Netaji Papers: Revealed Netaji Papers: Why was India skeptical about shifting Subhas Chandra Bose's ashes from Japan

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xtlqAshes, of Netali Subhash Chandra Bosa

I spoke again to FM about this, pointing out

that the last surviving General was aging and could

die any moment. While it had not beenpossible for

India to accept the ashes, woJld not some Party use

the possible loss of the ashes, after the death of

the present guardian/to attack the Government?

2. FM said that he had not realised the urgency

of the matter. 'H.jewould talk ,Jith others concerned,

such as Chitti 3abu of the Forward 3loc, and see

whether the ashes could be accepted and Preserved,

say, in the National Museum, without a commitment

on the part of Government that they accepted the

ashes as those of Netaji Bose, as suggested in my

letter and in dm= discussion with FM.

3. Initially, FM had mentioned thepossibility

of a private Museum in Japan looking after the ashes.

I said I did not know whether thiswouldbepossiblebut would enquire. While thiswill be done after I

return to Tokyo, in subsequent discusslon the

decision was taken as in para 2 of thisNote.

(W.S7.MtNbN)Ambassador-4a41g41ate Um

of IndIa Tokyo27.11.81

J(EA)

icopy to Minister (Pol), Embassy of India) Tokyo.

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Original noteson Page 26/corr.

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inistrY ofExteT7Did we know, an we heA n'anythi g on

record, to show that the have not beenashes asrsaccepted

by the Bose family.

Sd/- x x

(K.P.S. Menon)Ambassador

Min /(F)

FS(P&I)

The first Commission of Inquiry into thedisappearance of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, commonlyknown as Shah Nawaz Khan Committee, which was set up in1956, included among the members, Shri Suresh ChandraBose, elder brother of Netaji. At the time of submitting

this report, Shri Suresh Chandra Bose submitted adissenting note stating that there had been no planecrash involving Netaji's death. We have no informationavailable with us regarding the reaction of othermembers of Netaji's family.

2. Though the government accepted the majorityreport by the first commission, but due to pressure itagain instituted a one-man commission by G.D.Khoslatwhose report was submitted to the Government in 1974.Like the previous commission this one also submitted itsreport stating that Bose was killed in an air crashand that "the wooden basket lodged in Renkoji Templein Tokyo contains Bose's ashes." The governmentaccepted the findings of this Commission. We have noinformation as to whether Bose' family has acceptedthis finding or not.

For information.

Ambaisador

Seen, thanks.

Sd/-(K.P.S.Menon)

24.5.82

Signed.(T.Cherpoot)

24.5.82

F.S.(P)

Sd/-(T. Cherpoot)Minister (Pol.)

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COS CAI 67.1t-7 (1 , S" f i C r e t a r Y14--11 1 4 4 ,

Ref. Ambassador's -TitittrOf 'Minister's

remarks.

Se,c.,r t

There is just one thing that may be relevant

to Mr. Nair's statement. I am not quite sure

whether I" would agree with him that the Japanese

Foreign Ministry has its doubts about the ashes.I recall that during the then Foreign Minister,

Shri Vajpayee's visit to Japan in 1978, it was the

Gaimusho which had suggested to the Embassy that

our Foreign minister should pay a visit to Renkoji

Temple. What exactly does Mr. Nair mean when he

says that "this is well known in Delhi" concerning

Netaji Bose family not accepting the ashes as

genuine t What circles is he talking about ? It is

also incorrect to say that on no occasion have the

Japanese authorities themselves asked us to accept

the ashes. General Fujiwara on most occasions,

accompanied by an officer of the Japanese Embassy

and having been briefed beforehand by the JapaneseAmbassador in New Delhi, has put forward this

request. Although this does not amount to a direct

Japlanese Government request (if i'authorit is meant

as Government in para 4 of Ambassador's letter),

the ashes themselves are not in possession of the

Japanese Government.

In fact, why not let the matter be settled

between Netaji Bose family and Renkoji Temple. This

might be a preposterous suggestion but if Netaji's

family does not wish to negotiate, then it could be

clear to our Government and the public could be

told that the family itself is not interested in

the return of the ashes. Meanwhile perhaps Government

should continue paying the cost of maintenance to

the Temple.tat 41- 4-44 -4 12,-A W. 1 . 4 .- A i . . . . e t / Y U j f VA-0

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Joint Secretory (CNv)

M A-41 14W 1-0-44, - 11.M i n i s t r y o f E x t e r n a l A f f a i r s

On 23rd August, theNune#Vsigned hadrepresented the Embassy at the of the deathanniversary of Netaji held at Renkoji Templeunder the auspices of the Netaji Subhash Bose

Academy. The Chairman of this Academy isretired general, Katakura and the Secretary isMr. Hayashi.

\E1

2. Among the people present on thatoccasion, besides Gen. Katakura who, as colonelIn the Japanese army, was the overall commanderof forces operating in Burma under which theHikari Kan operated, were Gen. Fujiwara, who wasan associate of Capt. Mohan Singh and has beengoing to North-East India to collect the remainsof Japanese soldiers, and Gen. Ari-Sue who was at

the General Headquarters i Tokyo during the warand had issued the orders --Enr bringing Netaji fromGermany to Japan. Others present were largelypeople who had formed the Hikari Kan which wasapparently a group working with Netaji composedof Japanese civilian and military personnel.

3. In the conversation on the occasion ,the major thrust of almost all the people wastowards convincing the INdian Government to agreeto accept the ashes of Netaji kept in that Templeas this group felt it was growing too old and

after their passing away, the ashes may be untenanted.Gen. Katakura referred to his meeting with theAmbassador to reiterate this wish in his shortspeech on that occasion.

4. The ceremony itself was brief and likethe death anniversary of any Buddhist at a temple,it was followed by tea and snacks at whichMr. Inagaki, who is a Deputy Editor of the ShukanAsahi (Asahi Weekly) was introduced as the personwith whom the Academy members have agreed tocooperate in bringing out a book on Netaji which

would be published before August 23 next year.Interestingly, no bones were made about expressingthe Academy's suspicions of anybody connected withAsahi Shimbun, which is regarded as the left wing,but after much thought, they appeared to havereconciled themselves to working with Mr. Inagakiwho belongs to that group of newspapers.

5. It was politely conveyed to me thatthough invited every year, the Embassy had not beenrepresented at the death anniversary on August 23on a regular basis. Further, the practice of the

Embassy contributing a boaquet on the occasion, whichwas the practice till the late 70s, has beendiscontinued.

6. Ambassador may like to see.

Mtk:

Ambassador

(Gurit Singh)

(.P&I.85

f)) PTO

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