The untold story about Netaji - part I, II, III and IV - by Ac. Pranavatmakananda Avt.
Tiljala. Kolkata
by Ac. Pranavatmakananda Avt.
Today, the 23rd January is the 106th birth day of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The entire India is observing his birthday. It is a public holiday in Bengal and the North-Eastern India. Entire Calcutta is full of tri-color national flag and there were hundreds of procession by children, youths, grownups and women and men of all ages. At every street corner one could find the garlanded photo of Netaji. Subhas Chandra Bose is popularly known as Netaji (the leader) and he was the actual leader of the nation during the independence movement. For young and old, men and women, people of all back ground, in south or north, east or west he is the most revered leader of independence. Among the masses he is more popular than Gandhiji. Even today the youth Netaji is a great source of inspiration He was the president of Congress party which was leading the independence movement and he won the election to that post defeating the candidate supported by Gandhiji because of backing of the youth. But Gandhiji started creating hindrance in his function as the president of the party. So he resigned from Congress party and launched a new party called the Forward Block. His greatest dream was to see India independent. He was then put under house arrest by British and he escaped from there. In disguise he left India via Afghanistan and then traveled to Germany where he met Hitler and solicited his help to fight British rule in India. Finding not much response there he traveled to the Far-East and with the help of the Japanese organized the tens of thousands of Indian living in Singapore and Malaysia and Indian Prisoner of War in the custody of Japanese. With their help he organized the Indian National Army with material support from the Japanese. He liberated some of the North-Eastern states of India and started advancing towards Bengal. The whole India was waiting for Netaji to liberate it from the British rule. That was when the Gandhiji supported the British against Netaji. But the whole India was ready to stand behind Netaji. Just at the time the Japanese capitulated and the support for Netaji from the Japanese ended. So Netaji had to call off the war. British wanted to try him for waging war against them. It was said that after the war ended he took a plane from Rangoon in Burma to Taiwan. It was claimed that the plane crashed in Taihoku in Taiwan and he died of the injuries sustained in that crash. But people in India never believed that story. They believed that he went into hiding and became a monk and was leading a spiritual life and will come out one day to lead India to a great future. Until today that belief continues. There was plan by Mount Batten (who was commander in chief of Allied Forces in the east) to arrest Netaji as war criminal and execute him.
Baba had great love and admiration for Netaji. Dedicating the book ‘Problems of the day’ to Netaji Baba wrote in that book – ‘To the great hero Subhas Chandra Bose whom I did love and whom I do love even now’. Many Margiis of the early days know that Netaji had link with Baba. But the details were not known. Following are some of the untold stories of Netaji’s close link with Baba in detail.
It was 14th November 1954 a Sunday. The second General Darshan of Marga was taking place in the quarter no. 339 EF in Rampur colony, Jamalpur. This was the house where the Marga was born. There were about 15-16 persons in the small room and all of them were initiated by Baba. Present among them were Pranay da - the first General Secretary, Chandranathji Comandanat (Bihar Military Police), V.K. Asthanaji (Asst. Collector of Customs and Central Excise, Bhagalpur), Nagina Prasad (Suptd. of Customs and Central Excise, Bhagalpur), Dr. Sachinandan Mandal, Rasmay Das and several others. After a short talk, Baba did death demonstration on one Krishna Chandra Pal (nick name Kesto). During the demonstration, after separating the mind of Kesto from his body Baba made the mind of a dead great saint (Shyama Charan Lahari) enter into that body (this saint’s disciple’s disciple started later a big spiritual movement now having many branches in the West.) After Shyama Charan Lahari’s mind entered the body of Kesto, his mind was projected out and was asked to visit several places including a planet of Ashvini Star, Mars, Moon and Kremlin and was asked to narrate what all he saw there. Then Baba ordered him to go across the Himalayas and go to Tibet. Once in Tibet He asked the saint to go to its capital Lhasa and then to a nearby monastery in Ling Popo. There He sent the saint’s mind to a nearby cave and asked him to narrate what he saw there. The saint said that a very radiant looking person was meditating there. Baba asked him to go close and see who it was. The saint said that it was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. That created a sensation among those assembled who were already marveled seeing several unbelievable things happening before them. Then Baba asked the saint to enter Netaji’s mind and ask him if he wanted to come back to India. Netaji indicated with his head that he did not want to come back. Baba asked the saint to leave Netaji alone and return back. After that the saint was asked to leave the body and the original Kesto was brought back into that body. It was one of the most marvelous demonstrations Baba ever did. (There are several details to this demonstration but in order not to deviate from the actual story about Netaji I am leaving that out.)
After this Baba had shown Netaji more than 30 or 40 times while in Jamalpur and Ranchi. Most of time Dasharthji, while in Jamalpur and some WTs, while in Ranchi used to be the media. Many times Margiis wanted to know about Netaji and then Baba would show Netaji to the medium. Most of the time, Netaji was found in meditative posture inside the cave and a few times outside that cave. (I am not sure if it was always the same cave or different caves. But it was always in Tibet.
After the 1st time Baba never specified the location of the cave in other demonstrations.) He had a long white beard and thin long hair. Persons on whom the demonstrations were done have sometime given the description of the surroundings. It was a hilly area and there was a small rivulet flowing nearby. A few times Netaji was found resting outside the cave.
Baba had said that nobody could enter the cave without permission of Netaji or Baba and if anyone tries to enter without permission he would fall dead then and there. Several times Margiis wanted to know if he would come back to India and Baba would order the medium to ask that and every time Netaji would indicate with his head movement that he did not want to come back. Then Baba would say that if they tried they too could become great like Netaji. Several times Margiis would ask Baba to bring Netaji back and through him do Pracar of Marga.
If only Netaji had come back and spoken about Baba and Marga to the people that would have lead to the instant acceptance of Marga by the people of India. Baba never wanted Marga to spread like that. Once or twice Netaji indicated that he would come if Baba wanted him back. But Baba refused to call him back. He would say that Netaji had completed his duty to the society and now he should not be disturbed from his meditation. Once Baba said that ‘Netaji is the greatest mystery in the Cosmic drama’. Several times Baba had told Margiis that Netaji and M.N.Roy (the propounder of radical humanism) once came to meet Baba in Jamalpur. They met Him in the Tiger’s grave. He also had said that they were seated on His both sides and had long discussions with Him about India’s future. Baba’s had revealed many more secrets about His association with Netaji, about Netaji’s initiation, about his leaving India, about Netaji coming to see Baba and Netaji’s leaving the body.
