Cuttack, Jan. 23: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was spiritually inclined and he accompanied his father Janiki Nath Bose to a few mutts in Cuttack.
An official source from the Netaji Subhas Bose Birth Place Museum here at Odia Bazaar said Janaki Nath used to give donations at a mutt set up by Jagatguru Srimad Bhaktisidhant Sawarasti Goswami in the city and Netaji frequently accompanied his father to the mutt.
It is believed that Netaji was deeply influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Paramhansa, which brought a spiritual awakening in him. A rare photograph of Jagatguru Srimad Bhaktisidhant Sawarasti Goswami was inaugurated at the spiritual gallery of the museum today.
"The spiritual guru has set up more than 63 maths across India and today on the occasion of the 120th birth anniversary of Netaji, we have installed a picture of the guru at the spiritual gallery," said curator J.P. Das.
Tributes were paid to Netaji on his birth anniversary in Cuttack today.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik paid his tributes by garlanding Netaji's statue inside the museum complex. "We should remember Netaji's contribution and sacrifice for the country," Naveen said.
Tourism and culture minister Ashok Panda said adequate steps were being taken by the state government for the development of Netaji's museum in Cuttack. "The interpretation centre will be handed over to the museum trust shortly and efforts are also on to convert it to a popular tourist destination," Panda said.
As a lot of social organisations are demanding to rename the Cuttack railway station in the name of Netaji, the Union government is the authority to take the final call as railway comes under its jurisdiction, Panda added.
A 25-minute documentary on the life and struggles of the freedom fighters of the Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army was also shown on the occasion today.
The documentary has been shot on experiences and struggles of three INA freedom fighters from Odisha - Khali Pradhan, Uchab Jena and Kapil Charan Ray.
Writer Sai Prasad Mohapatra has conceptualised the documentary and had earlier donated a short movie to the museum trust.
