The nation finally got to see the
files relating to the mystery that surrounded his disappearance, some thirty
files remain. These files have lead the nation no further than where its
knowledge stood before these files were declassified and except for an unsigned
note from Nehru claimed to have been written by him to Attlee, his counterpart
in Britain stating that Subhash Chandra “his war criminal” was believed to have
crossed into the Soviet Russia, which has raised a controversy with the
Congress questioning the legitimacy of this document, no further fact on the
matter has emerged.
As of now, the theory that the leader died in
the air crash at Taiwan stands; but leaves us with a question as to why the
simplicity of this matter required confidentiality of classification for
decades after his disappearance and suggested death following the reported air
crash still questioned by many. The major controversy that however now gains
momentum is the use of the term “war criminal” for the leader of Indian freedom
struggle if one were to accept that the note from the late Prime Minister to
Attlee in the nature of an unsigned
telex from the former ,was authentic. To understand such usage history would
have be placed in perspective.
The thought that guided the movement
of independence was twofold, one that existed in the peaceful pursuit of non-violence
and truth “Satyagraha “led by Gandhi and the other, the militant, led by
Subhash Chandra Bose. And while Subhash, originally belonged to the Congress it
was the difference in belief which Gandhi, Nehru and others subscribed to, and
what Subhash disagreed with, that led to the parting of ways. That, notwithstanding
neither of the two thoughts, in any manner, was lesser in its patriotic spirit
than the other. This parting of ways brought Subhash closer to the enemies of
Britain which was part of the alliance against the Triple Axis formed by
Germany, Japan, and Italy. The congress sided with the British and the allied
forces and did not object to Indian soldiers fighting on the side of the
alliance. All those who were seen in the closeness of Hitler and involved with
his axis came to be labeled as “war criminals” and this charge unfortunately
stuck to the great leader of Indian independence struggle.
This brings us back to the question
as to why, this fact, given its
simplicity , as it appears in its revelation now, required to be
withheld from public knowledge or were there larger implications for such a
revelation in light of theories of his survival beyond the alleged crash. What
could be the compulsions that drew the government to the classification of this
fact related to the leader? Was it some fact that was that was being shielded
from the citizens or was it his existence that was being concealed from some
nations who were interested in bringing him to justice as a war criminal, its
effect on the domestic opinion and its morale and inevitable unrest, the implications
for the government and relations with nations now polarized in two distinct
influences on infant nations?
Was the government of the day indulging in
some art of deception to preempt such a situation? Was the government shielding
Subhash Chandra Bose, its leader whose only mission in life was freedom of the
nation from the British irrespective of the way he chose, becoming a source of
discomfort for the British, as opined by Ambedkar who in his view saw him as
the true winner of the country’s independence, having compelled the British to
factor his influence on the Indians in the British army and the consequences
for it from a likely revolt.
Notwithstanding the rightful demand
of the nation for a complete declassification of the files related to the leader,
making the term “war criminal” from a disputed note contentious, may have
serious implications in the present scenario and should not be used as a tool
for populism in the context of the sides that some on this sub continent take
on violence, as a strategic tool of movements in our times. Subhash Chandra
Bose, a true patriot had fewer options as he strived to bring us independence,
national politics has many, and should see reason and recourse in them.
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