Dear Readers,
Our department recently organized a symposium on Relevance and Contribution of one of the most iconic leaders of the National Movement, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The keynote speech was delivered by a fellow colleague, Dr. Meghna Sharma who specializes in Modern Indian History. Being a Medievalist, I would admit my lack of knowledge in the field. I was thrilled to the core to learn so much from the erudite speeches that were delivered that day. I was the compere for the symposium and the mere regurgitation of highlights left me with abundant knowledge.
Did you know that after Netaji's death in a plane crash, his ashes were taken to Japan. They were stored in the house of Mr. Rama Murti, a freedom fighter, who laid the foundations of India Independence League at Tokyo. According to the information provided in His Majesty's Opponent by Sugata Bose( grand nephew of Netaji and currently, Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs, Harvard University) these last remains were brought back to India in 2006 at the behest of our present Prime Minister Manmohun Singhji. This fact, though a subject of intense debate and mystery, raises more questions than it answers.
Netaji's daughter, Anita B. Pfaff's recent book launch and her gift of the same to Honorable President Pranab Mukherjee has initiated a fresh debate on Netaji among the intelligentsia of our nation. In the same spirit, we had organized this symposium. Our democracy is far far away from entering its mature phase. Neither are the people accustomed to framing their opinion based upon rigorous debates in the realm of Higher Education. None the less, we should begin to research on the dark spots of our history. We should rebel against grand meta-narratives of political parties and examine details first hand- details about National leaders, events, riots, wars, demographic shifts etc. Only then, can we absolve ourselves and our civilization from being dubbed as ahistorical.......
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