Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released the digital copies of 100 files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 119 th birth anniversary at the National Archives of India (NAI).
Out of the 100 files, 33 of them are from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The rest contains communications between the Government of India and the governments of Russia and Japan. The files have been digitised and uploaded on the website of the NAI.
One of the declassified documents on Bose reveal that his Germany-based daughter Anita Bose had visited India in 1960 and stayed at the official residence of then-Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Congress had been sending Rs. 6,000 per year to Bose's daughter until 1964. The party ceased to send money as Anita got married to Martin Pfaff, an American citizen, in 1965.
The document also reveals that Bose's wife, Emilie Schenkl, who was a German national, refused to accept the money from Congress.
Ms.Schenki, according to the government document, was Bose's private secretary during his stay in Germany.
Specific info requested
Bose's nephew, Ardhenu, said the Government of India should ask Russia if it could share more information related to his visit to the country. The family also demanded that DNA test be conducted on Bose's ashes. However, medical experts are of the opinion that such an exercise would be futile.
Earlier, the Prime Minister paid rich tributes to Bose, saying generations of Indians remember him for his bravery and patriotism.
“Remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His bravery and patriotism endears him to several Indians across generations,” he tweeted.
“Today is a special day for all Indians. Declassification of Netaji files starts today.”
25 files, every month
The NAI also plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Bose in the public domain every month.
“The National Archives of India is placing 100 files relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in public domain after preliminary conservation treatment and digitization. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Netaji, the Prime Minister will release the digital copies of these files in public domain,” an official release said on Friday.
The first lot of 33 files were declassified by the PMO and handed over to the NAI on December 4, last year.
(With inputs from PTI)
