Many took objection to the word 'posthumous' as there was no credible evidence of death.
The PV Narasimha Rao government had decided to confer Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose a Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1992. The President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister even issued a press communique announcing the conferment of the award.
But the decision received a cold welcome from Netaji's kin and the then political and intellectual class in West Bengal.
When the Home Ministry reached out to Netaji's family, his daughter Anita Pfaff expressed reservations about the award. Her objection was based on the fact that Netaji was a national icon akin to Mahatma Gandhi and hence Bharat Ratna may not be a suitable title for him. Also, the award if given in the 1950s would have been more apt according to Anita Pfaff. She declined to receive the award.
The decision also came for massive opposition from politicians and intellectuals hailing from West Bengal, with former CM SS Ray, a Congress leader, expressing strong reservations. Here are the relevant portions of the communication about this issue at that time. The West Bengal government also formally refused to identify Netaji's next of kin.
Many also took objection to the word 'posthumous' as there was no credible evidence of death. According to a status note which was declassified today, facing mounting criticism, the PV Narasimha Rao government relied on a technicality to roll back the decision. The fact is that only a press communique and not notification by a gazette was used by the government to pour cold water over this simmering issue. According to the government, since the next of the kin refused the award, no formal gazette was issued and, with the approval of the President and PM, the matter was deemed as closed.
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 "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose")
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