veteran Edadan Chindan Nair, who had claimed to have driven the car of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Rangoon, died at his home at Payyannur near here on Saturday, family sources said.
Nair (95) had been keeping indifferent health for quite some time. He is survived by wife and a son.
He had left home at a young age for work in Malaysia and joined INA inspired by Bose's speeches.
In media interviews, Nair had claimed he had driven the car of Netaji in Rangoon (Yangon) before he set out for Tokyo in August 1945 and presumed to have died in a plane crash. Nair had said he was substituted by Netaji to drive him to the airport in Rangoon after his personal driver fell ill.
Nair returned to his native village in the early 1970s and settled down with the family he left long back.
For a while, he also lived as a recluse in cave near his home.
http://publication.samachar.com/pub_article.php?id=4300452&navname=General%20&moreurl=http://publication.samachar.com/zeenews/general/zeenews.php&homeurl=http://www.samachar.com&nextids=4300449%7C4300450%7C4300451%7C4300452%7C4300453&nextIndex=4
Monday, June 15, 2009
Nair (95) had been keeping indifferent health for quite some time. He is survived by wife and a son.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Railway’s station tribute to Netaji-Gomoh rechristened to honour freedom fighter
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080524/jsp/jharkhand/story_9312950.jsp
Dhanbad, May 23: Gomoh railway station has been renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Junction to honour the freedom fighter from where he set out on a long journey never to return to his motherland.
If it was jubilation time for Forward Bloc, the party founded by Netaji in 1939, it was also moment for celebrations for Bharatiya Bangla Bhashi Mahasabha, an association of literary and cultural committees. It was a fruit of their prolonged demand for renaming Gomoh, 40km from here on the Grand Chord section.
The notification in this regard was sent from the Railway Board on May 13 while the Dhanbad divisional railway officials received it on May 20, senior divisional commercial manager Sameer Kumar said. But the ground-level implementation formalities are yet to be completed. “The change of boards, new printings in ticket printing system and related tasks would take some time but we are expecting to complete them very soon and officially start working as the new junction,” he added.
Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas said that it was a “big success” for all those who wanted this “due recognition” of Netaji. “We had not left any stone unturned to fulfil this demand. Netaji had an immense contribution to Jharkhand and we wanted to remember him at least by this small act as he left from Gomoh for the final journey. We separately approached the governments at the state and the Centre,” said the veteran parliamentarian.
Biswas added that during his recent meeting with railway minister Lalu Prasad, he had placed a two-point proposal associated with the new station. First, to mark the “inauguration” of the station with a celebration and secondly, to fix a permanent exhibition on the life and contribution of Netaji at the renamed station as a memorial.
History has it that Netaji had come at Barari coke plant in Jharia coalfield, where his nephew Sisir Bose was employed as a chemical engineer. On January 16, 1941, after Netaji left his Elgin Road home in Calcutta in a car, he came to Dhanbad via Asansol-Burdwan on January 17. From Barari, he left for Gomoh in the same car on January 18 disguised as an Afghan businessman. From Gomoh, he took the Kalka Mail, then 63UP Howrah-Peshawar Express, after midnight for the long journey, known as “mahanishkraman”
Dhanbad, May 23: Gomoh railway station has been renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Junction to honour the freedom fighter from where he set out on a long journey never to return to his motherland.
If it was jubilation time for Forward Bloc, the party founded by Netaji in 1939, it was also moment for celebrations for Bharatiya Bangla Bhashi Mahasabha, an association of literary and cultural committees. It was a fruit of their prolonged demand for renaming Gomoh, 40km from here on the Grand Chord section.
The notification in this regard was sent from the Railway Board on May 13 while the Dhanbad divisional railway officials received it on May 20, senior divisional commercial manager Sameer Kumar said. But the ground-level implementation formalities are yet to be completed. “The change of boards, new printings in ticket printing system and related tasks would take some time but we are expecting to complete them very soon and officially start working as the new junction,” he added.
Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas said that it was a “big success” for all those who wanted this “due recognition” of Netaji. “We had not left any stone unturned to fulfil this demand. Netaji had an immense contribution to Jharkhand and we wanted to remember him at least by this small act as he left from Gomoh for the final journey. We separately approached the governments at the state and the Centre,” said the veteran parliamentarian.
Biswas added that during his recent meeting with railway minister Lalu Prasad, he had placed a two-point proposal associated with the new station. First, to mark the “inauguration” of the station with a celebration and secondly, to fix a permanent exhibition on the life and contribution of Netaji at the renamed station as a memorial.
History has it that Netaji had come at Barari coke plant in Jharia coalfield, where his nephew Sisir Bose was employed as a chemical engineer. On January 16, 1941, after Netaji left his Elgin Road home in Calcutta in a car, he came to Dhanbad via Asansol-Burdwan on January 17. From Barari, he left for Gomoh in the same car on January 18 disguised as an Afghan businessman. From Gomoh, he took the Kalka Mail, then 63UP Howrah-Peshawar Express, after midnight for the long journey, known as “mahanishkraman”
Remembering him, Bharat Coking Coal Limited declared Barari colliery, which came under BCCL later, a tourist spot. It also organises a programme every year from 1997 remembering the day of “mahanishkraman”
Senior members of Forward Bloc added that Netaji stayed for a long time in Jamadoba in Jharia when he fell seriously ill after attending the Tripuri Congress in March 1939. He had led a protest movement organising the industry workers of Jamshedpur and formed the first coal workers’ union in the coal belt. He also signed an agreement with Tisco (now Tata Steel) in Jamshedpur which is monumental for both industrialists and workers. The agreement, being preserved by Tata Steel, has Netaji’s hand-written words.