From the Archives –
The untold story about Netaji - part II
In the last issue I mentioned that during Jamalpur and Ranchi days more than 30 – 40 times Baba showed Netaji in Tibet mostly absorbed in meditation. One of the important demonstrations comes to my mind. It was sometime in 1963. During one General Darshan in Jamalpur jagriti Baba asked Dasharath da to project his mind and take it to Delhi. There He asked him to go to Teen Murti Bhavan, the official residence of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the then prime minister of India. Baba asked Dasharath da to go inside Nehru’s room and see what he was doing. Dasharath da said that he was sitting before a table and there was liquor bottle and glass in front of him. Dasharath da said that there was also a knife on the table. Then Baba asked Dasharath da to go to Tibet and see what Subash (Netaji) was doing. Dasharath da saw that Netaji was meditating inside a cave. Baba then asked the Margiis to see the contrast. He said Nehru was a Sadhu (a mendicant) in his past life and because of his desire to enjoy power he became the prime minister of India in this life, but he had no mental peace. (Then He told the detailed story of that but I am not deviating from the main story.) And now his situation was so pathetic that he had to drown his worries in alcohol. (After the war with China in 1962 in which India was routed by the Chinese, Nehru was a very depressed person. It was very big defeat for Nehru’s policy of appeasing China and terrible loss of face too). Then He said about Subash that he was a politician and could have become the prime minister of India if he had so desired. But he gave it up for the sake of his spiritual pursuit. Now he was close to reaching Paramapada, the highest goal of life. Baba said that they were together in the freedom movement but Nehru lost his way in pursuit of power and Netaji got the right guidance of Guru and got his way.
Netaji’s Inititation: Several times Baba had told that once Netaji and M.N. Roy came to see Him in the Tigers grave in Jamalpur. But Baba did not tell the details of what actually they came there for and what actually transpired between them. Once He was graceful to reveal the secret. One evening (it was Guru Purnima – Purnima which generally falls in July) Baba was having field-walk in the polo ground. That day He was accompanied by a Margi named Hemchand Nayak of Baharagora of Singbhum district of then Bihar. He was an officer in the Agriculture dept. known for his honesty and was a very great devotee. There were two other persons that day. Since it was rainy season not many had come to Jamalpur. As there was nobody else that day they had the luck to perform the duty of the usual A, B, C groups (B group would accompany Baba from His residence to the Tiger’s grave and A would sit with Him there and C would accompany Him back to His residence.) Just as they neared the Tigers grave Baba started telling them a hitherto unknown event that had taken place several decades ago. Pointing to the Tigers grave He said, “See Hemchand, it was on this day several years ago that Subash and M.N. Roy came to see Me on this Tigers grave. They arrived in Jamalpur in the afternoon. My appointment with them was at 7 p.m. I came there around 7.30 p.m. Both Subash and M.N. Roy were sitting on the Tigers grave. Subash was wearing his normal Doti and Kurta with a shawl wrapped around. M.N. Roy was wearing Pant and shirt”.
Before proceeding further I want to make a brief deviation. Though Baba did not specify the year, from the calculations it must be 1939 July*. Both Subash and M.N. Roy were giant personalities in their respective field and it was strange that they both would come all the way from Calcutta to Jamalpur to have some serious discussion with an obscure youth who was just past 17 years. Subash had resigned from the post of Congress President just two or three months ago. Still he was being hailed as the leader of the masses, particularly the youth of India. M.N. Roy can be called the founder of Communist movement in India and Central America along with Trotsky and was contemporary of Lenin and Stalin. He was with Lenin in Russia and later moved to Mexico with Trotsky and founded the communist movement there. His original name was Narendra Nath Battacharya. After he got frustrated with Stalin’s style of Communism he returned to India under the assumed name of Manavendra Nath Roy (M.N. Roy) to escape the attention of the British. Later he denounced Communism and later propounded ‘Radical Humanism’. It was around that time that he had come in contact with Baba. Baba had just joined Vidyasagar College. But soon He had developed contact with the intellectual circle in Calcutta. K.C. Das the founder of K.C. Das & Sons the foremost makers of Rasagulla of Calcutta, M.N. Roy and several others eminent persons (whose name I don’t remember now) were in His contact and with whom Baba used to have serious discussion. He used to charm them with His extraordinary intellectual eminence. Subash was a close associate of M.N. Roy.
Baba’s younger brother Himanshu da remembers Baba taking him to see an elderly person one day. When they went to that person’s house they saw that his white-skinned wife Evelyn Trent was massaging his body with oil. That elderly person received Baba with respect and had some serious discussion with Him. Baba was less than twenty then. After leaving the house Baba told Himanshu da that it was M.N.Roy, a great intellectual and thinker. Himanshu da was hardly twelve or thirteen and did not know who M.N. Roy was and never bothered to listen to what they were discussing.
It appears that it was M.N. Roy who brought Netaji in Baba’s contact. Baba had fixed appointment to meet them in the Tigers grave that day. It is not known if Netaji had met Baba in Calcutta before coming to Jamalpur.
Continuing the details of that evenings meeting Baba further said, “When I reached there they were already discussing something. It was about India’s independence. Subash was of the opinion that India should be politically free first and then it would gain economic independence. M.N. Roy disagreed and held the view that India should fight for economic freedom and political independence would automatically follow that. They asked me for my opinion”. Saying this Baba asked Hemchandji whose stand was correct. Hemchandji said that Subash should be correct. Baba said, “No Hemchand, history will prove that M.N. Roy was correct”. Then they had a long discussion with Baba. He explained them how morality was essential for anyone wanting to serve the society. Without spirituality, morality was not possible and one could become corrupt. Without much argument Subash agreed and asked Baba to convince M.N. Roy. M.N. Roy was of the view that human beings have some innate moralistic tendency and that was sufficient for humans to do service to mankind. Baba said that even that moralistic tendency will not stand the test of serious temptation. Only by being a spiritualist one would be able to have a strong moral base. Baba said that it took Him more than an hour to convince M.N. Roy. Finally both agreed to learn meditation. Subash was already practicing spiritual practices from before. First Baba initiated Subash and then M.N. Roy. After the initiation Baba asked Subash to express some personal wish he wanted to be fulfilled. Baba said that Subash did not ask anything for himself but wanted to see India free from British rule. Baba said that India would be free but there should be struggle to achieve that. Subash said that he did not believe that through non-violence India would be free and the people of India will not fight for independence because of the influence of Gandhiji’s non-violence. So how would India become free? Baba said that since he was a courageous person he should organize struggle from outside India if it was not possible from inside the country.
Later on another occasion Baba said that after initiation He took three promises from Subash as part of Guru Dakshina. Baba said that he had fulfilled two promises out of that and was yet to fulfill the third one. He did not reveal what the three promises were. Tidbits of what Baba revealed to Hemchandji that day He had told to different persons. But this entire detail of the initiation of Subash He revealed only on that day. Though Baba continued to have link with M.N. Roy, he never practiced meditation seriously. Subash on the other hand took up his spiritual practices very seriously. His relatives and those who were with him during the war period had seen him doing long meditation even in the middle of war.
According to indications given by Baba after his initiation it was possible that He met him on a few occasions. He also might have learnt Kapalik Sadhana during those days. Baba said that the last time he did Kapalik Sadhana before leaving home he failed to complete a mandatory process of Sadhana and that led to some problems for him.
