Subhas and Emilie Schenkl (contd-1)

They had become close friends since 1934. Schenkl had not only worked with Bose in vienna but had also accompanied him on trips to Badgestein and Karlovy Vary. Durimng much of 1935 they had the opportunity to see each other in Vienna and nearby health resorts. Not many letters were written then . The letters resumed in early 1936 as Bose felt well enough to go on another European tour. He wrote several interesting letters from ireland, where he had quite a few meetings with De valera. in March 1936 Bose decided to return to India in defiance of British warnings . Schenkl   joined him briefly at Badgestein prior to his departure.

Bad Gastein is a spa town in the Austrian state of Salzburg, situated at the northern rim of the Hohe Tauern national park. It has 5,838 inhabitants. The name "Bad" means "spa", reflecting the town's history as a health resort. It is located at the head of the Gastein valley, about 1,000 metres (3,280 ft.) above sea level. The townscape is characterised by historic multi-story hotel buildings erected on the steep slopes.

On 29 March 1936, Bose wrote from the ship Conte Verde,
" there are many things I want to write to you about - but I shall write in a disconnected way - so please read this letter carefully.". He wrote 3 letters in 3 consecutive days at the end of March 1936 which was beginning of 20 months geographical separation.
The letters written during 8 April 1936 to 15 March 1937 had to pass through police censors. The first two were written from prisons, 1. Arthur Road Prison, 2. Yeravda Central Prison, 11 letters written from his internment in Kurseong, 5 as a prisoner in in Medical College Hospital in Calcutta.
8 letters written by Schenkl during this period have also survived. One of Schenkl's letters was not found.