About a month-and-a-
Gomoh station renamed to honour Netaji.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Rs 24 lakh spent on anniversaries of Gandhi, Bose in 2007-08
NEW DELHI: As the 63-year-old debate on whether Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose "died" in a plane crash continues, the Centre has said it has spent a huge amount on observing the "death" anniversary of the revolutionary leader.
This was revealed in a reply to an RTI application by activist Debashish Bhattacharya seeking information on how much money the government had spent on spreading the messages of 38 national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Bose.
In reply to the RTI application, Mattu J P Singh, Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the DAVP, said the government spent Rs 24 lakh on the advertisements and publicity for the "birthdays and death anniversaries" of Gandhi and Bose during 2007-08. The reply gave the amounts spent on the "birthdays and death anniversaries" of the two leaders since 2003-04 and a total amount of Rs 95.5 lakh was spent for the purpose in the last five years.
The theory that Bose died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945 has been a matter of controversy as his admirers are yet to believe that he was killed in the accident.
The Mukherjee Commission, set up by the government to probe into the matter, also said in its 2006 report that DNA tests showed that the ashes at Japan's Renkoji temple did not belong to Bose.
The Commission also said Taiwan had informed it that no plane had crashed in the country in 1945.
When the CPIO was contacted and asked to specify when the advertisements for the death anniversary of Bose were put out, he said: "We have not bifurcated the amount and we will need time to do that."
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEH20080424045737&Page=H&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=0&
This was revealed in a reply to an RTI application by activist Debashish Bhattacharya seeking information on how much money the government had spent on spreading the messages of 38 national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Bose.
In reply to the RTI application, Mattu J P Singh, Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the DAVP, said the government spent Rs 24 lakh on the advertisements and publicity for the "birthdays and death anniversaries" of Gandhi and Bose during 2007-08. The reply gave the amounts spent on the "birthdays and death anniversaries" of the two leaders since 2003-04 and a total amount of Rs 95.5 lakh was spent for the purpose in the last five years.
The theory that Bose died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945 has been a matter of controversy as his admirers are yet to believe that he was killed in the accident.
The Mukherjee Commission, set up by the government to probe into the matter, also said in its 2006 report that DNA tests showed that the ashes at Japan's Renkoji temple did not belong to Bose.
The Commission also said Taiwan had informed it that no plane had crashed in the country in 1945.
When the CPIO was contacted and asked to specify when the advertisements for the death anniversary of Bose were put out, he said: "We have not bifurcated the amount and we will need time to do that."
http://www.newindpr
Monday, March 24, 2008
SAIL donates Rs 50 lakh to Netaji Museum
BHUBANESWAR: Announcing a donation of Rs 50 lakh for installation of light and sound system at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum in Cuttack, Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday said he would take up the issue of its development with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Paswan who visited the museum yesterday told reporters here that Netaji's museum-cum-birth place in Cuttack should be developed into a tourist destination.
"I will take up the matter with the prime minister and urge him to develop the museum", he said adding many valuable materials used by the legendary leader were lying scattered due to lack of proper care.
"There should be a planned design to make this museum a remarkable place", he said adding Rs 50 lakh would come from Steel Authority Of India Limited (SAIL) funds.
Paswan said that Netaji's birth place, Janakinath Bhavan in Odia Bazaar of Cuttack was an important place for the entire country.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
PMO told to make 29 Netaji files public
February 19, 2008 11:45 IST
Rejecting the Prime Minister's Office's refusal to provide a list of classified files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Central Information Commission has asked it to make public a list of 29 such files.
The commission's decision came after the PMO produced before it 33 classified files on the revolutionary leader. It, however, exempted four related files as they had reference to foreign states.
Acting on an RTI application of 'Mission Netaji' -- a Delhi-based research trust -- challenging the PMO's refusal to make public its classified files on Netaji, the CIC had, in its order of January 25, asked the latter to produce in a sealed cover a list of classified files for its perusal.
The PMO while declining to produce the list of the classified files had earlier said that divulging their contents could affect India's sovereignty and relations with foreign nations.
Perusing through the files as produced by the PMO, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said while four of the 33 classified files had a reference to foreign nations, rest of the 29 files should be given.
In its order passed on Monday, the CIC also noted that out of the 29 files, seven were classified "top secret," three "confidential" while the rest were marked "secret."
Apart from the 33 files, the PMO also informed the commission about two recently de-classified files.
"Under the circumstances, the PMO will provide a list of the 29 remaining files in addition to the two recently de-classified files, and list their titles," Habibullah said while directing the PMO's Information Officer Amit Agrawal to provide the list within 10 days to Anuj Dhar, a Mission Netaji functionary.
Earlier, Dhar, in his Right to Information application, had asked for a list of classified and de-classified records on Netaji, as available with the PMO.
While the PMO replied that it had 11 de-classified files relating to Netaji, an exception was claimed for listing of its classified files.
It was also said that a process of declassification of its records was underway.
Dhar, who moved an appeal before the CIC, contended that while some of related PMO documents were classified, a nomenclature and description of the files were submitted before Justice Mukherjee Commission.
Film on Tamil leader sheds light on Netaji's secret years
Chennai: A new film on Tamil leader Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar will throw light on his close association with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his claim that he met the Indian revolutionary in 1956, more than 10 years after Netaji was reportedly killed in a plane crash over Taiwan.
The documentary, to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Thevar, will deal with the time Bose spent in hiding with Thevar's connivance.