* The year of his initiation was calculated on the basis of information available. Baba said that it was Guru Purnima day, which falls in July. In 1939 was the last time in July he was free and in India. He was arrested by the British on the 3rd July 1940 when he was about to launch a massive movement against British rule. He was released on 5th Dec 1940 and was kept under house arrest. On the 17th January 1941 he disappeared from his house and never came back after that. Via Afghanistan and Russia he left for Germany and then to the Far-East. So according to this information it is possible that Netaji was initiated by Baba at least one month before He initiated Kalikananda on Shravani Purnima day of 1939. But for obvious reasons He kept it a secret.
From the Archives –
The untold story about Netaji - part II
I am giving here one more demonstration related to Netaji done by Baba in Jamalpur jagriti, which was different from the rest. One thing Margiis felt free to ask Baba or it would be more appropriate to say that they could not refrain from asking now and then, was about Netaji Subash. On several occasions Baba obliged them by showing Subash, mostly in meditation in a cave in Tibet. During one General Darshan in Jamalpur someone among the gathering again brought up the subject whether Netaji was alive. Baba touched the back of Dasharath da’s head and asked him to see if anybody else was in the room other than them.Dasharath da looked around and said that he was seeing that one Devayoni was standing in the corner near the entrance door. (Devayoni is a positive Microvita with only three fundamental factor luminous, aerial and ethereal factors instead of the five factors in all normal bodies. It is also known as luminous body.) Baba then said that if Subash was alive then a star mark would appear on it and if he was dead then a cross mark would appear on it. Dasharath da saw that a star mark appeared on it. Baba smiled and asked the Margiis if they got the reply.
Baba joined Vidyasagar College in Kolkata in 1939 and there was possibility that He was in contact with Netaji while in Kolkata. I mentioned that Netaji was taught Kapalik Sadhana before he left India. It was possible that he learnt other lessons of Sadhana from Baba during that time. In the earlier two parts I mentioned about some hints given by Baba. In one of the demonstration Baba showed that there were skulls (used for Kapalik Sadhana) in the cave where Subash was meditating. Baba also said about Subash not completing the formality of Kapalik Sadhana while in Kolkata.
In many of Netaji’s writings during that period there was often mention of the importance of spirituality and several of his ideas of that time have similarity to Prout. We don’t know if this was due to any influence of his association with Baba. On the 3rd of July 1940 Subash was arrested by the British as he was about to launch a massive movement to oust them from India. He was kept in jail until the early December. In the end of November he went on fast unto death if he was not released. Upon that he was released on the 5th December and was kept under house arrest. Baba had told him during the visit to Jamalpur that if he could not fight from within the country he should leave the country and organize struggle from outside the country. On 17th January 1941 he left incognito from his house by car up to Gomoh (near Bokaro) accompanied by his nephew Shishiir Bose. From Gomoh he took train to Lahore and from there to Afghanistan and onwards. Baba said that He met Subash in Gomoh before he left. In a book written by Shishiir Bose about Subash he mentioned that someone met Subash in Gomoh station and took him away to some distance and had some long talk with him. In that book he refused to identify that person.
Subash took the help of Japanese and organized the Indians living in Malaysia and Singapore and the Indian Prisoners of War in the custody of the Japanese and started Indian National Army popularly known as INA with a view to liberate India. Netaji first liberated the Indian territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and then attacked the North-Eastern part of India. He liberated Nagaland and Manipur and advanced towards Tejpur in Assam. His slogan was ‘Delhi Chalo’ – March towards Delhi. Wherever INA entered, the local population rose in revolt against the British and supported the INA. The Congress leaders and Gandhiji opposed Netaji but India was with Netaji. He had given them a hope of liberating India from the British yoke. They were waiting for the INA to advance further. The British feared that if INA reached Bengal then the whole of India would rise in revolt and it would be difficult to stop Netaji then.
It was at that time that there was a strange twist to the whole direction of war. After the surrender of Japan the military following the dropping of Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, help that from was coming Japanese ended suddenly. INA was without support and could not face the might of the British Empire without outside help. So they too had to end the war. The British wanted to try Subash for waging war against them and wanted to execute him. It is said that he flew from Rangoon in Burma to Taiwan via Bangkok and Saigon. It was said that his plane crashed near Taihoku airport in Taiwan and he died shortly after that due to the injuries. People in India never accepted that version.
The patriotic spirit kindled by Netaji was unstoppable and there was revolt in many places including by the Indian Army in Mumbai. The British understood that they cannot hold on to India any longer and decided to free India. On 15th August 1947 India became independent. There was a secret agreement between the new leaders of India and the British Govt. that if Subash came back to India he would be handed over to the British to be tried as war criminal. The need for that agreement showed that they also believed that Netaji was not dead. The popular sentiment in India then was overwhelmingly for Subash. If he had come back after the independence he would have been instantly accepted as the uncrowned king of India.
Ever since his disappearance India was rife with the rumor that Netaji Subash had appeared here, there or somewhere and that he was going to come out soon before the public. Any such news would electrify the people. That expectation was so strong in Indian public’s mind that even today many hold on that hope. It may be that Baba thought that Subash had done his part for India and that the future of Indian politics would not be suitable for a person like Subash. So He wanted Subash to spend the remaining part of his life in pursuit of ‘Parampada’ – the Goal of life.
Margiis got proof of Subash being alive when Baba for the first time showed him meditating, to the saint who entered the dead body of Kesto Pal on 14th November 1954. Nothing was known about what happened during the 9 years after his disappearance. How Subash escaped after the war was not known nor was anything known about how he reached Tibet.
From 54 up to 70 Baba had shown several dozen times Subash doing meditation in a cave in Tibet. In 1969 itself during the ‘Demonstration Year’ He had shown him several times. Baba had consistently turned down the appeal of the Margiis to bring Subash back and help Pachar of Marga. Then one day the following thing happened. Most probably it was in the end of 69 or early 70 and Baba was in Ranchi. One evening Dada Vijayanandaji who had just returned from Anandanagar was to go for field walk with Baba. He came to the gate of Baba’s quarter where he was told that Baba would leave for field-walk around 8 p.m. Since there was another half an hour for that, Dada thought to return later to be in time for field-walk. That day Baba finished His Puja etc. early, and without following the usual formality came out dressed for filed-walk about 20 minutes earlier than usual 8 p.m. Since Dada Vijayanandaji was not yet there the PA wanted to arrange somebody else to go with Him. Baba told him not to send anybody along. That day He didn’t allow the usual VSS vehicle to follow Him. The only persons with Him were bodyguard Vishnu Devji, and another VSS volunteer Tiirat Ganju of Kuti. They too traveled with Him in His car. Deviating from the usual procedure of allowing the driver Dilip or Vishnu Deoji to decide the place of field-walk, He himself started guiding Diliip the whole way. It was not the usual route. At a particular place Baba asked Diliip to stop the car. Everything that He directed them to do that day was a departure from the usual procedure. Usually the system was that after Baba got off the car, He would walk along the road itself. That day He entered a barren field nearby. Normally the car would either follow Him slowly at a distance during His walk or would wait for Him where He got down, but the parking light was compulsorily put on during that time. That day He directed driver Diliip to switch off all the lights including the parking light. He was also asked not step out of the car. Usually Visnu Devji would walk along beside Baba showing the path with flash light. That day He asked both Visnu Devji and Tiiratji to walk about 15-20 steps behind Him. Visnu Devji was asked not to switch on the light at all. They were also asked maintain strict silence. After covering about 100 meters they saw that a person was standing alone. In the dim moon light they could see that he had long beard. Due to the darkness and the distance they were asked to maintain, they could not make out anything about him. He greeted Baba by touching His feet and started walking along His side. They walked together for nearly half an hour. After covering a long distance Baba stopped and continued the conversation with the stranger. In the end the stranger prostrated before Baba. Baba blessed him and he departed. Baba also returned to the car. There was no word from Him until He reached the car. Once inside the car He took some water and asked Diliip to return. On the way they asked Baba
who it was and Baba did not reply. Only a few days later did Baba reveal to them that it was Subash. They were thrilled to hear that.
