In a YouTube video, Tiwari makes bold claims about Subhash Chandra Bose’s alleged cooperation with Islamist Muhammad Shaidai, sparking controversy and raising questions about the accuracy of historical narratives. Tiwari’s central assertion revolves around Bose taking over Shaidai’s Radio Himalaya infrastructure and associating with figures like the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, suggesting a collaborative effort with Islamist agendas. However, historical evidence contradicts these claims. Bose did not absorb Shaidai’s radio operations but offered him a position in Azaden radio, which didn’t materialize due to differing objectives. The confusion surrounding Radio Himalaya’s fate stemmed from amateur management, causing it to fade into irrelevance.

Tiwari’s claim that Bose aimed to appease Muslims through attire and speeches is debunked by Bose’s vehement opposition to pan-Islamism. He openly criticized Shaidai for Islamist leanings, emphasizing their independent operations to rescue the cause of Indian independence from Shaidai’s agenda. German records from November 1941 indicate a shift in policy, distancing Bose from Islamist names and focusing on anti-colonial movements. The video also misconstrues the formation of the Indian Legion, suggesting it took over the Azad Industrial Battalion. The Legion, created from captured POWs, was distinct from Tiwari’s claim.

In November 1941, Bose made an important political move when he persuaded Italy and Germany to approve Germany’s creation of the Indian Legion. This marked a crucial shift in geopolitical dynamics and formalized the term ‘Azadhin’ in the joint declaration of Free India by the Axis powers. Conflicts within Centro I, formed by the Italians with Shadah as their leader, led to mutinies, disbandment of Shaida’s Battalion Azad, and reinduction into Battalion Azad in October 1942. A meeting with Hitler in May 1942 showcased Bose’s pragmatic approach. Rejecting Hitler’s racist ideas, Bose outlined India’s tasks, setting him on a firm course towards pursuing military plans in South Asia without illusions about his collaborators.