Titled "Pasumpon Thevar Varalaaru", the documentary narrates the life story of Thevar, who hailed from Pasumpon village of Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district.
Thevar saw Netaji as his mentor, the film's director M P Abraham Lincoln told IANS.
Bose, a believer in armed struggle against the British rule in India, disappeared in August 1945, two years before the country became free.
"Thevar met Netaji for the first time at a conference in Chennai in 1927. From his first meeting till his death, Thevar spoke about Netaji.
"Thevar's relatives say, with evidence, that when Bose was in hiding (in 1927) he stayed with Thevar for over a year at his estate in Pulichikulam. The British police had even set up wireless equipment to monitor Netaji's movement in the area. We have included this chapter in Muthuramalingam's life in our documentary," Lincoln said.
"It was Thevar who, with evidence, said he had met Netaji in 1956 - which means many years after he is said to have died in a plane crash. The Indian government did not have any proper replies to the questions raised by Thevar then," Lincoln added. Thevar was an MP when he announced in parliament that he had met Netaji, said Lincoln.
The Central Information Commission has asked the government to make public 29 "top secret" files on Bose under the Right To Information Act.
I B Karthikeyan's Papillon Communications has made the 75-minute documentary with a budget of Rs.10 million. The film will be released worldwide in March.
"We began the research 18 months ago and shooting started last October. Thevar is a national leader. He worked for the freedom of the country along with Subhas Bose; yet he is known today only as the leader of one caste. The story of his spartan life and his reform is hidden from the outer world," Lincoln said.
"About two years ago, I.B. Karthikeyan was searching the internet for details of Thevar's life. To his dismay, he did not find even a single website which could tell him Thevar's complete life story.
"He immediately started collecting facts, rare photographs and video footage of Thevar. We looked at the history and decided to make a documentary so that the future generation may know something about this great Tamil leader," he said.
A rich landowner, Thevar donated most of his land to the poor and spent more than five years in British jails.
"We have not made anyone act out the role of Thevar. Instead, we have used 3D animation to depict him when continuity in narration was needed," the director said.
The film was shot in Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Uraiyur, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Aaduthurai, Vellore, Kallupatti and Pulichikulam.
An elected member of the Tamil Nadu assembly and the Lok Sabha, his political image was tarnished by a violent anti-Dalit incident.
An assembly by-election was held in Muthukulathur in July 1957, when Thevar who had won the seat, vacated it. The seat was won by another member of the Forward Bloc, Thevar's party.
Clashes between the Thevar community, that largely supported the Forward Bloc, and Dalit groups supported by the Congress led to large-scale rioting and burning of Dalit villages in Ramanathapuram during 1957 and several lives were lost.
"The Muthukulathur incident has also been filmed without any deviation from the truth. The Muthukulathur incident was nothing but a conspiracy hatched by the rulers of those days to destroy the belief the people had on this impeccable leader.
"Those affected by this incident, the local villagers, have themselves narrated their version of what happened. We have only used these accounts in our story," Lincoln said.
Yugabharathi has penned three songs for the film, while Vijay Antony has scored the music and actor Vagai Chandrasekar has lent his voice to the narration.
Asked about the future of such historical films, Lincoln said: "Only commercial films are well received. But many corporate companies are into filmmaking now and with their help we hope to make a full-length feature film on Thevar some day."
The documentary, to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Thevar, will deal with the time Bose spent in hiding with Thevar's connivance.
Titled "Pasumpon Thevar Varalaaru", the documentary narrates the life story of Thevar, who hailed from Pasumpon village of Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district.
Thevar saw Netaji as his mentor, the film's director M P Abraham Lincoln told IANS.
Bose, a believer in armed struggle against the British rule in India, disappeared in August 1945, two years before the country became free.
"Thevar met Netaji for the first time at a conference in Chennai in 1927. From his first meeting till his death, Thevar spoke about Netaji.
"Thevar's relatives say, with evidence, that when Bose was in hiding (in 1927) he stayed with Thevar for over a year at his estate in Pulichikulam. The British police had even set up wireless equipment to monitor Netaji's movement in the area. We have included this chapter in Muthuramalingam's life in our documentary," Lincoln said.
"It was Thevar who, with evidence, said he had met Netaji in 1956 - which means many years after he is said to have died in a plane crash. The Indian government did not have any proper replies to the questions raised by Thevar then," Lincoln added. Thevar was an MP when he announced in parliament that he had met Netaji, said Lincoln.
The Central Information Commission has asked the government to make public 29 "top secret" files on Bose under the Right To Information Act.
I B Karthikeyan's Papillon Communications has made the 75-minute documentary with a budget of Rs.10 million. The film will be released worldwide in March.
"We began the research 18 months ago and shooting started last October. Thevar is a national leader. He worked for the freedom of the country along with Subhas Bose; yet he is known today only as the leader of one caste. The story of his spartan life and his reform is hidden from the outer world," Lincoln said.
"About two years ago, I.B. Karthikeyan was searching the internet for details of Thevar's life. To his dismay, he did not find even a single website which could tell him Thevar's complete life story.
"He immediately started collecting facts, rare photographs and video footage of Thevar. We looked at the history and decided to make a documentary so that the future generation may know something about this great Tamil leader," he said.
A rich landowner, Thevar donated most of his land to the poor and spent more than five years in British jails.
"We have not made anyone act out the role of Thevar. Instead, we have used 3D animation to depict him when continuity in narration was needed," the director said.
The film was shot in Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Uraiyur, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Aaduthurai, Vellore, Kallupatti and Pulichikulam.