It would be appropriate to mention here that once talking about Subash, Baba said that he was spiritually very advanced and had developed many Siddhis (occult powers) that he could travel anywhere using that.
A man, for whom entire India had been waiting for decades, came to meet Baba on a dark night in lonely place unknown to the world. Subash’s disappearance has been a mystery to people of India and his coming to see the Lord of Mystery was no less a mystery. Why he came and what did Baba talk with him would also remain a mystery. Baba once said that Subash was a great mystery in the Cosmic Drama.
From the Archives-
Netaji Subhash – One of Baba’s Mysteries –
It was some time in '70 or early '71 that Baba went for a field-walk to the Murabadi ground in Ranchi. This was the police parade ground. Accompanying Baba was Ac. Amitananda da, who was the principal of AMIT then, Gopalji from the VSS security, and two others.
After a walk around the parade ground, Baba sat on the platform at the base of the flagpole. That day Baba did not say anything. He would usually talk on some topic or other. But now He was silent, and His gaze was fixed towards the sky. He went on gazing towards the sky. Seeing His seriousness, no one dared to disturb Him. This must have continued for about 10-15 minutes. Then suddenly He uttered, “Sabash, Subhas, sabhash” ("Bravo, Subhas, bravo"). His mood was very serious, and He was perspiring. Without saying a single further word, He got up and returned to the car. Even on the way back, He did not say anything.
It was a very unusual kind of field walk. Dada Amitanandaji generally was very frank and free with Baba. Not many would dare to talk to Baba as frankly as Dada Amitanandaji would, and Baba gave him that kind of liberty. But that day, after seeing the serious mood of Baba, even Dada Amitanandaji did not dare disturb Baba with any discussion.
Three or four days later, Amitananda da was massaging Baba in His room. Baba asked him what he had felt that evening during the field walk, and whether he was not curious to know why He had said, "Bravo Subhas." Amitananda da said that he was indeed curious, but hadn’t dared to ask any question, seeing Baba in such a serious mood.
Baba said, “That day Subhas attained nirvikalpa samadhi by his own effort. It is very difficult to attain nirvikalpa samadhi without the help of the Sadguru. In the case of Subhas, he reached that stage without any assistance from me. See, Amitananda, he could have reached the topmost post in the country, i.e., become the Prime Minister, but he gave it all up to reach the highest spiritual goal. The standard of renunciation he has shown is exemplary. What Subhas has done will inspire every human being in the future. If a man so involved in the world can achieve the highest goal of life purely by his own effort, then why not others.” It is to be noted here that out of the thirty or forty times that Baba had demonstrated Subhas to different persons, on all of those occasions, barring two or three, Subhas was found absorbed in sadhana.
Amitananda da was extremely thrilled hearing thus from Baba about Subhas’s spiritual attainment, and also at the thought that he was present with Baba at that time. He himself was a great admirer of Subhas. After coming out of Baba’s room he called the volunteers (the volunteers quarters was just outside Baba’s quarters), and repeated all that Baba had said about Subhas.
Since 1954 Baba had shown Subhas several times during demonstrations. The last time He showed Subhas was in 1970 or 71. But after leaving Ranchi in mid-1971, He never showed any demonstration of Subhas. While Baba was in jail, a few times Margiis asked Him whether Subhas was alive or not. Always Baba avoided a direct answer. After coming out of jail, while He was in the Lake Garden quarters in Kolkata, around 1981 or 82, there was news in several papers in India about a Gumnami Baba. Many claimed that he was Subhas Chandra Bose. Then some papers even declared that Subhas had a link with the Marga.
One day in Lake Gardens, while that controversy was going on, a few workers were sitting outside Baba’s room. Among them were Mantreshvaranandaji, Girijanandaji and Sarvatmanandaji. Baba suddenly opened the door and said, “Subhas is not alive anymore.” Saying that, He closed the door. There was no further indication from Him on this then or at any time later. When and where Subhas had left his body was never known.
One day He was taking His breakfast, and Himanshu da was sitting near Him. In the course of some discussion he asked Baba if Subhas was alive. Baba said that Subhas had left his physical body. He did not say anything more about him.
Subhas was the hero of the entire country. Nobody in the whole history of India was as popular as he. He became more popular after his disappearance in 1945. Despite several official enquiry commissions ordered by Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, all of which declared him dead, the people of India refused to accept it. It was not so much because they had any proof that he was alive; it was more because of their love for him.
Just as Baba once said, Subhas was a great mystery in the cosmic drama. The most glorious part of his life remained a mystery. In the history of India, nobody, after Lord Buddha, gave up so much in pursuit of a spiritual goal as Netaji did. In the entire history of the world, no renowned man's pursuit of spirituality remained so unknown as did that of Netaji. This aspect of his made his greatness all the more splendorous. In the world of humans hungry for power and recognition, name and fame, Netaji will ever remain as a beacon-light inspiring everyone with the spirit of renunciation. He gave up the unreal in the pursuit of the Real.
The true greatness of this man remains yet unknown to the world. So, to most of the world, does the greatness of the One who inspired him and guided him to the path of greatness. If Baba had wanted, He would just have needed to give a signal to Netaji, and Netaji would have come out in the open and propagated Baba's ideology, Baba's greatness to the people of India. That would have drawn millions of youths into His fold. His Mission would have got established long ago. But despite the repeated appeal of the Margis, Baba did not want it that way. Just as He kept His dear disciple hidden, He kept His own omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient personality hidden from the world. He opted for the most difficult way. He Himself underwent all kinds of suffering, engulfed in controversies and criticisms. He put the Mission through all kinds of severe tests and still continues to do so. This could not have happened unless Baba had complete control over the situation, such that after passing through all these acid tests, the Marga would indeed become strong and come forth to the world as the panacea for all problems. In these crisis-ridden days, we wonder again and again, what will happen to Baba's unfulfilled Mission? Will His ideology ever get established? Should it not give us confidence to remember that He who built the Mission, He who gave the ideology, is in full control of its future too? The One who did not opt for the easy route to recognition by capitalizing on Netaji’s popularity, perhaps thought that the difficult route passing through all the trials and tribulations, though a bit painful, is the permanent route.
THE END
All my energy, all my mind, all my thoughts, and all my deeds are to be goaded unto the path of the collective elevation of human society, without neglecting other living or inanimate entities, right from this moment until the last point of my living on this earth.
