CHAPTER I
The Outrageous Portrait:
Let’s have a look at what was actually portrayed to us about Bose's death.
In August 1945, a heavy bomber took off from the Saigon airport. The plane was comprised of 13 people including Bose.
After a halt in Vietnam on 18th August, the plane arrived to refuel at Taihoku, Formosa (now Taiwan) and after that the plane didn’t quite take off, according to the pilot's plan. The post engine fell off thus killing almost everyone on the plane except for Bose, he did survive but his gasoline ignited clothes didn’t leave anything but death for him.
But to what extent is this story true?
There was no official report from the government of India as well as Britain which could prove that Bose died in the crash. No dead body of Bose was ever recovered, which is quite ironical because the other lieutenants that were following the plane were quite convinced that they saw Bose's body. The government even refused to get a death certificate.
Then there were rumors that Bose had collaborated with the Soviet Union and was biding his time there. Well others said that he was in China.
Let’s have a look at what was actually portrayed to us about Bose's death.
In August 1945, a heavy bomber took off from the Saigon airport. The plane was comprised of 13 people including Bose.
After a halt in Vietnam on 18th August, the plane arrived to refuel at Taihoku, Formosa (now Taiwan) and after that the plane didn’t quite take off, according to the pilot's plan. The post engine fell off thus killing almost everyone on the plane except for Bose, he did survive but his gasoline ignited clothes didn’t leave anything but death for him.
But to what extent is this story true?
There was no official report from the government of India as well as Britain which could prove that Bose died in the crash. No dead body of Bose was ever recovered, which is quite ironical because the other lieutenants that were following the plane were quite convinced that they saw Bose's body. The government even refused to get a death certificate.
Then there were rumors that Bose had collaborated with the Soviet Union and was biding his time there. Well others said that he was in China.
A New Theory:
In the early 1950s people believed that Subhaschandra Bose had transmogrified himself in to a monk. Many of the followers of Netaji claimed that he was a chief Sadhu in the Ashram of Shoulmari in North Bengal.
According to a number of reports, Bose came back to India from the Soviet Union, attended Gandhi's funeral in disguise and then chose to become a monk. Well other theories suggest that Bose had joined hands either with the Maoist or the Soviet Union and also attended Nehru's cremation in 1964 which was recorded on a photograph produced below.
In the early 1950s people believed that Subhaschandra Bose had transmogrified himself in to a monk. Many of the followers of Netaji claimed that he was a chief Sadhu in the Ashram of Shoulmari in North Bengal.
According to a number of reports, Bose came back to India from the Soviet Union, attended Gandhi's funeral in disguise and then chose to become a monk. Well other theories suggest that Bose had joined hands either with the Maoist or the Soviet Union and also attended Nehru's cremation in 1964 which was recorded on a photograph produced below.
An interesting incident occurred soon after Nehru took up the foreign policies after the independence. He appointed Vijaylaxmi Pandit as the ambassador for Russia who was then overtaken by Dr. Radhakrishnan. But witnesses reveal that Dr. Radhakrishnan went on record and said that he met Bose in Russia.
Soon after that a KGB report was found which stated that “We cannot work with Gandhi or Nehru, we need Bose” implies that Bose was still alive in 1946.
The Monk Doppelganger:
Well many reports stated that Bose was somewhere in North Bengal as a Baba, but still no concrete evidence was found until people realized that there was something really peculiar as far as his resemblance with the Gumnami Baba was concerned. Gumnami Baba aka Bhagwanji of Faizabad was more or less a replica of Netaji. Not only his looks but his handwriting, his possessions and the rimmed spectacles were strikingly similar.
Well many reports stated that Bose was somewhere in North Bengal as a Baba, but still no concrete evidence was found until people realized that there was something really peculiar as far as his resemblance with the Gumnami Baba was concerned. Gumnami Baba aka Bhagwanji of Faizabad was more or less a replica of Netaji. Not only his looks but his handwriting, his possessions and the rimmed spectacles were strikingly similar.
After his death in 1985, this Baba left something that historians craved for. When looked for his possessions, what we found was gold rimmed spectacles, a German binocular, a colorful photograph of Swami Vivekananda and publications of Suresh Chandra Bose (a prolific writer of that time) which Netaji had summoned before attending the Khosla Commission. Others also found a map, a torch and letters and photos of Netaji's death written by many of Bose's followers.
Also an undivided map of India was found which is something that certainly an activist before the independence would possess. Certain clips of Bhagwanji indicate that he celebrated his birthday on the 23rd of January.
Definitely, so much resemblance can even beat the definition of a doppelganger!
Another Convincing hypothesis:
Certain reports also show that the Dictator of the Soviet Union in 1945, Mr. Stalin killed Netaji. Certain witnesses have also revealed that Bose after surviving the attack took shelter in China which was at time under Russia occupation with a ray of hope that Russia would protect him but fate made it go the other way round. Stalin captured Bose and put him in jail in Siberia. He was probably hanged to death in 1953. But then again a question struck everyone’s mind, what about the monk doppelganger?
What happened to Bose is still a big question to the world and certainly a matter of concern for historians. A legend like Bose who was extremely intelligent in disguising was perhaps nothing less than a mystery for people. Maybe he walked amongst the people, maybe he tasted the sweet and the bitter part of our independence the same way as we Indians did or maybe he died in the plane crash. No one knows.
Certain reports also show that the Dictator of the Soviet Union in 1945, Mr. Stalin killed Netaji. Certain witnesses have also revealed that Bose after surviving the attack took shelter in China which was at time under Russia occupation with a ray of hope that Russia would protect him but fate made it go the other way round. Stalin captured Bose and put him in jail in Siberia. He was probably hanged to death in 1953. But then again a question struck everyone’s mind, what about the monk doppelganger?
What happened to Bose is still a big question to the world and certainly a matter of concern for historians. A legend like Bose who was extremely intelligent in disguising was perhaps nothing less than a mystery for people. Maybe he walked amongst the people, maybe he tasted the sweet and the bitter part of our independence the same way as we Indians did or maybe he died in the plane crash. No one knows.
But what we know is that he was tenacious, authoritative and a great leader. His contributions and sacrifices to our struggle of independence are nothing less than an inspiration for all generations. To his contributions, let’s take a bow.
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