The recent disclosure of the belongings of Gumnami Baba of Faizabad has sparked the old debate whether Gumnami Baba aka Bhagwanji was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose or not. Incidentally on 19th September, 1985 a body wrapped in tri colour was moved out of Ram Bhawan and cremation was completed on the banks of Saryu at the Guptar ghat. Only 13 people including Dr. RP Mishra, Dr. Priyabrat Bannerjee and Saraswati Devi Shukla were in the funeral procession. The body belonged to Gumnami Baba according to those present in the funeral. After Gumnami Baba's death, 24 boxes of his belongings were kept at the Faizabad Treasury. As far as eye witness accounts are concerned, those 24 boxes comprised of round frame spectacles, Belgian typewriters, lots of newspapers of pre-independence and post-independence time with Gumnami Baba’s comments scribbled on them. Apart from that there were also boxes full of books of international relevance, several books gifted by ‘sister’, cigars from Germany and Italy, and lastly huge-size family photographs.”

The recent revelations from Gumnami Baba's belongings kept in Faizabad treasury ushered in discovery of several photos. Among those photos, there was a family portrait comprising one of Netaji's parents, Jankinath Bose and Prabhawati Bose. The golden frame spectacles of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were also found as Petitioner Shakti Singh disclosed. The current move of finding those from the trunk at the Faizabad treasury is in direct reference to order of the Allahabad High Court. Incidentally Petitioner Shakti Singh is the owner of Ram Bhawan and Gumnami Baba spent his last years in Ram Bhawan only. Shakti Singh is also a member of the special committee set up by the Faizabad district administration which has archived the properties of Gumnami Baba.

Gumnami baba’s Samadhi

RTI activist and writer Anuj Dhar in his book 'India's biggest cover up' elucidated the details that Gumnami Baba aka Bhagwanji gave a hint on how he moved out of Russia and what happened to him thereafter. He also categorically mentioned about his engagement in covert activities countering world powers, especially America. Interestingly Gumnami Baba maintained a high level of privacy and never met anyone in person, rather preferred to converse from his room. Some political personalities of UP did maintain rapport with him. His amicable personality and knowledge drew huge admirers. Yet Gumnami Baba never came into public glare nor declared himself as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He used to maintain contact via letters with his confidante including Leela Roy and others. In 1982-85, Gumnami Baba stayed in Ram Bhawan until his death. Although forensic evidence based on teeth recovered from Gumnami Baba's assets recovered from his assets and handwriting, both in English and Bengali matched with Netaji, the Central as well as state government experts didn't give any conclusive report and even declined in attending the Mukherjee Commission sittings for proper interrogation. In this regard and from a broader point of view, the Mukherjee Commission report criticized the government of India for its aloofness and inactiveness in the fact finding in case of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Incidentally this isn't the first time that speculations have been discussed in the media as well as in the public about the mystery of disappearance of Subhas Chandra Bose. Previously, in the early 60's, the case of Shoulmari Baba got much public glare and that propaganda was backed by many people. Over and over again it has been said that the Taihoku plane crash was fake and Netaji himself conceived such an idea for a dramatic escape to plan an alternative way out in time of Japanese surrender in the World War II. Was the idea to dilute the Russian angle and trivialize the whole issue and make it a non-issue with time? The case of Gumnami Baba is something very different from other theories.  The recent revelations with family photos of Gumnami Baba back up such an idea. As far as the announcements of PM Narendra Modi are concerned, the declassification of Netaji files will continue. It remains to be seen whether any of such files can directly give any missing link to the Gumnami Baba speculations.

Let us not forget the fact that Gumnami Baba survived even in the mid 80's and historically that includes the Congress rule beyond the Indira Gandhi regime. It would be too much of an exaggeration to say that the Gumnami Baba revelations will be politically advantageous for the ruling party, BJP. Although BJP is targeting to give a tough fight under Netaji's kin Chandra Kumar Bose's leadership in Assembly Elections in West Bengal, the Netaji mystery is a national as well as an international issue. Hopefully orders to clarify all details regarding recent revelations will be announced in due time to clear all doubts regarding the identity of Gumnami Baba. If at all it is proved that Gumnami Baba was Netaji, historical narratives need to be addressed from a fresh viewpoint. What happened to Gumnami Baba needs to closely analyzed. Thankfully the remaining belongings of Gumnami Baba are still there with the Faizabad treasury and a fresh investigation can reveal new information. Even if, Gumnami Baba was not Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the real 'identity' of Gumnami Baba can be revealed.

References: ‘India’s biggest cover up’ by Anuj Dhar