The erstwhile residence of the Bose family, had been converted into a museum, 'Netaji Bhawan', a few decades back. It's looked after by a body called the 'Netaji Research Bureau' (NRB).
The Wanderer W24 four door saloon housed within has been on permanent display in an enclosure just beyond the porch of the large and elegant former home and I've seen the car while driving past for as long as I can remember.
The car is of tremendous historical value as it was used in the 'Great Escape', a reference to Netaji's journey from Calcutta to Gomoh in the Wanderer, which was owned by his nephew Sisir Bose. His nephew drove the car that night, Netaji sitting behind him, slipping out under the cover of darkness, evading house arrest imposed by the British.
The earliest that I recall, maybe 25 years back, the Wanderer was in a shade of a light pale green. Although under cover, she seemed neglected. Then a few years back I saw that she had been given a poor coat of a dull grey paint, applied liberally over the remaining bright work but well protected from the elements in a glass enclosure. Even from the streets, the car looked forlorn and barely merited a second look.
The other day, Pallab Roy, a good friend and the gentleman who was entrusted by the NRB and Audi to restore the historic car, invited me to see the car at close quarters as he was carrying out routine maintenance with his team on the Wanderer. This was the first time I actually stepped inside Netaji Bhawan, inspite of having lived in Calcutta for most of my life!
As I walked around the premises, I was struck by how large and elegant the Bose family residence was. To me, it is more of a shrine rather than a museum, having housed such a remarkable family. Ten Rupees is all you need to actually step inside the house itself!
I have to say that I was extremely glad that Pallab Roy had called me that evening and very pleased to see the Wanderer finally looking like it should; bright work restored, all missing bits fabricated, installed, and operational. She now wears a lovely period two tone shade and the new interiors are understated and elegant. The car just looks very German, and with the 4 rings on the grille, unmistakably a product of Auto Union.
Pallab Roy explained to me that when he embarked on the project, virtually all the bright work was either missing or weathered beyond repair. The engine had been taken apart in the past in an attempt to rebuild it but it wasn't a success. A ton of research and many dies and moulds later, all the missing bits and pieces were fabricated. The engine and all other mechanical components were rebuilt. Audi's very generous restoration budget and resources were of great help to Pallab and his team.
As I poured over the car, Pallab Roy pointed out the very unconventional springing for the suspension, transversely mounted leaf springs at both front and rear! What took me by surprise was the inclusion of a one shot chassis lubrication system, whose plumbing has been faithfully replicated and is now fully operational.
Although virtually every component of the Wanderer motor car has been rebuilt, Pallab Roy and his team were never allowed by the NRB to take the car out on the streets for trials. In fact, they do not allow the car to leave the premises at all and to the best of my knowledge, the most that the car has travelled since it became part of the museum display was when former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee came to mark the 75th year of Netaji's 'Great Escape'. On that occasion too, the car was driven back and forth within the premises. It is a very historic car and perhaps the NRB is right in not allowing it on the streets, I don't know.
I consider myself very lucky to have been able to see the engine area and stepped inside the cabin. In my opinion, the car looks best when viewed from the front, aided by its sculpted front fenders and handsome grille.
It's easy to get overwhelmed when you disregard the Wanderer as simply a car and instead view it as the vehicle used by one of India's greatest revolutionaries. Especially when you are told exactly where Netaji sat, on that faithful night.
Pallab Roy tells me that during the 75th year felicitation ceremony when the Wanderer was the focus, President Mukherjee asked him as to whether they knew the spot in which Netaji was seated on the night of the 'Great Escape'. When he was told that he sat behind his nephew, the driver, Pranab babu declined to sit in that spot and quietly went over and sat in front, as a mark of respect to one of the giants of India's freedom movement.
Here's a link to a recently published article with reference to Pallab Roy, who restored the Wanderer:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/56741833.cms
Also a couple of photos and a video taken by a friend and me:
The 'Willy Vogel' hydraulic fluid reservoir for the one shot chassis lubrication system A short video https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W0R...ew?usp=sharing