RARE FACTS ABOUT NETAJI
“I have been longing to write to you for some time past — but you can easily understand how difficult it was to write to you about my feelings……Not a single day passes that I do not think of you. You are with me all the time. I cannot possibly think of anybody else in this world. I am anxious to know about your thoughts. Please write to me…”
This is the portion of a letter written by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to his lover Emilie Schenkl, an Austrian lady whom he met in Vienna in June 1934 during his forced exile. They developed a close relationship and secretly married on December 26, 1937.They kept their relationship and marriage a closely guarded secret. Their daughter Anita was born in Vienna on November 29, 1942.
Between 1934 and 1943, when he finally disappeared, both Netaji and Emilie exchanged a number of letters which have been preserved for posterity. He repeats in a series of letters that he thinks of Emilie day and night. Apart form declaring his love for her he also offers her some sane advice. For instance in a letter dated March 30, 1936 he says: “Just one thing more before I close this long letter. For your life, never pray for any selfish object or aim. Always pray for what is good for humanity----for what is good for all time----for what is good in the eyes of God. Pray in a nishkama way.”
In the same letter he chides Emilie for being a little indiscreet: “…The difficulty with you is that you never think before acting. You must now cultivate the habit of always thinking before you do anything. Think thrice before you act. If you do this, you will seldom make any mistakes.”
Before starting on his dangerous submarine journey from Berlin he revealed to his elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose, the existence of his wife and child. On February 8, 1943 he wrote to him: “I am again embarking on the path of danger, but this time towards home. I do not know whether I shall see the end of this road……I have married here and have a daughter. In my absence please show them the love you have given me all my life.” (The letter was in Bengali)
Netaji’s love for Emilie Schenkl is perhaps the least known aspect of his many-sided personality. It is unfortunate that Netaji never finished his autobiography which he began writing in Badgastein, Austria, in December 1937. Had he been able to do so we would have got more details about his personal life.
“I have been longing to write to you for some time past — but you can easily understand how difficult it was to write to you about my feelings……Not a single day passes that I do not think of you. You are with me all the time. I cannot possibly think of anybody else in this world. I am anxious to know about your thoughts. Please write to me…”
This is the portion of a letter written by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to his lover Emilie Schenkl, an Austrian lady whom he met in Vienna in June 1934 during his forced exile. They developed a close relationship and secretly married on December 26, 1937.They kept their relationship and marriage a closely guarded secret. Their daughter Anita was born in Vienna on November 29, 1942.
Between 1934 and 1943, when he finally disappeared, both Netaji and Emilie exchanged a number of letters which have been preserved for posterity. He repeats in a series of letters that he thinks of Emilie day and night. Apart form declaring his love for her he also offers her some sane advice. For instance in a letter dated March 30, 1936 he says: “Just one thing more before I close this long letter. For your life, never pray for any selfish object or aim. Always pray for what is good for humanity----for what is good for all time----for what is good in the eyes of God. Pray in a nishkama way.”
In the same letter he chides Emilie for being a little indiscreet: “…The difficulty with you is that you never think before acting. You must now cultivate the habit of always thinking before you do anything. Think thrice before you act. If you do this, you will seldom make any mistakes.”
Before starting on his dangerous submarine journey from Berlin he revealed to his elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose, the existence of his wife and child. On February 8, 1943 he wrote to him: “I am again embarking on the path of danger, but this time towards home. I do not know whether I shall see the end of this road……I have married here and have a daughter. In my absence please show them the love you have given me all my life.” (The letter was in Bengali)
Netaji’s love for Emilie Schenkl is perhaps the least known aspect of his many-sided personality. It is unfortunate that Netaji never finished his autobiography which he began writing in Badgastein, Austria, in December 1937. Had he been able to do so we would have got more details about his personal life.
(The above photograph is of Emilie Schenkl and Anita, Netaji's wife and daughter)
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