At least three items visible in Ranchi provided fresh leads for those linking Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to the Chatterjee family. Some lovingly honour them as “Bangali Da”.

1. A Bunglow carrying signs of British architecture and clay roof tiles. It has a veranda and railing open to a green garden.

2. Inside this Bungalow lies a wooden chair.

3. A vintage British car of 1940 model carrying a number plate - BRN 70.

These items are owned by a family headed by Arup Chatterjee whose ancestors hail from Bengal. Ask any family member of Chatterjee about Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and pat comes the reply. “ We are proud of him.”

As the nation is celebrating the 126th Jayanti of Subhash Chandra Bose, officially as Parakaram Diwas( lit.’Day of valour), historical records show that his association with Jharkhand dates back to 1940.

Though he had made several trips to this state during 1940-41, Netaji had come to Ranchi via Chakradharpur and Khunti and attended a meeting of the Congress party in Ramgarh on March 19, 1940.

Chatterjee says that he had come to Ranchi in this BRN70 car, stayed in our bungalow, and sat on the wooden chair there.” These are our precious items. We have maintained and preserved them though there were many offers to sell them for high prices”.