Kolkata: It was on this day 77 years ago that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was believed to have died in a plane crash in Taihoku (now Taipei).
But not many were convinced that there was enough evidence to be sure of the plane crash-death theory of one of India’s most gallant freedom fighters.
The mystery over Netaji’s death has lingered far too long. And even his daughter Anita Bose Pfaff wants it to be resolved, once and for all, in her lifetime.
“I, as the daughter of Netaji, want this (mystery) to end in my lifetime,” Anita was quoted as saying by PTI.
The 79-year-old Anita said she will approach the Indian and Japanese governments for a DNA test of the ashes preserved at Renkoji Temple in Tokyo.
“I would soon officially approach the Indian government with the request to conduct a DNA test. I will wait for some time … if I get a response, it’s good, and if I don’t, I will get in touch with the Japanese government. If the government agrees or if they ask me to move forward and don’t want to get involved, then I can take it forward,” Anita said.
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She felt bringing back Bose’s ashes after confirmation through DNA test would be a true tribute to the revolutionary during India’s 75th anniversary of independence.
She had approached the Indian government for a DNA test when the Congress was in power, but never received a response.
“This time, I won’t dillydally much longer. This COVID-19 situation has already delayed the matter by two years. I would parallelly get in touch with the Japanese government. Initially, the Japanese government decided to keep the ashes as they thought they would be for a few months. But now it has been 77 years,” she said over phone from Germany.
The BJP-led government has done more to honour Netaji’s legacy, she said, “but at the same time, I don’t see a reason why they shouldn’t take the initiative without me pushing them.”
As far as Anita is concerned, there is ample proof that he died in the air crash.
“But I want his ashes to be brought back to his motherland. I want to do this service to my father,” she said, adding that technological advancement has enabled sophisticated DNA testing.
“To those who still doubt whether Netaji died on August 18, 1945 or not, it offers a chance to obtain scientific proof that the remains kept at Renkoji Temple in Tokyo are his.”
