On the occasion of 119th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released the First set of 100 Declassified files relating to Netaji at a function held in the National Archives of India here today. The function was attended Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Culture & Tourism, Shri Babul Supriyo, Minister of State for Urban Development & HUPA and the family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Prime Minister also launched the digital version of these files through web portal www.netajipapers.gov.in. The selected papers were displayed in an exhibition which the Prime Minister took keen interest to go through. The Prime Minister interacted with the family members and said that his government’s commitment made on 14 Oct, 2015 was fulfilled today. The family members in turn thanked the Prime Minister for taking the initiative and expressed satisfaction that the files which remained classified for nearly 70 years has now come in the public domain.
These files, papers are also available in the E Kiosks/Flipbook and Tablets for the public to go through till 15 February, 2016 in the exhibition hall of the National Archives of India in Janpath, New Delhi. These papers contain 36 files of Prime Minister’s office, 18 files of Ministry of Home Affairs and 46 files from Ministry of External Affairs covering the period 1956 to 2013. It has fulfilled the long-standing public demand to access these files and will also facilitate scholars to carry out further research on Netaji.
The National Archives of India further plans to release digital copies of 25 declassified files on Netaji in public domain every month. It may be added that in 1997 the National Archives of India had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) from the Ministry of Defence, and in 2012, 1030 files/ items pertaining the Khosla Commission (271 files/ items) and Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry (759 files/ items) from the Ministry of Home Affairs. All these files/ items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules, 1997.