An elected member of the Tamil Nadu assembly and the Lok Sabha, his political image was tarnished by a violent anti-Dalit incident.
An assembly by-election was held in Muthukulathur in July 1957, when Thevar who had won the seat, vacated it. The seat was won by another member of the Forward Bloc, Thevar's party.
Clashes between the Thevar community, that largely supported the Forward Bloc, and Dalit groups supported by the Congress led to large-scale rioting and burning of Dalit villages in Ramanathapuram during 1957 and several lives were lost.
"The Muthukulathur incident has also been filmed without any deviation from the truth. The Muthukulathur incident was nothing but a conspiracy hatched by the rulers of those days to destroy the belief the people had on this impeccable leader.
"Those affected by this incident, the local villagers, have themselves narrated their version of what happened. We have only used these accounts in our story," Lincoln said.
Yugabharathi has penned three songs for the film, while Vijay Antony has scored the music and actor Vagai Chandrasekar has lent his voice to the narration.
Asked about the future of such historical films, Lincoln said: "Only commercial films are well received. But many corporate companies are into filmmaking now and with their help we hope to make a full-length feature film on Thevar some day."
Source: Indo-Asian News Service
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Website of British parliament identifies India with Netaji
The website of British parliament has a section titled "Parliament and India, 1858-1947" that displays an Indian Map that has superimposed three images of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on it along with his salutation Jai Hind (in Hindi). The image is attached.
British Parliament passed Indian Independence Act, 1947 which received Royal Assent on 18th July 1947 that established India and Pakistan as independent dominions.
Prior to it on 3rd June 1947, Louis Mountbatten, first Earl Mountbatten of Burma and the last viceroy of India, announced the partitioning of British India into India and Pakistan.
The website reads:
British Parliament passed Indian Independence Act, 1947 which received Royal Assent on 18th July 1947 that established India and Pakistan as independent dominions.
Prior to it on 3rd June 1947, Louis Mountbatten, first Earl Mountbatten of Burma and the last viceroy of India, announced the partitioning of British India into India and Pakistan.
The website reads:
In the first half of the 20th century, having been the "Jewel in the Crown" of the British Empire, India became the first part of that Empire to secure separate nationhood and independence.
Aide recollects Netaji’s NE sojourn
SHILLONG, Feb 4 – At the age of 88, businessman JN Bawri might forget many things of the past. But he will never forget those three days he spent with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose when he came here 70 years ago to stake claim for first Congress Government in undivided Assam.
The Shillong sojourn of the ‘Patriot of Patriots’ may be unknown to many but one of his aides – Bawri, will remember Bose’s visit to the North East in 1938 forever.
“I was transfixed and elated at this life-time experience as I drove with Subhash Babu sitting next to me. Contrary to my perception, he was exceptionally humorous despite his serious countenance,” recalled octogenarian Bawri, who drove Netaji through the streets of Shillong in 1938.
Bose, then the president of Indian National Congress, had come to Shillong, the capital of undivided Assam to form a Congress Government. “There were no cars here then. So I took out our family’s made-in-England ‘Wepat’ car to cater to Netaji for three memorable days,” Bawri said.
“Getting fuel and a chauffeur in those days were a big hassle. I faced a lot of trouble arranging for 4.5 litres of petrol at a cost of three anna because my elder brothers did not approve it,” Bawri chuckled.
They made arrangement for Subhas Babu to stay in a private house near Ward’s Lake in the city. Along with some tribal friends we guarded him throughout the night, Bawri said.
“After addressing his first meeting at the Polo Market, which was hugely attended by the public despite the threat of the British, Subhash Babu addressed another meeting at the Durbar Hall at Mawkhar calling on the people to gear up for India’s freedom,” Bawri remembered.
Netaji met the British Governor of Assam here and put forth the claim to form a Congress Government. “Sensing the Governor’s unwillingness, he showed his true capability and threatened him that if his demands were not met, Congress Governments all over India would resign,” Bawri recalled.
Finally, the Governor agreed to swear-in a Congress Government under the premiership of Gopinath Bordoloi on November 18, 1938.
Recalling his historic drive with Bose, Bawri, said, “I also took him on a sight-seeing trip in Shillong. He was particularly interested in visiting the house where Rabindranath Tagore stayed and I took him to Rilbong, where the poet laureate composed some of his greatest literary pieces.”
Bawri also recalled that Netaji did not mention that he had been to Shillong before, especially during his fairly long stay at the salubrious pine city for regaining health in 1927 after he was released from Mandalay Jail in Burma. – PTI
— Dr Dipankar Banerjee
The Shillong sojourn of the ‘Patriot of Patriots’ may be unknown to many but one of his aides – Bawri, will remember Bose’s visit to the North East in 1938 forever.
“I was transfixed and elated at this life-time experience as I drove with Subhash Babu sitting next to me. Contrary to my perception, he was exceptionally humorous despite his serious countenance,” recalled octogenarian Bawri, who drove Netaji through the streets of Shillong in 1938.
Bose, then the president of Indian National Congress, had come to Shillong, the capital of undivided Assam to form a Congress Government. “There were no cars here then. So I took out our family’s made-in-England ‘Wepat’ car to cater to Netaji for three memorable days,” Bawri said.
“Getting fuel and a chauffeur in those days were a big hassle. I faced a lot of trouble arranging for 4.5 litres of petrol at a cost of three anna because my elder brothers did not approve it,” Bawri chuckled.
They made arrangement for Subhas Babu to stay in a private house near Ward’s Lake in the city. Along with some tribal friends we guarded him throughout the night, Bawri said.
