'Bring Netaji's remains back to India': Subhash Chandra Bose's grandnephew appeals

Kolkata (West Bengal): Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's grandnephew, Chandra Kumar Bose, appealed to the Union Government to bring back the "mortal remains of Netaji" from Japan's Renkoji temple by August 18 (the death anniversary of Netaji). 

"Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose sacrificed his life on August 18, 1945, for the freedom of our nation. His remains are kept in Japan's Renkoji temple. There was an appeal on behalf of the nation that his remains should be brought to India, as Netaji wanted to come back to an independent India but he could not because he died," Netaji's grandnephew Bose told ANI on Monday. 

He further said that her daughter, Anita Bose Pfaff, desires to perform his last rites according to Hindu tradition.

"Netaji's only daughter, Anita Bose Pfaff, has written to the Govt that it is time to pay homage and respect to our father, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. His remains should come back to India and she would perform the last rites. This is her desire. After the release of all the files, we have come across 11 inquiry reports. Out of 11 inquiries, 10 inquiry reports have given conclusive evidence that Netaji died on August 18, 1945, and his remains have been kept in the Renkoji temple in Japan. Only one report has said that he did not die. I feel why his remains are there in Renkoji Temple in Japan. He belongs to India. He belongs to our country. My humble appeal is to bring back the mortal remains of Netaji from Renkoji to India by August 18, 2024 (the death anniversary)," he added.

"My elder brother visited Renkoji three years back and met the high priest of the temple. They clearly said that he (Netaji) United Nations of Southeast Asia to fight for their freedom. He inspired the freedom movement in Southeast Asia but he is your leader. So I think India should take back the remains. His remains deserve to go back to India," he further said.

Chandra Kumar Bose further asserted that the Renkoji temple authority is willing to hand over the remains to the government of India.  Subhash Chandra Bose was an Indian freedom fighter who was born in Cuttack, Odisha, on January 23, 1897.

His birth anniversary is celebrated every year as Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti. 

Bose established the Azad Hind Fauj. While there is controversy over Bose's death in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, the Central government had in an RTI reply (Right to Information) in 2017 confirmed that he had died in the incident.

(ANI)