ASI says Netaji’s cap safe after missing claim, explains it was taken for Port Blair exhibition

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) clarified that the cap belonging to freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose is safe and was temporarily removed from display for an exhibition in Port Blair. The clarification came after concerns were raised that the historic artefact had gone missing from the Netaji Museum located at Red Fort in New Delhi.

The issue was raised by Netaji’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose, who said a visitor to the museum had noticed the cap missing from its display case. In a post on the social media platform X, he recalled that members of the Bose family had personally handed over the cap to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who dedicated it to the museum on January 23, 2019, during Netaji Jayanti celebrations.

Bose expressed concern over the disappearance of the artefact, calling it embarrassing if such an important historical object had been misplaced. He also urged authorities to investigate the matter and ensure proper preservation of the item associated with one of India’s most prominent freedom fighters.

Responding to the concern, ASI officials said the cap had been taken to Port Blair for display during Parakram Divas celebrations between January 19 and January 25. After the exhibition ended, it was brought back to Delhi but was briefly kept in safe custody due to a lock issue with the display case. Officials confirmed that the lock has now been repaired and the cap will be placed back on display at the museum.