Prime Minister pays tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on his 123rd birth anniversary. Subhas Chandra Bose, a celebrated freedom fighter was born on 23rd January 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province. He was the son of Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose. Contributing significantly to the Indian independence struggle, he earned the title ‘Netaji’ in 1942. This article covers a brief overview of his life and achievements.
Netaji and His Inspiring Contributions
Subhas Chandra Bose is one of the most illustrious figures in Indian history. His heroic contributions to the Indian independence struggle earned him the title ‘Netaji’ by Indian soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj in Germany in 1942. Known for his audacious slogans like “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!” and “Jai Hind”, he instilled courage and patriotism among the masses. He also happens to be the first person to call Mahatma Gandhi “Father of the Nation”.
Early Life and Career
In 1919, Bose relocated to London to take the Indian Civil Services (ICS) exam and managed to secure a selection. However, he chose to resign as he felt morally conflicted to side with the British rule. Later in 1921, Bose began working under Chittaranjan Das, who was then a potent political figure in Bengal. He served as the editor for Das’s newspaper, Forward, and subsequently founded his own newspaper, Swaraj.
Prominent Roles in Politics
By 1923, Bose had advanced to significant positions in politics. He was elected the President of the All India Youth Congress and Secretary of Bengal State Congress. During the mid-1930s, Bose travelled in Europe and wrote the first part of his book, ‘The Indian Struggle’. Following his return to India, he was elected as President of Indian National Congress twice. However, due to ideological conflicts with Mahatma Gandhi, Bose resigned from his presidency and formed the All India Forward Bloc, geared towards uniting the political left.
| Year | Significant Role |
|---|---|
| 1919 | Took ICS examination in London |
| 1921 | Worked under Chittaranjan Das |
| 1938 | Elected President of Indian National Congress (Haripur) |
| 1939 | Re-elected as President, forms All India Forward Bloc |
Netaji’s Struggle for Independence in East Asia
In 1943, Bose moved to Japan to spearhead the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia. With Japanese support, he led an army of around 40,000 troops in Japanese-occupied Southeast Asia known as the Indian National Army (INA). The INA was originally formed by Mohan Singh and Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara. The army comprised Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in the Malayan campaign and at Singapore.
End of World War II and Death Controversy
Towards the end of World War II in 1945, the British Indian Army retaliated against the capture of Manipur, Kohima, and Imphal by the INA. Almost half of the Japanese forces and the entire participating INA contingent fell in these battles. Bose managed to escape to Manchuria with plans to seek asylum in the Soviet Union. His life, however, met a tragic end in a plane crash in Taiwan in 1945. Despite official accounts, numerous conspiracy theories concerning his death continue to arise.