What if Subhas Chandra Bose was alive in 1962 during India-China war? By Anuj Dhar The leak of secret Henderson Brooks report has reopened the wounds of 1962. Indias war with China was a blow which made us bid goodbye to whatever Gandhian was left in our approach towards national security. Prior to 1962, many Congress leaders and Gandhians did not approve of the institution of the military as they swore by ahimsa and considered themselves as the messengers of peace and love. Most outspoken among them was JB Kripalani, who had sided with Gandhiji against Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939. Left to the likes of Kripalani, the Indian Army would have been disbanded in 1947. Back in the 1960s when the nation was reeling under the drubbing at the hands of the Chinese, Indians wished that Subhas Bose and not Jawaharlal Nehru was their leader. An Associate Press story China invasion recalls fighting Indian leader was published in many newspapers of the world in December 1962. Contrasting the enduring image of India as the land of non-violence, the write-up highlighted that there was another Indian tradition, of Boses, in contrast to it. The second tradition is more deeply rooted in Indian culture and history than Gandhis non-violence. This second tradition is now coming to the front as India faces China, the story read. Imagining what if in the context of major historical events, often bad, makes for an engrossing exercise. But would you believe that when our grandparents were wishing Netaji was around in 1962, there was a chance that he was actually there? Beginning 1961 India had been hit by rumours that Subhas Bose was in India in the guise of a holy man. Many came out openly to claim that he was Swami Sardananda at Shaulmari. But Shaulmari sadhu was not Netaji by any chance. This is now settled but what is not -- who was that unseen holy man in Neemsar, UP? The tale of ultra-secretive Bhagwanji, whose reported death in 1985 at Faizabad sparked off a controversy about his identity, is too complex to be explained in one post or article. As for the gem of a poser if he was Netaji, why did he remain in hiding, believe me any grade-8 student can come up with that. This holy man claimed that in view of his post-1945 behind the scene activities his emergence was not in Indias interest. Bhagwanji reflect a lot on the 1962 war. In December that year itself he said it was actually a blessing in disguise. He also left scribbles on the margins of the few books about the war, including Naville Maxwells Indias China war. For instance his (pocket size) copy of Himalayan Blunder by Brigadier John Dalvi was replete with angry comments in English and Hindi on the margins. I could not see each and every comment and the photocopies available to me now are very very bad. Anyhow, sample a few: Brig Dalvi wrote, We did not fool the Chinese and Bhagwanji commented, You fooled yourself. Elsewhere he patted the Chinese, calling them 100% correct student of Maharshi Kawtilya (Chanakya). In his personal talks Bhagwanji said that Indias greatest misfortune was that there had been NO MILITARY SEER FOR THE LAST 2,000 YEARS. How true! On other pages of the book, Bhagwanji sympathised with the Indian soldiers. GOD, HOW THESE BRAVE SONS OF MOTHER WERE OFFERED AS A FREE SAMPLE AT THE ALTAR OF TOTAL STUPIDITY, EGO AND GREED! He praised Dalvi, who had been taken a PoW, at several places: God bless you for your nobility and honesty. He saved you from death and brought you back to your people. But the holy man was very annoyed with the higher-ups like General Kaul. Oh blast you all Oh God, What blunders from HQ & ND Disagreeing with Dalvi, he scrawled: Arent your high praises sentimental?! I know General Prasad only as a yesman-lapdog to the High Command and the political bosses. He never possessed strength of character to take up command. When the necessity arose, he was afraid. On top of another page was a comment of his agreeing with Dalvis assessment that not launching an offensive in a particular situation was a good idea: You took the right crucial decision in the event. Had you battered, you would have made gravest catastrophe. The holy man used atrocious words with regard to our late Prime Minister. Mr Nehru did not deem it fit to inform the Parliament of this humiliating experience, wrote Dalvi and Bhagwanji blasted off: A TRAITORS LIE AND THAT TOO UNBLINKING. He did not agree with Nehrus another statement that we were stabbed in the back. Bhagwanji wrote against this: A LIE -- BLACK AS HELL. HE WAS A CLOWN, AND A KNAVE AT THAT. These ramblings prove nothing! you will say. Well, except for one or two things. First, these and other comments demonstrate that Bhagwanji was not an average holy man. Two, the probative value of these comments can only be ascertained by a handwriting expert. In this instance, Indias leading expert opined a few years ago that these scribbles and many other writings of Bhagwanji and the handwriting of Subhas Chandra Bose were a definitive match.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 09:18:16 +0000
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