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.

http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/19netaji.htm

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."

Source: Indo-Asian News Service

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1256652

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:

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.

www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_publications_and_archives/parliamentary_archives/indian_independence.cfm

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

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

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.