BIOGRAPHY OF NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE

NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the great patriot was awarded

the highest honour Bharat Ratna in 1992. Although the declaration

of the award was delayed, yet this worthy son of mother

India rightly deserved it. His life is such a story of self-sacrifice,

as infuses new life and hope in lifeless and dejected persons. He

sacrificed his whole life in the Freedom-fight of the country.

The ancestors of Netaji Subhash resided in the village

Kedalia, district Twenty-four Pargana in West Bengal. Netaji

was born in Katak on 23rd January, 1897. His father was

government council there. He had his primary education at

Katak. In 1913, he did his matriculation, and secured second

position in the province. After that, he got admission to the

Presidency College Calcutta (now Kolkata). In 1915, he passed

F.A. in the 1st division. In B.A., he offered Philosophy as one

of his subjects Naturally, a particular sort of seriousness was

seen in his personality. All class mates paid respect to such a

talented student. It was he who developed the qualities of

leadership and organisation. For insulting one of his friends,

Subash Babu picked up a quarrel with Prof. C.F. Ottan. He was

expelled from the college for assaulting the professor. Later on,

he was admitted on the Scottish Church College, and from

there, he passed B.A., with Philosophy in the 1st division in the

year 1919. Then he did B.A. from Cambridge university as

well.

Father of Subhash Bahu was loyal to the government. With

great hopes, he sent Subash Babu to England for I.C.S. He

amazed everyone by securing fourth position at the I.C.S.

examination, but he did not avail of I.C.S. Those days, there

was political upheaval, and a storm of patriotism in the country.

Being inspired by that, Subhash Babu became a rebel, resigned

his job of I.C.S. and become volunteer of the Congress. After

that, he was made a teacher in National Academy of Education

and then captain of the Congress volunteer corps. In connection

with the boycott of the Prince of Wales, he was arrested for the

first time and was jailed for six months. In 1922, he rendered

his help to the flood, stricken people of North Bengal in a rare

manner and thus gave glimpse of his ability. He was appointed

editor of the Forward journal, the chief mouth piece of the

Swarajya Party. In 1925, when Deshbandu Das was elected the

mayor of Calcutta, he was appointed the chief executive officer.

The same year, he was arrested under the Bengal ordinance and

was jailed for three years during this period of imprisonment he

suffered from Tuberculosis and became very weak. The

government proposed to release him on certain conditions,

which appeared insulting and for a self-respecting and patriot

man like Subhash, they were unbearable. At last the government

had to kneel down before the stubborn Subhash. He was

brought to Calcutta and released on 15th May, 1927. During

this period he was in Jail, he was elected member of the

Provincial Legislative Assembly in the Calcutta congress 1928,

he was leading the Volunteer Corps in front of Pt. Nehru’s

procession, his fame spread in all the directions far and wide.

Subhash Babu came in contact will the national leaders Later on

gave full co-operation to Pt. Nehru in the publicity of his

Independence League.

In Lahore session Congress declared complete independence

as its object. Meanwhile, Subhash Babu was elected the

mayor of Calcutta. Under his leadership, the Congress procession

was taken out in Calcutta. The police made a lathicharge

on the procession, and Subhash Babu, together with his

companions was arrested he was provided one year’s imprisonment.

The independent movement had been started again. Laws

were being broken everywhere the government got made with

rage. In the jail Subhash was tortured like anything. He fell ill

again. The old disease tuberculosis appeared. He was released

on the condition that he should go to Europe for treatment. On

release, without meeting any of his near and dear ones, he

straight way flew to Switzerland.

This period of residence in a foreign land was exciting for

Subhash Babu. This was made more clear, when after three

years on his fathers death, Subhash came home, he was

surrounded by the police. Subhash could stay at home, hardly

for one month. During this one month’s stay, Subhash did not

participate in any political discussion. Thus, keeping his word

to the govern-ment, he went back to Europe. In this overseas

journey, he met D’ Vellera and Mussoloni. After some time, he

get tired of his sojourner in a foreign land and he decided not to

stay dry more in a foreign land the Government of India's

attitude was if you want

to live in India, live in the prison. At last,

he started for his motherland. In the meantime, the congress

passed a resolution requesting the government to set Subhash at

liberty. But the government did not consent. On landing at

Bombay, Subhash was taken prisoner.

The whole country was in anguish. On 10th May 1930,

Subhash-Day was celebrated but the government was unmoved

even then no sooner Subhash reached jail, than his condition

deteriorated. At last he was released. There was jubilation

throughout the country.

Now the time came for constructive work the congress

agreed to entering council’s ministries were being formed in the

provincials, Subhash Babu had no interest in their programmes

on the other hand, his health was indifferent. For improvement

health; he had to go again to foreign land for two and a half

months. In Europe itself, he betrayed the secret of the imperialist

policies of the British Empire. In 1938, he was elected the

President of Haripura congress. Those days post of the congress

carried with it the greatest honour. the Indian public after to its

most popular leader.

At the time of being elected the president of the congress,

Subhash Babu was only 41 years of age in the Haripura congress,

the 1935 Act was declared totally impractical Subhash Babu

himself was dead opposed to at least the rightist wing of the

congress may not accede to the Act, he contested the election of

President against the nominated candidate. This was for the first

time in the history of the congress that there was a contest for

the President's post. He won, although the contest was very

tough. On the defeat of Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the nominated

candidate, Mahatma Gandhi said, “Pattabhi’s defeat is my

defeat.”

Even after the election, the rightist wing of the Congress

non-cooperated with Subhash. This gave deep down pain to

Subhash Babu and when there seemed no possibility of

agreement, Subhash Babu tendered resignation. Dr. Rajendra

Prasad was elected in his place then he formed a separate forum

Forward Block within the Congress, the object was to bidfare.

