GOI ignorant of Netaji's role in freedom struggle

[Anuj Dhar]

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070007008

GOI ignorant of Netaji's role in freedom struggle

Press Trust of India

Tuesday, March 27, 2007 (New Delhi)

In a shocking revelation, the Government of India has said it has no information in its records about the contribution of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose to India's freedom struggle.

This admission has come from a senior government officer in response to an application by Delhi-based Dev Ashish Bhattacharya under the Right to Information Act.

Bhattacharya approached the Union home ministry with five questions in which he had sought information on what role Bose had in the freedom movement.

The applicant had also sought information whether India maintains any protocol with regard to Bose and whether he fits somewhere in that protocol.

"The information on points in your letter is not available in the records," S K Malhotra, Deputy Secretary in the Home Ministry said in reply to Bhattacharya's petition.

"It was shocking for me to have this response," Bhattacharya said.
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose may have contributed immensely towards India and made people aware about their strength to fight British man-to-man but the government says it has no documents to substantiate this, said Bhattacharya.

"It is a common knowledge about formation of Indian National Army and that it came within the striking distance of Indian mainland before being pushed back from Moreh in Manipur," he said.

But the government was reluctant to put this historical fact on record in response to my application, Bhattacharya added.

Compelling reasons

The applicant had also sought to know as to how much had the government spent to spread the message of Netaji on his birth anniversary on January 23.

"If government has decided to forget Netaji and his importance and contributions towards our nation then there must be some compelling reasons. What are those reasons," Bhattacharya asked in his application.
The Union home ministry when contacted said it did not have any records to supply to him.

"Now this is something shocking. How are we going to make our future generation aware of the great freedom fighters of the country who were instrumental in freeing us from the shackles of the British," Bhattarcharya said.

"If the government wants to forget Netaji Subash Chandra Bose then let the message be loud and clear that all Indians should forget great hero of our freedom struggle," the petitioner said.

He said he had decided to file an RTI after not seeing even a small advertisement in the daily newspapers or television or radio on his birthday.

[ganpat1956]

Great reply from the home ministry!!! Generally it is said that in communist countries, the histroy is re-written whenever a new ruler takes over. Probably because of its long association with certain socialistic concepts, our govt. is also following a similar trend.

[Anuj Dhar]

I cant really comment till the time I have seen the questions and answers. However, it appears that the Ministry gave the answers without applying their minds. And they are paying the price with negative news reports.

btw, watch out this space for more on Netaji. Things are hotting up on death mystery RTI front.

[ganpat1956]

Patil writes to Forward Block general secretary




New Delhi: Faced with criticism from various quarters, especially the Left parties, the Union Home Ministry has done a u-turn on the importance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's role in the freedom struggle, saying his contribution was "immense."

This was stated by Home Minister Shivraj Patil in a letter to the Forward Block general secretary, Debabrata Biswas after the latter sought an explanation as to how the Home Ministry had said the Government had no information in its records about Netaji's contribution to the freedom struggle.

``The great and seminal contribution of Netaji in the freedom movement is immense and well-known and it is not possible to reduce it into a few pages,'' Mr. Patil said.

Efforts were made by Ministries and departments of the Central and State Governments to spread the legacy of Netaji. Mr. Patil's reply came within days of his Ministry saying, in response to an application under the RTI Act filed by Delhi-based Dev Ashish Bhattacharya, that the Government had no information in its records about Netaji 's contribution to the freedom struggle. — PTI

The Hindu : National : Netaji's contribution was immense: Patil

[ganpat1956]

Ignorant govt shown 'forgotten hero' in 70mm


May 16, 2007 19:28 IST
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Days after his ministry was criticised by the Left for stating that it had no documents on Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's contribution to the freedom struggle, Home Minister Shivraj Patil was on Wednesday invited for a special screening of a movie based on the life of the revolutionary leader.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee invited Patil to a screening of director Shyam Benegal's Bose: The Forgotten Hero, made in 2005, at the Balayogi Auditorium within Parliament premises.

Others who watched the movie with Patil were Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan, BJP lawmaker Ananth Kumar and several Left lawmakers.

Full news available at: Ignorant govt shown 'forgotten hero' in 70mm

[Anuj Dhar]

I knew that this reply was coming up. Somene on Forward Bloc told me this some time back. RTI helps...even if it is not direct. It raises awareness and leads to media hype, which builds up pressure on the govt.

Kindly also see this blog dedicated to Mission Netaji's efforts under RTI. We have a full bench hearing on June 5th.

Justice for Subhas Chandra Bose