Despite the numerous books published and committees established to solve the mystery of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a living witness and close companion of his claims to have never been contacted by anyone. Nizamuddin, a 107-year-old man who says he was Netaji's driver in the Azad Hind Fauj (AHF), resides in Islampura, Bilariyaganj, in Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh. He asserts that he spent four years with Netaji after joining the AHF in 1942. Recently, volunteers from a local organization went to his home to honor him, and TOI had also visited him previously.
Nizamuddin is convinced that Netaji was not killed in the 1945 plane crash. He states that he dropped Netaji off by car on the banks of the Sitangpur river near the border of Burma and Thailand about three to four months after the crash. He insists that he pleaded with Netaji to let him accompany him, but Netaji ordered him to return, promising to meet again in Independent India. Nizamuddin has no knowledge of what occurred after he left Netaji on the riverbank.
However, he does recall a meeting with Swami, a close associate of Netaji, over ten years ago. Swami was in regular contact with Netaji. According to the repatriation certificate given to Nizamuddin, Swami (full name SV Swami) was the chairman of the Relief and Repatriation Council, Ex Azad Hind Fauj and Allied Organisation, Rangoon. This is the only document Nizamuddin has that proves his association with the AHF.
In 1969, Nizamuddin returned to India with his family and settled in his ancestral home in Dhakwa village. Later, he moved to Islampura.
