Subhash Chandra Bose: A Revolutionary Leader of India

Subhash Chandra Bose was an Indian political leader and nationalist dedicated to Indian independence. He is often referred to as Netaji, meaning ‘respected leader’. He was born in 1897 to a Hindu–Bengali family, and raised in Cuttack, Orissa, where his father worked as a lawyer. He had a brilliant academic career and went to England to prepare for the Indian Civil Service. However, he resigned from the service in 1921 and returned to India to join the freedom struggle under Mahatma Gandhi. He became one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress and was elected its president twice. He also founded the Forward Bloc, a radical faction within the Congress. He advocated a more militant approach to independence and opposed the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence. He sought the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during World War II to fight against the British. He formed the Indian National Army (INA) with the help of Japanese forces and led it to fight against the British in Burma and India. He died in a plane crash in 1945 under mysterious circumstances. His death is still a matter of controversy and speculation among many Indians.

Background and Career

Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. He was the ninth child of Janakinath Bose, a wealthy and influential lawyer, and Prabhabati Bose, a devout Hindu woman. He had a large and well-educated family, with several of his siblings becoming prominent figures in various fields. He was influenced by his mother’s religious teachings and his father’s nationalist views.

Subhash Chandra Bose was a famous Indian leader who fought for India’s independence from the British rule. He was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa, to a wealthy and influential Hindu-Bengali family. He was a brilliant student and went to England to study for the Indian Civil Service exam, which he passed with high marks. However, he resigned from the service and returned to India to join the freedom movement under Mahatma Gandhi. He became one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian National Congress and was elected its president twice. He also founded the Forward Bloc, a radical faction within the Congress. He advocated a more militant and revolutionary approach to independence and opposed Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence. He sought the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during World War II to fight against the British. He formed the Indian National Army (INA) with the help of Japanese forces and led it to fight against the British in Burma and India. He declared the formation of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) in Singapore in 1943. He died in a plane crash in 1945 under mysterious circumstances. His death is still a matter of controversy and speculation among many Indians. He is widely regarded as a national hero and a martyr by many Indians.

Contributions of Subhash Chandra Bose:

• He resigned from the Indian Civil Service in 1921 to join the nationalist movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress21.
• He became a youth educator, journalist, and commandant of the Bengal Congress volunteers. He was arrested and deported to Burma by the British for his suspected involvement in revolutionary activities21.
• He became the president of the Indian National Congress in 1938 and 1939, but resigned due to ideological differences with Gandhi and other leaders. He advocated for armed resistance against the British and opposed the Gandhi-led Quit India Movement of 194221.
• He founded the All India Forward Bloc, a radical faction within the Congress, in 1939. He escaped from house arrest in 1941 and reached Germany via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. He met Adolf Hitler and sought his help for India’s independence21.
• He became the leader of the Indian National Army (INA) in 1943, which was composed of Indian soldiers who had defected from the British Indian Army and Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan. He also became the head of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind), which had its own currency, postage stamps, court, and civil code213.
• He launched a military campaign against the British and their allies in Southeast Asia and India, with the slogan “Give me blood and I will give you freedom”. He captured Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the British and renamed them as Shaheed (Martyr) and Swaraj (Self-rule). He reached Manipur in India and hoisted the Indian flag for the first time on Indian soil at Moirang. However, his army was defeated by the British forces and he had to retreat214.

Literary Works

Subhash Chandra Bose was a prolific writer who wrote several books, articles, essays, speeches, and letters on various topics related to India’s history, culture, politics, economy, society, and future. Some of his notable literary works are:

