Netaji was in an air-crash says UK website, full truth likely on January 16
A UK-based website, which is trying to trace the movements of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose before his death and on the day of the plane crash in Taiwan, has claimed that the freedom fighter was indeed in an air-crash on his last day, and was taken to a hospital. The website promises to reveal what happened at the hospital on January 16.
Netaji is also said to have urged his countrymen to continue the struggle for freedom just before he breathed his last.
The website was launched by independent journalist and Bose’s grandnephew Ashis Ray, and he has been steadily releasing files on Bose.
The website, www.bosefiles.info, has released what it claims are accounts of eyewitnesses from the day of the crash on August 18, 1945.
An article posted on the website on Saturday states that a Japanese Air Force Bomber took off Tourane in Vietnam with around 13 passengers and crew, including Subhas Bose and Lt Gen Tsunamasa Shidei of the Japanese Army, on the morning of August 18, 1945.
It further states, "However, no sooner the aircraft was airborne, there was, according to Col Habib ur Rahman, Bose’s ADC and a co-passenger, a loud explosion. He described it as 'a noise like a cannon shot'."
Rahman goes on to describe in detail what he saw next.
"The moment I got out, I saw him about 10 yards ahead of me, standing, looking in the opposite direction to mine towards the west. His clothes were on fire. I rushed and I experienced great difficulty in unfastening his bush-shirt belt. His trousers were not so much on fire and it was not necessary to take them off."
"I laid him down on the ground and noticed a very deep cut on his head, probably on the left side. His face had been scorched by heat and his hair had also caught fire and singed."
The website also quoted Lt Col Shiro Nonogaki, who was on the flight, as saying: "When I first saw Netaji after the plane crash, he was standing somewhere near the left tip of the left wing of the plane. His clothes were on fire and his assistant was trying to take off his coat."
"Since Netaji was sitting very near the petrol tank, he was splashed all over with petrol. It seemed that all his body was on fire."
Bose was then taken to the the nearby Nanmon Military Hospital in a critical condition.
"Netaji enquired from me in Hindustani: Aap Ko Ziada To Nahin Lagi?” (Hope you have not been hurt badly.) I replied, 'I feel that I will be all right'. About himself he said that he felt that he would not survive," Rahman narrated.
According to Rahman, Bose then said, "Jab Apney Mulk Wapis Jayen To Mulki Bhaiyon Ko Batana Ki Mein Akhri Dam Tak Mulk Ki Azadi Ke Liyay Larta Raha Hoon; Woh Jangi Azadi Ko Jari Rakhen. Hindustan Zaroor Azad Hoga, Oos Ko Koi Gulam Nahin Rakh Sakta.” (When you go back to the country, tell the people that up to the last I have been fighting for the liberation of my country; they should continue to struggle, and I am sure India will be free before long. Nobody can keep India in bondage now.)"