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The death of Netaji is still controversial. What are your views on this issue? Shouldn’t the controversy be put at rest for good ?
Different people have different ideologies and way of thinking. I don’t really know why people are still so concerned about the death of Netaji. There are people who still say that Netaji is alive. What can I say to that? The people who believe he is still alive are fantasizing.
What is your view on Bengal government’s initiative in preserving Netaji’s work and whether they have offered any help?
I don’t know what has been done till date except putting up of some statues. He is a son of Bengal and I think much efforts needs to be taken by the state government to preserve Netaji’s work. Our family members at Netaji Research Bhawan are working towards preserving the heritage, but the government has not given enough fund to preserve Netaji’s work. We have to get funds from private sources. It is necessary to incorporate some achievements of Netaji in the History syllabus at schools or colleges. I feel such works should have to be incorporated so that students know the life and works of this great leader.
Do you think a holiday on Netaji’s birthday is the right way to pay homage to the leader whose mantra was ‘action’ and not cessation of it ?
If you get a holiday for Gandhi’s birthday, why can’t you get a holiday for Netaji’s birthday? Its the prerogative of individual state governments. Even if there is no holiday, it doesn’t matter.
Why are Netaji’s papers ‘top secret’ in his own country even after more than 60 years?
I don’t have an idea whether enough documents are kept secret. There is hardly any document that has been kept secret. May be we do not have a proper archive of Netaji’s works and as a result people think that many documents are kept secret. The last letter which my father wrote to my mother Emilie Shenkel in 1945-46 too was not kept secret.
Justice Mukherjee Commission conclusively said that Netaji did not die at an aircrash in 1945 at Taihoku. What are your views on that ?
According to me, Netaji died of a plane crash in 1945 at Taihoku . I have gone through the Mukherjee Commission report and I feel that there were not enough eyewitness accounts that can substantiate that Netaji did not die in an aircrash. I don’t believe in all these mysterious things.
Anything that you recall about your mother Emily Shenkel telling you about your father ?
My mother always keeps things secret and she hardly talks about her conversations with my father. Although most of her letters were published earlier, she has kept some cherished memories to herself. Many of my cousins press her to narrate those experiences.
