Netaji 'supposedly' died in a plane crash at Taihoku (Taipei), Taiwan, on 18 August 1945 while en route to Tokyo . There are many claims and counter claims about his alleged death . Some believe he died in this plane crash and others are convinced he survived and the plane crash was a decoy to help Netaji escape. Three inquiry committees (Shah Nawaz, Khosla, Mukharjee ) were commissioned by Govt of India to probe into the death of Netaji during different occasions but still the controversy persists. Irony is conclusion of these committees are diagonally opposite to each other. For example Shah Nawaz committee came to conclusion that Netaji died in this air crash on other hand Justice Mukherjee committee came to conclusion that air crash didn't happen. Intention of this post is to look objectively it to various news reports and articles from 1945 to 1950 time line .
Alleged Plane crash:
Source: The Telegraph-Herald Dated Aug 23, 1945 five days after the alleged plane crash .
- Plane crash was first reported by "Tokyo Radio".
- Plane was en-route to Tokyo from and crashed in Talhoku airfield in Taipei.
- Netaji died next day after sustaining injury.
- There were four survivors in this air crash and lone Indian survivor was Netaji's aide and soldier in INA Col. Habibur rahman.
Eye witness account:
Source: Indian Express dated Jan 25 1946
- S.A.Ayer was publicity and propaganda minister in Netaji's provincial govt.
- He narrated what allegedly happened based Col Habubur Rahman's account .
- S.A.Ayer was convinced with Col.Habibur Rahman's account. At one point of time he was in tears overwhelmed with sorrow.
- Plane crash happened after it took off from Taihoku airport at around 2 PM on August 18 .
- Reason for crash propeller - broken propeller just after taking off.
- Fire broke out due to crash and and due to burns injuries Netaji died on same day 9.PM 6-7 hrs later.
Reaction of various leaders:
Shah Nawaz commander in chief of "Subhas Brigade" regiment of INA wasn't sure of Netaji's death.
Source: The Indian Express - Jan 24, 1946
Mahatma Gandhi didn't believe Netaji died in crash :
The Lewiston Daily Sun - Jan 24, 1946
Nehru was eager to pronounce death of Netaji without convincing proof or proper investigation:
Gen Mohan Singh founding member of INA believed Netaji was alive and the supposed air crash was decoy to help Netaji escape from Russia . Mohan Singh had questioned Habibur Rahman many times but there was no satisfactory reply. Habibur Rahman claimed that even he was caught in fire , but there was no burnt marks on his body strange.
Source Indian Express - 23rd August 1949
Conclusion:
Death of Netaji wasn't a open and shut case as many "intellectuals" believe . In-fact majority of people were either skeptic or did not believe Netaji died in this plane crash and death news.