“After addressing his first meeting at the Polo Market, which was hugely attended by the public despite the threat of the British, Subhash Babu addressed another meeting at the Durbar Hall at Mawkhar calling on the people to gear up for India’s freedom,” Bawri remembered.
Netaji met the British Governor of Assam here and put forth the claim to form a Congress Government. “Sensing the Governor’s unwillingness, he showed his true capability and threatened him that if his demands were not met, Congress Governments all over India would resign,” Bawri recalled.
Finally, the Governor agreed to swear-in a Congress Government under the premiership of Gopinath Bordoloi on November 18, 1938.
Recalling his historic drive with Bose, Bawri, said, “I also took him on a sight-seeing trip in Shillong. He was particularly interested in visiting the house where Rabindranath Tagore stayed and I took him to Rilbong, where the poet laureate composed some of his greatest literary pieces.”
Bawri also recalled that Netaji did not mention that he had been to Shillong before, especially during his fairly long stay at the salubrious pine city for regaining health in 1927 after he was released from Mandalay Jail in Burma. – PTI
Subhas Chandra Bose and Assam
— Dr Dipankar Banerjee
Assam was passing through an unprecedented political turmoil in the second half of 1938. Sadullah was then heading the Muslim League coalition ![]()
ministry in Assam. On 12 September 1938 no confidence motions were tabled against him and next day Sadullah had to submit his resignation.
The Congress, till then in opposition in the Provincial Assembly, put forward its claim to form the government with the support of the Tribal League under the leadership of Gopinath Bardoloi. However, Bardoloi was still in need of two votes required for the formation of the ministry. The central Congress leadership deputed Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to supervise the ministry formation. After assessing the ground reality, Azad raised objections to formation of the ministry as Bardoloi did not have the requisite number. After meeting the Congressmen at Shillong, Azad made a public statement that ‘Khali vitti mein imarat nehi hota hain’. (no building could be erected without a foundation). Bardoloi and Bishnu Ram Medhi, then APCC president, were not happy with Azad’s assessment and they desperately sought the intervention of Subhash Chandra Bose, then president of Indian National Congress and appealed to him to visit Assam immediately. Bose understood the urgency of the situation and postponing all other official engagements for a week, he rushed to Assam to save the situation.
Immediately after his arrival at Shillong and in contravention of Azad’s decision, Bose strongly advocated the formation of the ministry under Bardoloi, as that would strengthen the Congress base not only in Assam but in India as a whole in the prevailing political back drop. However, the Assam Congress itself was a divided house at that point of time with Surma Valley members alienating themselves over the composition of the ministry. Bose set to the task, talked to the dissident members, started a wild goose chase for those two votes and succeeded in his mission. Bose played an important role in this respect with his “wise counsel and excellent whip which was badly needed... it was because of him that Bardoloi could form the ministry” wrote noted freedom fighter Md. Tayebullah in Karagaror Chithi.
Gopinath Bardoloi took the oath of office as the Premier of Assam on 20 September 1938. However, controversy over the issue started brewing at the Congress High Command. Azad and some others accused Bardoloi of breaking the party discipline by staking claim to form the government without the required majority in the House. Azad even alleged that Bardoloi indulged in corrupt practices to claim majority. But Subhas Chandra Bose stood like a pillar by Bardoloi’s side and said that formation of the Congress ministry in Assam was the need of the hour. Bose refuted Azad’s allegation of corruption against Bardoloi by saying that as Congress president he had “absolutely no knowledge about it.” Azad wanted to resign from the Congress Parliamentary Committee on the issue. However, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the chairman of the Committee stood by Bose and endorsed Bose’s decision of forming a Congress Ministry in Assam on consideration of the then prevailing international situation. Patel also said that he has never heard any allegation of “corruption” against Bardoloi. It is interesting to note that even Gandhiji, despite of his serious differences of opinion on different issues with Bose at that time, endorsed the decision of formation of Bardoloi Ministry.
Bose was very clear to his conscience that as Congress President he was absolutely right to allow Bardoloi to form the ministry, depsite the opposition from Azad and his group. In a letter dated 21 Dec 1938 to Mahatma Gandhi, Bose wrote:” ....There is a fundamental difference between Maulana Sahib and myself... This became manifest when we were confronted with the ministerial crisis in Assam. I can perhaps now claim that I was right and Maulana Sahib was wrong. But if Sandar Patel had not providentially come to my rescue, Maulana Sahib would never have given in at Shillong and perhaps you would not have supported my view... In that case there would not have been a Congress ministry in Assam.” Bose expressed similar feelings in his later statements and correspondences also.
Freedom fighter Lakshimdhar Bora in his memoirs wrote,” Bose told the Congress members about the importance of a Congress Ministry in Assam in the light of political developments and suggested that in near future this North East India would attract immense international importance.” Bose was prophetic– only within four years the grouping plan came and it was Bordoloi’s determination that saved Assam. Bose’s role at that time had other implications too. Historian HK Barpujari observed, “Bose arrived in Shillong and played an important role by assigning the party with his wise counsel... Bose not only helped Bardoloi in forming the ministry but also helped him in ironing out the differences with the Congressmen of the Surma Valley over the composition of the ministry.”
Subhas Bose was the most respected Congress leader and made a lasting impression among the common masses and the younger generation in Assam. It was he who was advocating an uncompromising struggle against imperialism. To the youth, he was a legendary figure who was once rusticated from the Presidency College for having challenged the English professor, who beat up Bose’s classmates. This was the same National Congress leader who resigned from the party president’s chair a few months later, refusing to be the rubber-stamp Congress president. There was no surprise, therefore, that a booklet admiring the great works of Subhas Bose was published by some enthusiastic students of Cotton College in 1939. And the newly formed All Assam Progressive Youth Association (AAPYA) decided to invite Bose to inaugurate the association, which Bose gladly accepted, despite his very busy schedule.
