Netaji Research Bureau misusing funds, claims Bose family

Alleging misuse of government funds and distortion of history related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, some members of the freedom fighter's family are planning legal action against Netaji Research Bureau.

"By misusing government funds, the bureau has become a business and money-making racket by a couple of family members of the Bose family. The rest of the family members have therefore decided to file a PIL in this regard in the Calcutta High Court," Netaji's grandnephew and family spokesperson Chandra Kumar Bose told PTI.

The Netaji Research Bureau is located inside Netaji Bhawan, the nationalist leader's ancestral house, on Kolkata's Elgin Road.

Besides a library for research scholars, it also has a museum and archives preserving the memory of Netaji.

Former Trinamool MP Krishna Bose, niece-in-law of Netaji, holds the post of chairperson at the bureau. Her elder son Sugata Bose, a professor of history at Harvard University, is its executive director.

Both Krishna and Sugato remained unavailable for comment on the issue.

The duo have supported the theory that Netaji died in a plane crash in 1945 while the rest of the family members have openly refused to accept it.

"The museum there is also in a bad condition, the rare documents are not well-maintained. They don't come out with original research reports on Netaji. Then what have they been doing with the grants from the Centre. There is a clear indication of misuse of funds," questioned Chandra Bose.

He said they have received complaints from scholars and even university professors that they are not allowed to use the archives for research.

"The people of India have the right to do research on their beloved hero and they should be allowed to enter and have access to the documents which are kept in the archives at Netaji Research Bureau," the family members said.

They have also taken exception to the website of the bureau which states that Dr Sisir Kumar Bose founded it. "Sarat Chandra Bose, elder brother of Subhas Chandra Bose, had donated this house for promoting activities related to Netaji. Till 1976, all brothers and sisters of Netaji were involved in the functioning of the house till Krishna drove them out," Chandra said.

The majority view of the Bose family members is that efforts should be made to acquire the Netaji Bhavan either by the state or the central government, which should appoint a professional team to organise the research work.

They have suggested that the National Archives may also take on this responsibility. "It should be run and managed professionally. No one has the right to do business with Netaji's name and image," they said.