Netaji remembered on his 119th birthday

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Jan 23: Dr Anya Shankar Guha, Regiol Director, of IGNOU today suggested that Indian historians have not given Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose the kind of place in history he deserves.

According to Dr Guha historians on several occasions have misinterpreted history added that the Indian tiol Movement has become synonymous with certain leaders.

Dr Guha said that even former India Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his book-“Discover of India”, even though he wrote eloquently on many leaders of the Indian freedom movement, ‘hardly mentioned Bose’.

He was taking part in a discussion on the topic-“Relevance of Netaji’s philosophy and principle as a freedom fighter, governce, strategist, and his unflinching love for the motherland”. The discussion was organized by the Greater Shillong Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birth Celebration Committee (GSNSCBBCC) on his 119th birth anniversary.

Saying that there is hardly any record of Netaji, Dr Guha added, “Why this portion of Indian history so shadily and shabbily written.”

According to Dr Guha, historians have made him to be a militarist and one who is opposed to the non-violent movement.

Meanwhile, Bindo M Lanong who also spoke recalled an article on Netaji wrote by Window Roy Mawlong a Khasi from Riatsamthiah – Shillong who was in the army during the Second World War and was posted in Southeast Asia.

According to the article by Window Roy the last visit of Netaji in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was on the first week of August 1945 where he delivered his speech and said “When we will achieve freedom from the British I shall not handover or sell India to the Japanese.”

“This speech gave new life and inspiration to the Indians population gathered there on that day at Kuala Lumpur and is like pouring cold water to the Japanese because the Japanese wanted to control India after the British leave India,” Window Roy said in the article, Bindo said.

 “Window Roy who was there at Malaysia at that time persolly didn’t believe that Netaji Subash Chandra died in the Air Crash, but was capture by the Japanese,” Bindo said.

According to Window Roy, Netaji died but matters took a different turn when he did not agree to Japanese idea, Lanong added.