In the summer of 1996, I had the opportunity of looking at some of the "closed" files on Subhas Bose, which are being kept by the British government in London.

I saw in one of its files that the Director of the Intelligence Bureau in New Delhi reported to the British Government in London in May, 1946, that he had received several reports from different parts of India about Subhas Bose's presence in the Soviet Union. He added that he had also received "circumstantial details" about his presence in Russia.

The International Political Intelligence, which reported this information to the India Office in London, wondered why the Russians were circulating this story, which they had already done in Persia. Was it information or mis-information?

Till then the British Intelligence was quite convinced that Netaji died in the air crash in August, 1945. But after receiving this report they became quite confused. They were, as they put, "not more than 90 % sure that Bose was dead". Should not the British Government open up their closed files on Netaji, especially regarding the air crash and his death?

The Indian Government must urge the British Government to do that during the 50th Anniversary of India's independence.

All these facts, arguments and assumptions have convinced me that a final, thorough and impartial investigation is necessary to find out the mystery of Netaji's death.

All the files that are now lying with the Indian government regarding Netaji and the Indian National Army must be opened up. Moreover, the Indian government must strongly urge the Government of the Ugdom, Russia, Japan and the USA to open up their files on Netaji so that the real truth about him - just before and after the air crash could be revealed for the public to judge for themselves whether he actually died in the air crash of not.

If he was alive after the supposed air crash, what happened to him? I strongly feel, and this feeling is shared by the majority of the members of the Bose family, that one of the most important tasks of the Netaji Birth Centenary year should be to conduct this enquiry in different parts of the world.

For this the Indian Government should take serious steps and the continuing question regarding the "ashes" should be decided once and for all. If it is proved that Netaji died in the air crash and his ashes were kept in Tokyo, then they must be brought back to India within the Centenary year with the national honour that he fully deserves.