Well to the constitutionalism of the congress Subhash Babu was

always dissatisfied with the rightist policies of the congress the

founding of the Forward Block was not the reaction of Subhash

Babu’s defeat, but he always wanted to keep to his organisation

a leftist wing.

The next annual session of the Congress was held at

Ramgarh Subhash Babu arranged a agreement antagonistic

conference, which proved unprecedented. The rightist leaders of

the Congress became more dissatisfied on hearing the speech of

Subhash Babu and levelled the charge against Subhash Babu

that he had founded a party against the Congress. He was

removed even from the membership of the Congress, so much

so that the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee was

banished from the All India National Congress. The horizon

was overcast with the clouds of the Second World War and the

Congress ministries had resigned. Gandhiji was determined to

launch individual Satyagrah. At the time, Subhash Babu asked

the public of Bengal to remove the Hall Will memorial and start

a public agitation. The government got panicky to the arising

storm in Bengal at the signal of Subhash Babu, and it put him in

the prison. At this time, Subhash Babu did not want to perish in

the jail. He went on fast, and the government set him free for

one month, but put his residence under strict vigilance and

guard. Even then, he succeeded in escaping on 16th January,

1941, people came to know of his escape from house arrest with

a long beard grown on his face, he travelled by motor-bus and

train, and anyhow reached Peshawar. The beard deceived the

policemen, and under the fake name Jiauddin, he crossed the

boundaries with a caravan, and reached Kabul. The spies harassed

him there. He was not getting a passport to go to Germany.

At last, with the help of another man’s passport he reached

Germany.

In Berlin, he was a respectable guest of the government. His

talks were often heard from the radios of Berlin and Rome.

How Hitlor, also, extended respect to Subhash Babu. He met

Mussolini and his son-in-law Count Siano as well on 27th May,

1942, Hitler gave him audience, and gave support and cooperation

to his plan of going to South East Asia.

In June 1943, Subhash Bahu reached Tokyo (Japan). On

2nd July, 1943 he came down to Singapore. On 19th July, 1943

Sri Ras Behari Bose appointed him regular Commander of the

Indian National Army. After this the whole world felt much

amazement of organising capacity of Subhash Babu. The

soldiers of the I.N.A. marched ahead with the message of

India's freedom. General atmosphere and equipment's being

favourable, all the plans showed good results quite soon. The

organisation and working of the Indian National Army surprised

many war-experts. Subhash Babu divided the army in four

brigades,

viz. Subhash Brigade, Gandhi Brigade, Nehru Brigade

and Azad Brigade. He constituted a separate Brigade for

women, Jhansi Rani Brigade, under the guidance of Captain

Lakshmi. There was a separate part of the army of children. It is

that this group of children proved very useful. At long last on

21st October, 1943 Subhash Chandra Bose declared the

establishment of temporary government of independent India,

Japan Germany, Italy, China etc. different governments

unanimously recognized the authority of the Azad Hind

Government. In the beginning, Singapore was made the centre

of this government. Later on Rangoon (Burma) was made the

capital and head quarters of this temporary government in the

mean time, islands of Andman Nekobar had been given

independence. The Azad Hind government began to work in a

well planned and disciplined manner.

Subhash Babu, himself through speeches used to collect

funds. Things received as gifts and presents used to be

auctioned, which brought quite sufficient amounts and at last,

with the help of a millionaire a Rangoon Azad Hind Bank was

established. The soldiers of the Azad Hind Army fought for

independence and not for the sake of Money.

National salutation (Jai Hind), National seal, National

insignia (Tipu Sultan’s Lion) National Badge, National Anthem

(SUBH SUKH CHAIN KI VARSHA)shower of the good, happiness and respect

and other requirements of the Indian National Army, were made

good in Indian manners. The example of Communal Unity,

which the Indian National Army set, was by all means

memorable, enviable and imitable.

Azad Hind Army threw light on many such qualities of

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, which were hidden so far. His

power of organisation, was never seen before. No one knew

before his capacity to work for eighteen hours continuously.

Matter of fact is, if Subhash Babu had not got the opportunity

leading the Indian National Army

(AZAD HIND FAUJ) his personality

might have not fully developed. Subhash’s call March to Delhi

Dilli Chalo), worked like magic on the soldiers the

day of 14th March, 1944, will be written in letters of gold in the

history of India, when the Azad Hind Army fought with life and

soul in the war of Kohima and Manipur. In two month’s time,

the assault of the I.N.A. became so famous, that the English

Army was forced to retreat. But for want of equipments,

specially the airforce, the Indian National Army had to retract

its steps with full preparations, second assault was made only

momentary success was achieved. Before the huge British army

with immense resources, the small Indian National Army, with

insufficient equipments and limited resources could not stand

for long Subhash Babu had to abandon Rangoon on 19th May

1945, the English army occupied Rangoon once again. The

power of the Indian National Army decreased day-by-day, but it

continued to be in action upto the surrender by Japanese on 14th

August, 1945, Netaji left for Tokyo. In a way came to an end

the functioning of the Indian National Army, but its name will

be there for ages to come. The soldiers of the Rani Jhansi

regiment will be remembered for ages in the pages of history

for destroying British Tanks by lying down on the earth with

mines tied to their backs. For wagging guerilla warfare keeping

half starked or by living on leaves for considering grass of

freedom superior to the cheese and butter of slavery and for

fighting sixteen hours a day, thereby making the British soldiers

lose courage. The world was dumb founded to get the news that

Subhash Babu was badly injured in an air crash on the 18th

August 1945 and he left this world the same night people do not

believe even today that Subhash Babu actually died in an

aircrash. Whatever may be the truth, but it is beyond dispute

that Subhash Chandra Bose will be remembered for ages to

come.