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Bring Netaji Bose’s remains to India: Daughter Anita
London, June 11 (IANS) The remains of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose should be brought to India from Japan, said the daughter of the Indian freedom fighter, Anita Bose Pfaff.
“I hope that we get closure on this matter and that we get the remains returned and I hope we can do this without controversy because that would be the worst thing we could do for Netaji’s memory,” Bose-Pfaff, an economist based in Germany, said on Sunday.
She was speaking in London at the launch of a book by veteran Indian foreign correspondent Ashis Ray titled “Laid to Rest: The Controversy over Subhas Chandra Bose’s Death”.
Many have refused to believe that Bose died in a plane crash in Taipei in 1945. Ray’s book lays out his investigations into the incident, drawing on 11 other reports and numerous eyewitness accounts’ conclusive evidence that Bose perished shortly after the accident.
His ashes are now kept in a temple in Japan.
Bose-Pfaff said she understood why so many people – both relatives and admirers – had been reluctant to accept the tragic account of events, pointing out that the difficulties in communicating internationally at the time meant nobody could be immediately certain of the facts.
“People like mysteries,” she added, “and my father was a romantic and tragic hero and so somehow it was not so surprising.”
But she dismissed the multiple, competing theories as to how he may have survived the crash, criticising the 2006 Justice Manoj Mukherjee inquiry commission for ignoring personal testimonies.
Ray echoed her message about Bose’s remains. “It’s about time India did something to bring the ashes to India.”
The launch of the book took place at the British Library as part of the London edition of the renowned Jaipur Literature Festival.
Ray, great-nephew of Subhas Bose, and Bose-Pfaff, who grew up with her Austrian mother, were interviewed on stage by London-based academic Somnath Batabyal in a room packed with festival attendees.
Asked about the alleged bad blood between her father and Jawaharlal Nehru, Bose-Pfaff talked about her own experience of meeting India’s first Prime Minister.
“Nehru was personally very friendly to my mother and towards me, during my first visit to India. I don’t recall us talking about his relationship with my father.”
Describing the difference between the two men, she said: “In a way, they were of the same camp but my father would not compromise even if Gandhi said so whereas Nehru would.”
Both speakers addressed the issue of Bose’s apparent fascist sympathies, explaining that he sought support from the Axis powers – specifically Germany and Japan – during World War II only because of their opposition to the British as his priority was the freedom of India from foreign rule.
Bose-Pfaff described her father’s meeting with Hitler as a “disappointment”. Ray said it had been “fractious” and that Bose had later described the Nazi leader in Bengali as “raving mad”.
Bose-Pfaff also talked about the impact on her own life of being related to such a significant political figure, explaining that living outside India meant she did not feel the pressure experienced by the children of other leaders of the freedom movement, such as Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, for example – to assume political responsibilities.
“I owe it to my mother that the legacy was not too difficult. She said, ‘your father was a great man but that doesn’t make you a great anything’. I tried to educate me to be humble.”
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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