Tiljala. Kolkata
by Ac. Pranavatmakananda Avt.
Today, the 23rd January is the 106th birth day of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The entire India is observing his birthday. It is a public holiday in Bengal and the North-Eastern India. Entire Calcutta is full of tri-color national flag and there were hundreds of procession by children, youths, grownups and women and men of all ages. At every street corner one could find the garlanded photo of Netaji. Subhas Chandra Bose is popularly known as Netaji (the leader) and he was the actual leader of the nation during the independence movement. For young and old, men and women, people of all back ground, in south or north, east or west he is the most revered leader of independence. Among the masses he is more popular than Gandhiji. Even today the youth Netaji is a great source of inspiration He was the president of Congress party which was leading the independence movement and he won the election to that post defeating the candidate supported by Gandhiji because of backing of the youth. But Gandhiji started creating hindrance in his function as the president of the party. So he resigned from Congress party and launched a new party called the Forward Block. His greatest dream was to see India independent. He was then put under house arrest by British and he escaped from there. In disguise he left India via Afghanistan and then traveled to Germany where he met Hitler and solicited his help to fight British rule in India. Finding not much response there he traveled to the Far-East and with the help of the Japanese organized the tens of thousands of Indian living in Singapore and Malaysia and Indian Prisoner of War in the custody of Japanese. With their help he organized the Indian National Army with material support from the Japanese. He liberated some of the North-Eastern states of India and started advancing towards Bengal. The whole India was waiting for Netaji to liberate it from the British rule. That was when the Gandhiji supported the British against Netaji. But the whole India was ready to stand behind Netaji. Just at the time the Japanese capitulated and the support for Netaji from the Japanese ended. So Netaji had to call off the war. British wanted to try him for waging war against them. It was said that after the war ended he took a plane from Rangoon in Burma to Taiwan. It was claimed that the plane crashed in Taihoku in Taiwan and he died of the injuries sustained in that crash. But people in India never believed that story. They believed that he went into hiding and became a monk and was leading a spiritual life and will come out one day to lead India to a great future. Until today that belief continues. There was plan by Mount Batten (who was commander in chief of Allied Forces in the east) to arrest Netaji as war criminal and execute him.
Baba had great love and admiration for Netaji. Dedicating the book ‘Problems of the day’ to Netaji Baba wrote in that book – ‘To the great hero Subhas Chandra Bose whom I did love and whom I do love even now’. Many Margiis of the early days know that Netaji had link with Baba. But the details were not known. Following are some of the untold stories of Netaji’s close link with Baba in detail.
It was 14th November 1954 a Sunday. The second General Darshan of Marga was taking place in the quarter no. 339 EF in Rampur colony, Jamalpur. This was the house where the Marga was born. There were about 15-16 persons in the small room and all of them were initiated by Baba. Present among them were Pranay da - the first General Secretary, Chandranathji Comandanat (Bihar Military Police), V.K. Asthanaji (Asst. Collector of Customs and Central Excise, Bhagalpur), Nagina Prasad (Suptd. of Customs and Central Excise, Bhagalpur), Dr. Sachinandan Mandal, Rasmay Das and several others. After a short talk, Baba did death demonstration on one Krishna Chandra Pal (nick name Kesto). During the demonstration, after separating the mind of Kesto from his body Baba made the mind of a dead great saint (Shyama Charan Lahari) enter into that body (this saint’s disciple’s disciple started later a big spiritual movement now having many branches in the West.) After Shyama Charan Lahari’s mind entered the body of Kesto, his mind was projected out and was asked to visit several places including a planet of Ashvini Star, Mars, Moon and Kremlin and was asked to narrate what all he saw there. Then Baba ordered him to go across the Himalayas and go to Tibet. Once in Tibet He asked the saint to go to its capital Lhasa and then to a nearby monastery in Ling Popo. There He sent the saint’s mind to a nearby cave and asked him to narrate what he saw there. The saint said that a very radiant looking person was meditating there. Baba asked him to go close and see who it was. The saint said that it was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. That created a sensation among those assembled who were already marveled seeing several unbelievable things happening before them. Then Baba asked the saint to enter Netaji’s mind and ask him if he wanted to come back to India. Netaji indicated with his head that he did not want to come back. Baba asked the saint to leave Netaji alone and return back. After that the saint was asked to leave the body and the original Kesto was brought back into that body. It was one of the most marvelous demonstrations Baba ever did. (There are several details to this demonstration but in order not to deviate from the actual story about Netaji I am leaving that out.)
After this Baba had shown Netaji more than 30 or 40 times while in Jamalpur and Ranchi. Most of time Dasharthji, while in Jamalpur and some WTs, while in Ranchi used to be the media. Many times Margiis wanted to know about Netaji and then Baba would show Netaji to the medium. Most of the time, Netaji was found in meditative posture inside the cave and a few times outside that cave. (I am not sure if it was always the same cave or different caves. But it was always in Tibet.
After the 1st time Baba never specified the location of the cave in other demonstrations.) He had a long white beard and thin long hair. Persons on whom the demonstrations were done have sometime given the description of the surroundings. It was a hilly area and there was a small rivulet flowing nearby. A few times Netaji was found resting outside the cave.
Baba had said that nobody could enter the cave without permission of Netaji or Baba and if anyone tries to enter without permission he would fall dead then and there. Several times Margiis wanted to know if he would come back to India and Baba would order the medium to ask that and every time Netaji would indicate with his head movement that he did not want to come back. Then Baba would say that if they tried they too could become great like Netaji. Several times Margiis would ask Baba to bring Netaji back and through him do Pracar of Marga.
If only Netaji had come back and spoken about Baba and Marga to the people that would have lead to the instant acceptance of Marga by the people of India. Baba never wanted Marga to spread like that. Once or twice Netaji indicated that he would come if Baba wanted him back. But Baba refused to call him back. He would say that Netaji had completed his duty to the society and now he should not be disturbed from his meditation. Once Baba said that ‘Netaji is the greatest mystery in the Cosmic drama’. Several times Baba had told Margiis that Netaji and M.N.Roy (the propounder of radical humanism) once came to meet Baba in Jamalpur. They met Him in the Tiger’s grave. He also had said that they were seated on His both sides and had long discussions with Him about India’s future. Baba’s had revealed many more secrets about His association with Netaji, about Netaji’s initiation, about his leaving India, about Netaji coming to see Baba and Netaji’s leaving the body.
