Finally, it appears, that the Top Secret documents are talking about the privilege the Government has to keep certain secret to themselves.

In the absence of non-availability of any more details about these documents, one is bound to go by common sense. And the common sense that one can apply in this case of extreme national importance is that the Government of India should let the documents to be declassified and allow the truth to prevail.

As one reads the details of the documents, for which Home Secretary has claimed privilege under Sections 123 and 124 of the Evidence Act and Article 74(2) of the Constitution of India, it would appear that something has been troubling the Government of India.

The trouble seems to have started in September 1993 with the publication of some articles in the Russian magazine 'Asia and Africa Today'. In brief, these articles, penned by former Soviet General A Raikov, hinted that Subhas Bose may have been held prisoner for all the years he was thought to have been 'dead'.

For a government that should be immune to write-ups regarding Bose's 'death', the Narsimha Rao government sat up rather quickly. Intelligence Bureau sends a report on November 11, 1993, detailing views on the controversy regarding Bose's death and the question of bringing the 'ashes' to India from Japan.

On March 18, 1994 a Special Secretary in the MHA writes to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) about the disclosure made in the Russian magazine. By April 20, 1994 the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary are talking about these articles.

On August 20, 1994, a core group of the Cabinet Secretariat holds a meet on the controversy regarding Subhas Bose's 'death'. On March 3, 1995 the Home Secretary takes up the issue of bringing the 'ashes' to India with Foreign Secretary.

The matter reaches the top on January 1, 1996, with a MHA joint secretary sending inputs on possible DNA analysis of the 'ashes' to the PMO.

Finally, it appears, that the Top Secret documents are talking about the privilege the Government has to keep certain secret to themselves.

In the absence of non-availability of any more details about these documents, one is bound to go by common sense. And the common sense that one can apply in this case of extreme national importance is that the Government of India should let the documents to be declassified and allow the truth to prevail.