My visit to Renkoji temple where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's ashes are kept
I visited Renkoji temple in Suginami ku of Tokyo in May 2009. I had read about this temple in books, have seen in it mentioned in debates surrounding Netaji's sudden disappearance and death. So I was curios to visit this place. When I talked regarding this temple with my friends in Japan, I was surprised to know that very few of them were aware of it.
One Sunday morning I decided to go there. I searched train networks. From Gyotoku where I was staying it was 1.5 hour journey with couple of interchanges in between. I got down at Higashi Koenji station on Marunochi line of Tokyo metro. The walk to Renkoji temple is a short 5-10 mins walk from the station. On the way to temple there was a nice garden with a small pond and few turtles. The area looked residential with very few people on the streets.
The road leading leading to the temple is rather small one. The temple is like any other old styled Shinto Shrine. Near the entrance there is a half statue of Netaji. Only 3 prime ministers till date have visited the Renkoji temple till date. First one was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, then Indira Gandhi and then Mr. AtalBihari Vajpayee. When I was in Japan Dr. ManMohan Singh visited Japan but he did not visit this place. I suspect because of the uncertainty and controversy related to Netaji's death and final days no Indian politicians visit the place.
The temple is a quite place. There is a board where Pandit. Jawaherlal Nehru's and Atalbihari Vajpayee's messages are scripted. Netaji's ashes are kept in a vessel. Every year on 18th August a ceremony is held in remembrance of Netaji. I checked with the care taker lady at the temple, but she denied me entry inside the area where the ashes are kept. I had to be satisfied to take photographs from outside.
Whether Renkoji temple has the really the ashes of Netaji or not is question in minds of many Indians. But I firmly believe that those ashes are of Netaji only. Japanese people are very loyal, respectful to people who helped them. Definitely Netaji was a war hero for them. There is no reason for this small temple to have anyone else's ashes.
Even if someone has any doubt regarding Renkoji temple but no one can deny that Netaji was a legendary freedom fighter who traveled multiple continents for his struggle, took on greatest leader of time to follow his ideology.
I visited Renkoji temple in Suginami ku of Tokyo in May 2009. I had read about this temple in books, have seen in it mentioned in debates surrounding Netaji's sudden disappearance and death. So I was curios to visit this place. When I talked regarding this temple with my friends in Japan, I was surprised to know that very few of them were aware of it.
One Sunday morning I decided to go there. I searched train networks. From Gyotoku where I was staying it was 1.5 hour journey with couple of interchanges in between. I got down at Higashi Koenji station on Marunochi line of Tokyo metro. The walk to Renkoji temple is a short 5-10 mins walk from the station. On the way to temple there was a nice garden with a small pond and few turtles. The area looked residential with very few people on the streets.
The road leading leading to the temple is rather small one. The temple is like any other old styled Shinto Shrine. Near the entrance there is a half statue of Netaji. Only 3 prime ministers till date have visited the Renkoji temple till date. First one was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, then Indira Gandhi and then Mr. AtalBihari Vajpayee. When I was in Japan Dr. ManMohan Singh visited Japan but he did not visit this place. I suspect because of the uncertainty and controversy related to Netaji's death and final days no Indian politicians visit the place.
The temple is a quite place. There is a board where Pandit. Jawaherlal Nehru's and Atalbihari Vajpayee's messages are scripted. Netaji's ashes are kept in a vessel. Every year on 18th August a ceremony is held in remembrance of Netaji. I checked with the care taker lady at the temple, but she denied me entry inside the area where the ashes are kept. I had to be satisfied to take photographs from outside.
Whether Renkoji temple has the really the ashes of Netaji or not is question in minds of many Indians. But I firmly believe that those ashes are of Netaji only. Japanese people are very loyal, respectful to people who helped them. Definitely Netaji was a war hero for them. There is no reason for this small temple to have anyone else's ashes.
Even if someone has any doubt regarding Renkoji temple but no one can deny that Netaji was a legendary freedom fighter who traveled multiple continents for his struggle, took on greatest leader of time to follow his ideology.
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