From the Archives –
The untold story about Netaji - part II
In the last issue I mentioned that during Jamalpur and Ranchi days more than 30 – 40 times Baba showed Netaji in Tibet mostly absorbed in meditation. One of the important demonstrations comes to my mind. It was sometime in 1963. During one General Darshan in Jamalpur jagriti Baba asked Dasharath da to project his mind and take it to Delhi. There He asked him to go to Teen Murti Bhavan, the official residence of Jawahar Lal Nehru, the then prime minister of India. Baba asked Dasharath da to go inside Nehru’s room and see what he was doing. Dasharath da said that he was sitting before a table and there was liquor bottle and glass in front of him. Dasharath da said that there was also a knife on the table. Then Baba asked Dasharath da to go to Tibet and see what Subash (Netaji) was doing. Dasharath da saw that Netaji was meditating inside a cave. Baba then asked the Margiis to see the contrast. He said Nehru was a Sadhu (a mendicant) in his past life and because of his desire to enjoy power he became the prime minister of India in this life, but he had no mental peace. (Then He told the detailed story of that but I am not deviating from the main story.) And now his situation was so pathetic that he had to drown his worries in alcohol. (After the war with China in 1962 in which India was routed by the Chinese, Nehru was a very depressed person. It was very big defeat for Nehru’s policy of appeasing China and terrible loss of face too). Then He said about Subash that he was a politician and could have become the prime minister of India if he had so desired. But he gave it up for the sake of his spiritual pursuit. Now he was close to reaching Paramapada, the highest goal of life. Baba said that they were together in the freedom movement but Nehru lost his way in pursuit of power and Netaji got the right guidance of Guru and got his way.
Netaji’s Inititation: Several times Baba had told that once Netaji and M.N. Roy came to see Him in the Tigers grave in Jamalpur. But Baba did not tell the details of what actually they came there for and what actually transpired between them. Once He was graceful to reveal the secret. One evening (it was Guru Purnima – Purnima which generally falls in July) Baba was having field-walk in the polo ground. That day He was accompanied by a Margi named Hemchand Nayak of Baharagora of Singbhum district of then Bihar. He was an officer in the Agriculture dept. known for his honesty and was a very great devotee. There were two other persons that day. Since it was rainy season not many had come to Jamalpur. As there was nobody else that day they had the luck to perform the duty of the usual A, B, C groups (B group would accompany Baba from His residence to the Tiger’s grave and A would sit with Him there and C would accompany Him back to His residence.) Just as they neared the Tigers grave Baba started telling them a hitherto unknown event that had taken place several decades ago. Pointing to the Tigers grave He said, “See Hemchand, it was on this day several years ago that Subash and M.N. Roy came to see Me on this Tigers grave. They arrived in Jamalpur in the afternoon. My appointment with them was at 7 p.m. I came there around 7.30 p.m. Both Subash and M.N. Roy were sitting on the Tigers grave. Subash was wearing his normal Doti and Kurta with a shawl wrapped around. M.N. Roy was wearing Pant and shirt”.
Before proceeding further I want to make a brief deviation. Though Baba did not specify the year, from the calculations it must be 1939 July*. Both Subash and M.N. Roy were giant personalities in their respective field and it was strange that they both would come all the way from Calcutta to Jamalpur to have some serious discussion with an obscure youth who was just past 17 years. Subash had resigned from the post of Congress President just two or three months ago. Still he was being hailed as the leader of the masses, particularly the youth of India. M.N. Roy can be called the founder of Communist movement in India and Central America along with Trotsky and was contemporary of Lenin and Stalin. He was with Lenin in Russia and later moved to Mexico with Trotsky and founded the communist movement there. His original name was Narendra Nath Battacharya. After he got frustrated with Stalin’s style of Communism he returned to India under the assumed name of Manavendra Nath Roy (M.N. Roy) to escape the attention of the British. Later he denounced Communism and later propounded ‘Radical Humanism’. It was around that time that he had come in contact with Baba. Baba had just joined Vidyasagar College. But soon He had developed contact with the intellectual circle in Calcutta. K.C. Das the founder of K.C. Das & Sons the foremost makers of Rasagulla of Calcutta, M.N. Roy and several others eminent persons (whose name I don’t remember now) were in His contact and with whom Baba used to have serious discussion. He used to charm them with His extraordinary intellectual eminence. Subash was a close associate of M.N. Roy.
Baba’s younger brother Himanshu da remembers Baba taking him to see an elderly person one day. When they went to that person’s house they saw that his white-skinned wife Evelyn Trent was massaging his body with oil. That elderly person received Baba with respect and had some serious discussion with Him. Baba was less than twenty then. After leaving the house Baba told Himanshu da that it was M.N.Roy, a great intellectual and thinker. Himanshu da was hardly twelve or thirteen and did not know who M.N. Roy was and never bothered to listen to what they were discussing.
It appears that it was M.N. Roy who brought Netaji in Baba’s contact. Baba had fixed appointment to meet them in the Tigers grave that day. It is not known if Netaji had met Baba in Calcutta before coming to Jamalpur.
Continuing the details of that evenings meeting Baba further said, “When I reached there they were already discussing something. It was about India’s independence. Subash was of the opinion that India should be politically free first and then it would gain economic independence. M.N. Roy disagreed and held the view that India should fight for economic freedom and political independence would automatically follow that. They asked me for my opinion”. Saying this Baba asked Hemchandji whose stand was correct. Hemchandji said that Subash should be correct. Baba said, “No Hemchand, history will prove that M.N. Roy was correct”. Then they had a long discussion with Baba. He explained them how morality was essential for anyone wanting to serve the society. Without spirituality, morality was not possible and one could become corrupt. Without much argument Subash agreed and asked Baba to convince M.N. Roy. M.N. Roy was of the view that human beings have some innate moralistic tendency and that was sufficient for humans to do service to mankind. Baba said that even that moralistic tendency will not stand the test of serious temptation. Only by being a spiritualist one would be able to have a strong moral base. Baba said that it took Him more than an hour to convince M.N. Roy. Finally both agreed to learn meditation. Subash was already practicing spiritual practices from before. First Baba initiated Subash and then M.N. Roy. After the initiation Baba asked Subash to express some personal wish he wanted to be fulfilled. Baba said that Subash did not ask anything for himself but wanted to see India free from British rule. Baba said that India would be free but there should be struggle to achieve that. Subash said that he did not believe that through non-violence India would be free and the people of India will not fight for independence because of the influence of Gandhiji’s non-violence. So how would India become free? Baba said that since he was a courageous person he should organize struggle from outside India if it was not possible from inside the country.
Later on another occasion Baba said that after initiation He took three promises from Subash as part of Guru Dakshina. Baba said that he had fulfilled two promises out of that and was yet to fulfill the third one. He did not reveal what the three promises were. Tidbits of what Baba revealed to Hemchandji that day He had told to different persons. But this entire detail of the initiation of Subash He revealed only on that day. Though Baba continued to have link with M.N. Roy, he never practiced meditation seriously. Subash on the other hand took up his spiritual practices very seriously. His relatives and those who were with him during the war period had seen him doing long meditation even in the middle of war.
According to indications given by Baba after his initiation it was possible that He met him on a few occasions. He also might have learnt Kapalik Sadhana during those days. Baba said that the last time he did Kapalik Sadhana before leaving home he failed to complete a mandatory process of Sadhana and that led to some problems for him.
* The year of his initiation was calculated on the basis of information available. Baba said that it was Guru Purnima day, which falls in July. In 1939 was the last time in July he was free and in India. He was arrested by the British on the 3rd July 1940 when he was about to launch a massive movement against British rule. He was released on 5th Dec 1940 and was kept under house arrest. On the 17th January 1941 he disappeared from his house and never came back after that. Via Afghanistan and Russia he left for Germany and then to the Far-East. So according to this information it is possible that Netaji was initiated by Baba at least one month before He initiated Kalikananda on Shravani Purnima day of 1939. But for obvious reasons He kept it a secret.