When Subhas Chandra Bose arrived at Pandughat on October 6, 1939 during his second visit to Guwahati, the town wore a festive look. Town dwellers welcomed him with festoons, banners and welcome arches made of banana plants. Volunteers lined up along the six– mile stretch from Pandu to Panbazar, to welcome a national hero.
On the same afternoon, the meeting of AAPYA was held at Guwahati, over which Subhas Chandra Bose presided. Representatives of Left nationalists from different parts of Assam assembled and the AAPYA was formally inaugurated with Debendra Nath Sarma as president and Upendra Nath Sarma as general secretary.
At the meeting, Bose was welcomed with gamocha, a pair of endi, a sarai and Japi that had ‘Subhas Babu Zindabad” written in Assamese. Debendra Nath Sarma, chairman of the reception committee, welcomed the gathering and said class differences should be removed from Assam and all efforts be made to spread socialist ideas in the country. In his speech, Bose sought the support of students– especially the youth, along with the leftists, to thwart the Congress policy of ‘appeasement” towards the British government in connection with the War. At the meeting, Bos called Jai Prakash Narayan, “a puppet of Nehru” and criticised MN Roy for his opportunism. Bose also spoke about the fate of Assam oil company workers, where the Defence of India proclamation led to the end of a six-month-long strike in Digboi. The condition of the plantation workers was also discussed.
Did Bose have a special soft corner for Assam in his mind all through? Possibly yes. This can be ascertained from a lesser known fact that i his ICS joining form, Bose opted to serve in five provinces of India which included Bombay, Madras, Bihar-Orissa along with Bengal and Assam.
(Published on the occasion of Netaji’s birth anniversary).
Assam Tribune Editorial 23.01.08
The Congress, till then in opposition in the Provincial Assembly, put forward its claim to form the government with the support of the Tribal League under the leadership of Gopinath Bardoloi. However, Bardoloi was still in need of two votes required for the formation of the ministry. The central Congress leadership deputed Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to supervise the ministry formation. After assessing the ground reality, Azad raised objections to formation of the ministry as Bardoloi did not have the requisite number. After meeting the Congressmen at Shillong, Azad made a public statement that ‘Khali vitti mein imarat nehi hota hain’. (no building could be erected without a foundation). Bardoloi and Bishnu Ram Medhi, then APCC president, were not happy with Azad’s assessment and they desperately sought the intervention of Subhash Chandra Bose, then president of Indian National Congress and appealed to him to visit Assam immediately. Bose understood the urgency of the situation and postponing all other official engagements for a week, he rushed to Assam to save the situation.
Immediately after his arrival at Shillong and in contravention of Azad’s decision, Bose strongly advocated the formation of the ministry under Bardoloi, as that would strengthen the Congress base not only in Assam but in India as a whole in the prevailing political back drop. However, the Assam Congress itself was a divided house at that point of time with Surma Valley members alienating themselves over the composition of the ministry. Bose set to the task, talked to the dissident members, started a wild goose chase for those two votes and succeeded in his mission. Bose played an important role in this respect with his “wise counsel and excellent whip which was badly needed... it was because of him that Bardoloi could form the ministry” wrote noted freedom fighter Md. Tayebullah in Karagaror Chithi.
Gopinath Bardoloi took the oath of office as the Premier of Assam on 20 September 1938. However, controversy over the issue started brewing at the Congress High Command. Azad and some others accused Bardoloi of breaking the party discipline by staking claim to form the government without the required majority in the House. Azad even alleged that Bardoloi indulged in corrupt practices to claim majority. But Subhas Chandra Bose stood like a pillar by Bardoloi’s side and said that formation of the Congress ministry in Assam was the need of the hour. Bose refuted Azad’s allegation of corruption against Bardoloi by saying that as Congress president he had “absolutely no knowledge about it.” Azad wanted to resign from the Congress Parliamentary Committee on the issue. However, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the chairman of the Committee stood by Bose and endorsed Bose’s decision of forming a Congress Ministry in Assam on consideration of the then prevailing international situation. Patel also said that he has never heard any allegation of “corruption” against Bardoloi. It is interesting to note that even Gandhiji, despite of his serious differences of opinion on different issues with Bose at that time, endorsed the decision of formation of Bardoloi Ministry.
Bose was very clear to his conscience that as Congress President he was absolutely right to allow Bardoloi to form the ministry, depsite the opposition from Azad and his group. In a letter dated 21 Dec 1938 to Mahatma Gandhi, Bose wrote:” ....There is a fundamental difference between Maulana Sahib and myself... This became manifest when we were confronted with the ministerial crisis in Assam. I can perhaps now claim that I was right and Maulana Sahib was wrong. But if Sandar Patel had not providentially come to my rescue, Maulana Sahib would never have given in at Shillong and perhaps you would not have supported my view... In that case there would not have been a Congress ministry in Assam.” Bose expressed similar feelings in his later statements and correspondences also.
Freedom fighter Lakshimdhar Bora in his memoirs wrote,” Bose told the Congress members about the importance of a Congress Ministry in Assam in the light of political developments and suggested that in near future this North East India would attract immense international importance.” Bose was prophetic– only within four years the grouping plan came and it was Bordoloi’s determination that saved Assam. Bose’s role at that time had other implications too. Historian HK Barpujari observed, “Bose arrived in Shillong and played an important role by assigning the party with his wise counsel... Bose not only helped Bardoloi in forming the ministry but also helped him in ironing out the differences with the Congressmen of the Surma Valley over the composition of the ministry.”