• The Indian Struggle: This is his autobiography, which covers his life and activities from 1920 to 1942. It was written in Germany in 1942 and published in London in 1948. It gives an account of his involvement in the Indian freedom movement, his differences with Gandhi and other Congress leaders, his escape from India, his experiences in Germany and Japan, and his vision for India’s independence. It is considered one of the most authentic sources of information about Bose’s life and ideology.
• An Indian Pilgrim: This is an unfinished autobiography that covers his early life from his birth to his departure for England in 1919. It was written in India between 1937 and 1939. It reveals his childhood memories, family background, education, influences, interests, hobbies, personality traits, and aspirations. It also reflects his love for India and its culture.
• The Alternative Leadership: This is a collection of speeches that he delivered as the president of the Congress in 1938-39. It outlines his political philosophy, strategy, tactics, program, policies, and goals for India’s independence. It also criticizes Gandhi’s leadership style, methods, principles, and ideology. It advocates a more radical, revolutionary, socialist, secular, democratic, and modern approach to nation-building.
• Azad Hind: This is a collection of speeches that he delivered as the head of the Provisional Government of Free India in 1943-45. It declares his declaration of war against Britain, his formation of the INA and Azad Hind government, his relations with Japan and other countries, his appeals to Indians at home and abroad, his views on religion, caste, gender, and social justice, and his plans for post-independence India.

Titles and appreciations:

• Netaji: This is the most popular and widely used title for Bose. It means “Respected Leader” in Hindi and was first applied to him in Germany in early 1942 by the Indian soldiers of the Indische Legion and by the German and Indian officials in the Special Bureau for India in Berlin.
• Deshapriya: This means “Patriot” in Bengali and was conferred to him by Chittaranjan Das, a prominent politician and mentor of Bose, in 1921 after he resigned from the Indian Civil Service to join the freedom struggle.
• Sangrami: This means “Militant” or “Fighter” in Bengali and was used by Bose himself to describe his approach to the independence movement. He advocated for armed resistance against the British and sought the help of Germany, Japan, and other countries during World War II.
• Azad Hind Fauj: This means “Free India Army” in Hindi and was the name of the Indian National Army (INA) that Bose led from abroad against the British and their allies. The INA consisted of Indian soldiers who had defected from the British Indian Army and Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan. The INA fought in Burma, Malaya, Singapore, and India under Bose’s command.
• Bharat Ratna: This means “Jewel of India” in Hindi and is the highest civilian award given by the Government of India. Although Bose was not officially awarded this honour, there have been several campaigns and petitions to confer it on him posthumously. Many Indians consider him as one of the greatest heroes of the freedom struggle.

Legacy:

Bose’s legacy is complex and controversial, as he has been admired by many Indians for his patriotism and courage, but also criticised by some for his authoritarianism, anti-Semitism, and military failure. His death in a plane crash in 1945 remains a mystery, and there have been various theories and speculations about his fate. Some believe that he survived the crash and lived in hiding or exile, while others claim that he died in Soviet custody or in a different location.

Bose’s contribution to the Indian freedom struggle and national identity is undeniable, as he inspired millions of Indians to join the fight for independence and to uphold the values of secularism, socialism, and democracy. He also promoted the idea of “unity in diversity”, as he respected the cultural and religious diversity of India and sought to unite all Indians under a common cause. He was a champion of women’s rights, as he recruited and trained women soldiers for the INA and advocated for their equal participation in public life. He was also a visionary thinker, as he wrote extensively on various topics such as politics, economics, history, philosophy, and culture.

Bose’s legacy is celebrated and honoured by various institutions, monuments, awards, and events in India and abroad. Some examples are:

• The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, which is named after him.
• The Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology in New Delhi, which is one of the leading engineering colleges in India.
• The Netaji Subhas Open University in Kolkata, which is the largest open university in India.
• The Netaji Research Bureau in Kolkata, which is a museum and research center dedicated to Bose’s life and work.
• The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose National Award for Excellence, which is an annual award given by the Government of India to recognize outstanding achievements in various fields.
• The Netaji Jayanti, which is a national holiday observed on January 23 every year to mark Bose’s birth anniversary.
• The Azad Hind Fauj Marg (Road) in New Delhi, which is a major road named after Bose’s army.
• The Renkoji Temple in Tokyo, Japan, which is where Bose’s ashes are reportedly kept.

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