From the Archives –
The untold story about Netaji - part II
I am giving here one more demonstration related to Netaji done by Baba in Jamalpur jagriti, which was different from the rest. One thing Margiis felt free to ask Baba or it would be more appropriate to say that they could not refrain from asking now and then, was about Netaji Subash. On several occasions Baba obliged them by showing Subash, mostly in meditation in a cave in Tibet. During one General Darshan in Jamalpur someone among the gathering again brought up the subject whether Netaji was alive. Baba touched the back of Dasharath da’s head and asked him to see if anybody else was in the room other than them.Dasharath da looked around and said that he was seeing that one Devayoni was standing in the corner near the entrance door. (Devayoni is a positive Microvita with only three fundamental factor luminous, aerial and ethereal factors instead of the five factors in all normal bodies. It is also known as luminous body.) Baba then said that if Subash was alive then a star mark would appear on it and if he was dead then a cross mark would appear on it. Dasharath da saw that a star mark appeared on it. Baba smiled and asked the Margiis if they got the reply.
Baba joined Vidyasagar College in Kolkata in 1939 and there was possibility that He was in contact with Netaji while in Kolkata. I mentioned that Netaji was taught Kapalik Sadhana before he left India. It was possible that he learnt other lessons of Sadhana from Baba during that time. In the earlier two parts I mentioned about some hints given by Baba. In one of the demonstration Baba showed that there were skulls (used for Kapalik Sadhana) in the cave where Subash was meditating. Baba also said about Subash not completing the formality of Kapalik Sadhana while in Kolkata.
In many of Netaji’s writings during that period there was often mention of the importance of spirituality and several of his ideas of that time have similarity to Prout. We don’t know if this was due to any influence of his association with Baba. On the 3rd of July 1940 Subash was arrested by the British as he was about to launch a massive movement to oust them from India. He was kept in jail until the early December. In the end of November he went on fast unto death if he was not released. Upon that he was released on the 5th December and was kept under house arrest. Baba had told him during the visit to Jamalpur that if he could not fight from within the country he should leave the country and organize struggle from outside the country. On 17th January 1941 he left incognito from his house by car up to Gomoh (near Bokaro) accompanied by his nephew Shishiir Bose. From Gomoh he took train to Lahore and from there to Afghanistan and onwards. Baba said that He met Subash in Gomoh before he left. In a book written by Shishiir Bose about Subash he mentioned that someone met Subash in Gomoh station and took him away to some distance and had some long talk with him. In that book he refused to identify that person.
Subash took the help of Japanese and organized the Indians living in Malaysia and Singapore and the Indian Prisoners of War in the custody of the Japanese and started Indian National Army popularly known as INA with a view to liberate India. Netaji first liberated the Indian territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and then attacked the North-Eastern part of India. He liberated Nagaland and Manipur and advanced towards Tejpur in Assam. His slogan was ‘Delhi Chalo’ – March towards Delhi. Wherever INA entered, the local population rose in revolt against the British and supported the INA. The Congress leaders and Gandhiji opposed Netaji but India was with Netaji. He had given them a hope of liberating India from the British yoke. They were waiting for the INA to advance further. The British feared that if INA reached Bengal then the whole of India would rise in revolt and it would be difficult to stop Netaji then.
It was at that time that there was a strange twist to the whole direction of war. After the surrender of Japan the military following the dropping of Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, help that from was coming Japanese ended suddenly. INA was without support and could not face the might of the British Empire without outside help. So they too had to end the war. The British wanted to try Subash for waging war against them and wanted to execute him. It is said that he flew from Rangoon in Burma to Taiwan via Bangkok and Saigon. It was said that his plane crashed near Taihoku airport in Taiwan and he died shortly after that due to the injuries. People in India never accepted that version.
The patriotic spirit kindled by Netaji was unstoppable and there was revolt in many places including by the Indian Army in Mumbai. The British understood that they cannot hold on to India any longer and decided to free India. On 15th August 1947 India became independent. There was a secret agreement between the new leaders of India and the British Govt. that if Subash came back to India he would be handed over to the British to be tried as war criminal. The need for that agreement showed that they also believed that Netaji was not dead. The popular sentiment in India then was overwhelmingly for Subash. If he had come back after the independence he would have been instantly accepted as the uncrowned king of India.
Ever since his disappearance India was rife with the rumor that Netaji Subash had appeared here, there or somewhere and that he was going to come out soon before the public. Any such news would electrify the people. That expectation was so strong in Indian public’s mind that even today many hold on that hope. It may be that Baba thought that Subash had done his part for India and that the future of Indian politics would not be suitable for a person like Subash. So He wanted Subash to spend the remaining part of his life in pursuit of ‘Parampada’ – the Goal of life.
Margiis got proof of Subash being alive when Baba for the first time showed him meditating, to the saint who entered the dead body of Kesto Pal on 14th November 1954. Nothing was known about what happened during the 9 years after his disappearance. How Subash escaped after the war was not known nor was anything known about how he reached Tibet.
From 54 up to 70 Baba had shown several dozen times Subash doing meditation in a cave in Tibet. In 1969 itself during the ‘Demonstration Year’ He had shown him several times. Baba had consistently turned down the appeal of the Margiis to bring Subash back and help Pachar of Marga. Then one day the following thing happened. Most probably it was in the end of 69 or early 70 and Baba was in Ranchi. One evening Dada Vijayanandaji who had just returned from Anandanagar was to go for field walk with Baba. He came to the gate of Baba’s quarter where he was told that Baba would leave for field-walk around 8 p.m. Since there was another half an hour for that, Dada thought to return later to be in time for field-walk. That day Baba finished His Puja etc. early, and without following the usual formality came out dressed for filed-walk about 20 minutes earlier than usual 8 p.m. Since Dada Vijayanandaji was not yet there the PA wanted to arrange somebody else to go with Him. Baba told him not to send anybody along. That day He didn’t allow the usual VSS vehicle to follow Him. The only persons with Him were bodyguard Vishnu Devji, and another VSS volunteer Tiirat Ganju of Kuti. They too traveled with Him in His car. Deviating from the usual procedure of allowing the driver Dilip or Vishnu Deoji to decide the place of field-walk, He himself started guiding Diliip the whole way. It was not the usual route. At a particular place Baba asked Diliip to stop the car. Everything that He directed them to do that day was a departure from the usual procedure. Usually the system was that after Baba got off the car, He would walk along the road itself. That day He entered a barren field nearby. Normally the car would either follow Him slowly at a distance during His walk or would wait for Him where He got down, but the parking light was compulsorily put on during that time. That day He directed driver Diliip to switch off all the lights including the parking light. He was also asked not step out of the car. Usually Visnu Devji would walk along beside Baba showing the path with flash light. That day He asked both Visnu Devji and Tiiratji to walk about 15-20 steps behind Him. Visnu Devji was asked not to switch on the light at all. They were also asked maintain strict silence. After covering about 100 meters they saw that a person was standing alone. In the dim moon light they could see that he had long beard. Due to the darkness and the distance they were asked to maintain, they could not make out anything about him. He greeted Baba by touching His feet and started walking along His side. They walked together for nearly half an hour. After covering a long distance Baba stopped and continued the conversation with the stranger. In the end the stranger prostrated before Baba. Baba blessed him and he departed. Baba also returned to the car. There was no word from Him until He reached the car. Once inside the car He took some water and asked Diliip to return. On the way they asked Baba
who it was and Baba did not reply. Only a few days later did Baba reveal to them that it was Subash. They were thrilled to hear that.