Subhas Bose was the most respected Congress leader and made a lasting impression among the common masses and the younger generation in Assam. It was he who was advocating an uncompromising struggle against imperialism. To the youth, he was a legendary figure who was once rusticated from the Presidency College for having challenged the English professor, who beat up Bose’s classmates. This was the same National Congress leader who resigned from the party president’s chair a few months later, refusing to be the rubber-stamp Congress president. There was no surprise, therefore, that a booklet admiring the great works of Subhas Bose was published by some enthusiastic students of Cotton College in 1939. And the newly formed All Assam Progressive Youth Association (AAPYA) decided to invite Bose to inaugurate the association, which Bose gladly accepted, despite his very busy schedule.
When Subhas Chandra Bose arrived at Pandughat on October 6, 1939 during his second visit to Guwahati, the town wore a festive look. Town dwellers welcomed him with festoons, banners and welcome arches made of banana plants. Volunteers lined up along the six– mile stretch from Pandu to Panbazar, to welcome a national hero.
On the same afternoon, the meeting of AAPYA was held at Guwahati, over which Subhas Chandra Bose presided. Representatives of Left nationalists from different parts of Assam assembled and the AAPYA was formally inaugurated with Debendra Nath Sarma as president and Upendra Nath Sarma as general secretary.
At the meeting, Bose was welcomed with gamocha, a pair of endi, a sarai and Japi that had ‘Subhas Babu Zindabad” written in Assamese. Debendra Nath Sarma, chairman of the reception committee, welcomed the gathering and said class differences should be removed from Assam and all efforts be made to spread socialist ideas in the country. In his speech, Bose sought the support of students– especially the youth, along with the leftists, to thwart the Congress policy of ‘appeasement” towards the British government in connection with the War. At the meeting, Bos called Jai Prakash Narayan, “a puppet of Nehru” and criticised MN Roy for his opportunism. Bose also spoke about the fate of Assam oil company workers, where the Defence of India proclamation led to the end of a six-month-long strike in Digboi. The condition of the plantation workers was also discussed.
Did Bose have a special soft corner for Assam in his mind all through? Possibly yes. This can be ascertained from a lesser known fact that i his ICS joining form, Bose opted to serve in five provinces of India which included Bombay, Madras, Bihar-Orissa along with Bengal and Assam.
(Published on the occasion of Netaji’s birth anniversary).
Assam Tribune Editorial 23.01.08
Netaji Jayanti celebrated in Karimganj, Badarpur
From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
BADARPUR, Feb 4 – The 111th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was celebrated in Badarpur and Karimganj with great solemnity, fanfare and gaiety by different clubs and organisations with a day-long programme.
The main function was held at Badarpur Girls’ High School by Badarpur Handicapped Society where distinguished citizens, intellectuals, freedom-fighters and members of Badarpur Handicapped Society paid tributes to Netaji.
Several prominent speakers in their speeches appealed to all, to follow Netaji’s ideals for development and prosperity of the country.
Earlier, patriotic songs were presented by local artists. For strengthing the country, oath was administered to members of the society. ‘Malya Daan’, ‘pradeep prajjalan’, warm cloths distribution and prabhat ferry were also organised on this occasion.
District headquarter town Karimganj also observed the birth day ceremony with honour and respect. On the occasion, an organisation of Karimganj, Sandhani Sangha arranged various colourful and attractive programmes. prabhat ferry, malyadaan, flag-hoisting, patriotic songs, quiz and cultural functions formed part of the celebration.
Speakers called upon people, young and old to emulate Netaji’s ideals and principles.
BADARPUR, Feb 4 – The 111th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was celebrated in Badarpur and Karimganj with great solemnity, fanfare and gaiety by different clubs and organisations with a day-long programme.
The main function was held at Badarpur Girls’ High School by Badarpur Handicapped Society where distinguished citizens, intellectuals, freedom-fighters and members of Badarpur Handicapped Society paid tributes to Netaji.
Several prominent speakers in their speeches appealed to all, to follow Netaji’s ideals for development and prosperity of the country.
Earlier, patriotic songs were presented by local artists. For strengthing the country, oath was administered to members of the society. ‘Malya Daan’, ‘pradeep prajjalan’, warm cloths distribution and prabhat ferry were also organised on this occasion.
District headquarter town Karimganj also observed the birth day ceremony with honour and respect. On the occasion, an organisation of Karimganj, Sandhani Sangha arranged various colourful and attractive programmes. prabhat ferry, malyadaan, flag-hoisting, patriotic songs, quiz and cultural functions formed part of the celebration.
Speakers called upon people, young and old to emulate Netaji’s ideals and principles.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Official Secrets Act era gone; disclose Netaji records: CIC tells Govt
July 6, 2007
Why keep records secret if Bose had died in 1945?: Mission Netaji
Disclosure of Top Secret records will lead to chaos in country: MHA
Matter is of a serious national importance: Central Information Commission
In a major boost for the freedom of information movement in India, the full Bench of Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) must declassify records relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's reported death.
The CIC set aside the MHA's contention that disclosure "may lead to a serious law and order problem in the country, especially in West Bengal" as "facile hypothesis" which "seems to be a position repeated without any discernable application of mind".
