Netaji was not a fascist: Anita Bose Pfaff

At 79, Anita Bose Pfaff keeps on top of every development in India, specially those in connection with her father Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's legacy. She is thrilled that his statue will be put up at India Gate; it befits him, she says. In a video interview from her home in Stadtbergen, Germany, Pfaff speaks with THE WEEK on what Netaji's real legacy is.


How does it feel to have your father's birth anniversary recognised as Parakram Divas?

I am very pleased that Netaji's statue will be installed at India Gate. It befits him. Modern technology has allowed a quick installation by a hologram; it is very appropriate. The only other person who could be considered for this honour is Mahatma Gandhi.  It feels very nice to know that my father is remembered by his people so long after he was around. I also feel good that so many common people remember him. I only hope they will also remember him by his ideals he stood for.

Which are those ideals?

Three strike me, mainly because they are still an issue. One is communal harmony, I am quite distressed when I hear of communal conflict in India. Unfortunately, they have gone to a far degree, causing deaths. Leaders of parties and creeds should work on fostering harmony, but many exploit differences between religious groups.

The second is that India has a bad reputation as a country of greatest violence against women. Netaji was a champion of gender equality, he was far more modern than many people today, not just in India but in many parts of the world. I don't attribute this violence to the leaders alone; there is is great potential for violence in the population.
 
The third is emancipation and empowerment of disadvantaged people, both lower caste groups and people with low education.

These are ideals that should be followed the world over, not just in India. But in a land where two of the most tolerant religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, arose, one would expect the country to be at forefront of peaceful existence. We cannot attribute it only to the Partition in 1947, but if you remember the violence that followed, how many people became murderers, it is upsetting. Mahatma Gandhi achieved, to a limited extent, in putting it down. Netaji was not alive then, one can only speculate if together, they would have been able to prevent the atrocities. Over the decades, however, the communal violence continues, and it is upsetting to me that part of the leadership played on exploiting it.

Do you feel Netaji's legacy is being politicised?

It is quite unnecessary that celebrating the birth anniversary of someone who has been dead for so long, should cause arguments. It is rather petty. There was this controversy of the West Bengal government's tableau on freedom fighters not being allowed. Then it turned out there was a tableau the central government had on him and it struck me as a bit of a last minute thing. They were surprised by the Bengal tableau and thought they had to do something, and came up with what could be done at short notice.

It would make more sense to cooperate in honouring him, but if they cannot agree to cooperate, then let them compete. It is better to compete in honouring him than not honouring him at all.

The individual activities, I am not aware of all, are a great tribute to Netaji. It is amazing to know that people still have him in their hearts. Maybe I live in a bubble, but I feel that not all leaders from the freedom movement are capable of touching the emotions of people today, who have never met him before. Even earlier, I would to meet people who would say they only saw Netaji from a distance, but he changed their lives.

Were you invited for the Parakran Diwas event? Wouldn't you have liked to attend?

No, I wasn't invited, and though I would have liked to attend, it would not have been possible because of the corona situation. I wanted to visit last year for my father's 125th anniversary, but the pandemic has not allowed that.

It is not surprising I wasn't invited because things are not that well organsied in India. At the time of my father's centennary celebrations, I was keen to visit. But the invitation came just three days before the event, and I could not organise my travel at such short notice. But I was invited to a dinner by the Indian ambassador to Germany. I went with my daughter, grandson and his wife. I have given them letters from my parents to each other, photographs and other memorabilia for the exhibition.

How do you reconcile with the uncomfortable parts of your father's legacy?

His association with Hitler is one reason why some people are hesitant to recognise his contributions, even today. I live in Germany, I have lived with these confrontations with history in a direct way. In many families, the young question the actions of their parents and grandparents. Many are upset to know their grandparents were involved in Nazi movement. But if there is a war and people are called up to fight, it is not a matter of choice, you were shot if you didn't go.

Netaji, however, was not a fascist, but ask yourself, if he wanted to get support for India's freedom, where could he have turned to except to countries that were at war with Britain. The first choice was Soviet Union which I would consider just as horrible as Germany in terms of ideas and practices. But they were not willing to support India. Anyway, after the German invasion, they ended up on Britain's side of the conflict. The Soviet Union was a much more dangerous candidate, because there was a greater vicinity and we learnt later about a secret Hitler-Stalin pact to grant control of India to the Soviet Union. It was a very difficult situation, and only Germany, Italy and Japan could possibly be willing to work with India against the British. Call it a pact with the devil, but the choice of devils was not great. What were the alternatives? He was not like the rest of the Congress leadership to stay in jails. They made pacts of collaborating with Britain's war efforts in return for freedom, but collaborating with the British was not in my father's makeup.

The controversies over Netaji's death linger. You were keen to pursue the DNA analysis of the ashes kept at the Renkoji temple in Japan.

Yes, I believe that a DNA analysis of the ashes should be done. I know that it is difficult to get DNA from charred remains, but technology is very advanced today, there are better chances of extracting DNA than ten years ago. In the past, there was hesitation, but now everyone in my family are agreed that there should be a DNA test. My older son is pressing me to get this closure, he says he doesn't want to inherit the controversy. If the DNA outcome turns out as I expect it to, then the rational people who have been denying the fact (that Netaji died in the plane crash in 1945) should be convinced and it should be a less controversial issue. Of course, there will always be people who wont believe.

I was keen to visit India and meet prime minister Narendra Modi in this regard. I understand that the decision will require the consensus of the Indian and Japanese governments, I believe the temple was willing to hand over the ashes. The pandemic made travel difficult. But it opened up the possibility of virtual meets, maybe I should pursue that channel.

How has it been to learn about your father from other sources?

It was difficult, but in my generation there were many fatherless children, as World War II had killed so many men. In my case, my father was also a public figure. I do remember wanting my father to come back. As I grew up, it became less relevant because you then begin to define your life not just with relation to your parents.
My children and grandchildren are proud of being Netaji's descendants, they try to learn and read and talk about him. The advantage of living away from India is that we were able to live our own lives, and not be in the reflected glory of Netaji.

What is your opinion of Narendra Modi?

I have always kept away from commenting on Indian politicians.