It would be appropriate to mention here that once talking about Subash, Baba said that he was spiritually very advanced and had developed many Siddhis (occult powers) that he could travel anywhere using that.
A man, for whom entire India had been waiting for decades, came to meet Baba on a dark night in lonely place unknown to the world. Subash’s disappearance has been a mystery to people of India and his coming to see the Lord of Mystery was no less a mystery. Why he came and what did Baba talk with him would also remain a mystery. Baba once said that Subash was a great mystery in the Cosmic Drama.
From the Archives-
Netaji Subhash – One of Baba’s Mysteries –
It was some time in '70 or early '71 that Baba went for a field-walk to the Murabadi ground in Ranchi. This was the police parade ground. Accompanying Baba was Ac. Amitananda da, who was the principal of AMIT then, Gopalji from the VSS security, and two others.
After a walk around the parade ground, Baba sat on the platform at the base of the flagpole. That day Baba did not say anything. He would usually talk on some topic or other. But now He was silent, and His gaze was fixed towards the sky. He went on gazing towards the sky. Seeing His seriousness, no one dared to disturb Him. This must have continued for about 10-15 minutes. Then suddenly He uttered, “Sabash, Subhas, sabhash” ("Bravo, Subhas, bravo"). His mood was very serious, and He was perspiring. Without saying a single further word, He got up and returned to the car. Even on the way back, He did not say anything.
It was a very unusual kind of field walk. Dada Amitanandaji generally was very frank and free with Baba. Not many would dare to talk to Baba as frankly as Dada Amitanandaji would, and Baba gave him that kind of liberty. But that day, after seeing the serious mood of Baba, even Dada Amitanandaji did not dare disturb Baba with any discussion.
Three or four days later, Amitananda da was massaging Baba in His room. Baba asked him what he had felt that evening during the field walk, and whether he was not curious to know why He had said, "Bravo Subhas." Amitananda da said that he was indeed curious, but hadn’t dared to ask any question, seeing Baba in such a serious mood.
Baba said, “That day Subhas attained nirvikalpa samadhi by his own effort. It is very difficult to attain nirvikalpa samadhi without the help of the Sadguru. In the case of Subhas, he reached that stage without any assistance from me. See, Amitananda, he could have reached the topmost post in the country, i.e., become the Prime Minister, but he gave it all up to reach the highest spiritual goal. The standard of renunciation he has shown is exemplary. What Subhas has done will inspire every human being in the future. If a man so involved in the world can achieve the highest goal of life purely by his own effort, then why not others.” It is to be noted here that out of the thirty or forty times that Baba had demonstrated Subhas to different persons, on all of those occasions, barring two or three, Subhas was found absorbed in sadhana.
Amitananda da was extremely thrilled hearing thus from Baba about Subhas’s spiritual attainment, and also at the thought that he was present with Baba at that time. He himself was a great admirer of Subhas. After coming out of Baba’s room he called the volunteers (the volunteers quarters was just outside Baba’s quarters), and repeated all that Baba had said about Subhas.
Since 1954 Baba had shown Subhas several times during demonstrations. The last time He showed Subhas was in 1970 or 71. But after leaving Ranchi in mid-1971, He never showed any demonstration of Subhas. While Baba was in jail, a few times Margiis asked Him whether Subhas was alive or not. Always Baba avoided a direct answer. After coming out of jail, while He was in the Lake Garden quarters in Kolkata, around 1981 or 82, there was news in several papers in India about a Gumnami Baba. Many claimed that he was Subhas Chandra Bose. Then some papers even declared that Subhas had a link with the Marga.
One day in Lake Gardens, while that controversy was going on, a few workers were sitting outside Baba’s room. Among them were Mantreshvaranandaji, Girijanandaji and Sarvatmanandaji. Baba suddenly opened the door and said, “Subhas is not alive anymore.” Saying that, He closed the door. There was no further indication from Him on this then or at any time later. When and where Subhas had left his body was never known.
One day He was taking His breakfast, and Himanshu da was sitting near Him. In the course of some discussion he asked Baba if Subhas was alive. Baba said that Subhas had left his physical body. He did not say anything more about him.
Subhas was the hero of the entire country. Nobody in the whole history of India was as popular as he. He became more popular after his disappearance in 1945. Despite several official enquiry commissions ordered by Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, all of which declared him dead, the people of India refused to accept it. It was not so much because they had any proof that he was alive; it was more because of their love for him.
Just as Baba once said, Subhas was a great mystery in the cosmic drama. The most glorious part of his life remained a mystery. In the history of India, nobody, after Lord Buddha, gave up so much in pursuit of a spiritual goal as Netaji did. In the entire history of the world, no renowned man's pursuit of spirituality remained so unknown as did that of Netaji. This aspect of his made his greatness all the more splendorous. In the world of humans hungry for power and recognition, name and fame, Netaji will ever remain as a beacon-light inspiring everyone with the spirit of renunciation. He gave up the unreal in the pursuit of the Real.
The true greatness of this man remains yet unknown to the world. So, to most of the world, does the greatness of the One who inspired him and guided him to the path of greatness. If Baba had wanted, He would just have needed to give a signal to Netaji, and Netaji would have come out in the open and propagated Baba's ideology, Baba's greatness to the people of India. That would have drawn millions of youths into His fold. His Mission would have got established long ago. But despite the repeated appeal of the Margis, Baba did not want it that way. Just as He kept His dear disciple hidden, He kept His own omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient personality hidden from the world. He opted for the most difficult way. He Himself underwent all kinds of suffering, engulfed in controversies and criticisms. He put the Mission through all kinds of severe tests and still continues to do so. This could not have happened unless Baba had complete control over the situation, such that after passing through all these acid tests, the Marga would indeed become strong and come forth to the world as the panacea for all problems. In these crisis-ridden days, we wonder again and again, what will happen to Baba's unfulfilled Mission? Will His ideology ever get established? Should it not give us confidence to remember that He who built the Mission, He who gave the ideology, is in full control of its future too? The One who did not opt for the easy route to recognition by capitalizing on Netaji’s popularity, perhaps thought that the difficult route passing through all the trials and tribulations, though a bit painful, is the permanent route.
THE END
All my energy, all my mind, all my thoughts, and all my deeds are to be goaded unto the path of the collective elevation of human society, without neglecting other living or inanimate entities, right from this moment until the last point of my living on this earth.
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