The Bench comprising Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and Information Commissioners Padma Balasubramanian, AN Tiwari, Dr OP Kejariwal and Prof MM Ansari hammered in that the matter was of "wide public concern and therefore of national importance" and rejected the Home Ministry's "considered view" to not to "supply the documents relating to various Commissions of Inquiry on disappearance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in public interest".
The documents had been sought in June last year when Sayantan Dasgupta of Mission Netaji requested the MHA to "make available authenticated copies of documents used as exhibits by the Shah Nawaz Khan and GD Khosla panels".
The idea was to better the understanding about the conclusion drawn by these panels since the Government held their findings true even after receiving the latest report of Justice MK Mukherjee, a top criminal law expert and former judge of the Supreme Court of India.
Shah Nawaz Khan, a one time INA man, was a Congress party MP when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed him the chairman of Netaji inquiry committee in 1956. Justice GD Khosla, a friend of Nehru's, authored a eulogistic book on Prime Minister Indira Gandhi while he disposed off the Bose death probe in early 1970s. It was alleged that both these panels worked along a premeditated line that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei.
Setting aside the charges of foul play, the Government readily accepted the reports of Shah Nawaz Khan and GD Khosla. Whereas, they arbitrarily dismissed that of the Mukherjee Commission -- set up after a scathing court order -- that this crash was actually a camouflage of the Japanese military to help Netaji escape to the Soviet Russia.
Sayantan's request too was arbitrarily rejected by the MHA under Section 8(3) of the RTI Act dealing with "information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect ... the security, strategic ... interests of the State" and its "relation with foreign State".
Following this, he approached the CIC where three hearings were held by Information Commissioner AN Tiwari. Interestingly, on 26.3.2007, the Ministry informed Tiwari that "the matter had been considered carefully at the highest level in the Ministry". The Ministry refused to hand over the documents either to Mission Netaji or the National Archives saying they are "sensitive in nature".
Commissioner Tiwari found the MHA "to be unwilling or unprepared to take a considered view regarding which parts of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's papers should be kept secret and for what reason" and decided to refer the matter to the Full Bench of the Commission so that the MHA could "present their case after holding such inter-ministerial consultations as might be considered necessary by them."
The Full Bench hearing on 5.6.2007 was attended by Sayantan Dasgupta, Anuj Dhar and Chandrachur Ghose from Mission Netaji; and LC Goyal, Jt. Secretary, SK Malhotra, Dy Secretary and SK Goswami, Under Secretary of the MHA.
Mission Netaji's stand was that section 8(1)(a) which bars disclosure of information if it harms sovereignty and integrity of India, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence, etc, did not "apply to the present case as it is already concluded (by the Government) that Netaji had died in a plane crash".
Mission Netaji "wanted to know at what level the decision about sensitive nature of the documents has been taken and who has taken this decision" and "alleged that the documents have been destroyed" and that "the intention of the Ministry is to hide and to not disclose."
"Their responsibility does not end just by saying that certain documents are missing or cannot be located."
The MHA's argument was: "The documents sought under the RTI Act are voluminous (70,000 pages) and top secret in nature and may lead to chaos in the country if disclosed ...the information asked for is more than 20 years old and as such, its disclosure is exempted under section 8(3) of the RTI Act."
The officials conceded that "the decision concerning disclosure has to be taken at the highest (read political) level and that they cannot say any thing on their own".
The CIC, in its order read out a riot act to the Ministry, which seems to have been caught up in the days when Official Secrets Act held the sway.
"A plain reading of sub-section 3 makes it clear that a public authority is obliged to provide information which is more than 20 years old," the CIC noted, underlining that the Ministry had got its basics wrong.
The MHA "in spite of the direction given by the Commission has made no attempt either to examine the documents requested, or to analyze as to whether their disclosure need be withheld and if so, on what grounds," they further stated.
"It appears that neither before nor now, the respondent Public Authority (MHA) has been able to establish a clear nexus or any co-relation between the decision of non-disclosure and the objectives which they seem to achieve by such nondisclosure."
"If it has not even looked into or analyzed the documents, on what basis could they come to the conclusion that any disclosure of such information will be prejudicial to the security or sovereignty and integrity of the country or would prejudicially affect its relations with any foreign State?"
The Commission accepted that the MHA "is the authority to best judge to determine whether the disclosure of the information would prejudicially affect the national interest or not. However, such determination cannot and, should not, be superficial, jejune or perfunctory."
"Any decision in this regard must factor in the changed transparency scenario after the advent of the RTI Act. Earlier, a public authority could bar any information from disclosure under the Official Secrets Act, simply by classifying the information as secret or top-secret. That option has been effectively excluded by the RTI Act. Any decision to withhold information from public access is to be justified rationally, under the provisions of the Act. The decision to bar an information from disclosure can no more be arbitrary. It will need to pass the Commission's scrutiny."
Having reasoned its overall stand, the CIC directed the MHA to furnish information sought by Sayantan Dasgupta within three months. The caveat was: "In case the Public Authority decides not to disclose certain documents or any part thereof, it shall record reasons for such non-disclosure together with the name and designation of the authority arriving at the conclusion of non-disclosure, and submit the same before this Commission".
The CIC reminded that MHA that by carrying out the directives they "would not only be discharging its legal duties and rendering an essential service to a public cause, it may finally help resolve an unsolved mystery of independent India."
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Related links: CIC order (Jump to most important part), The man who put MHA in a spot; God forbid this should be true; Need to know
Media coverage: IBN Live; Indian Express, BBC Hindi, Jagran, Nav Bharat Times, Zee, NDTV, Gulf News, Hindu, Sahara Samay
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