Subhas Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose was most dynamic leader of India`s struggle for independence. He is more familiar with his name Netaji. His contribution towards India`s Freedom struggle was of a revolutionary. Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23rd Jan, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa, India. From his childhood he was a bright student and was a topper in the matriculation examination from the whole of Kolkata province. He graduated from the Scottish Church College in Kolkata with a First Class degree in Philosophy. Influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, he was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. He went to England to fulfil his parents` desire to appear in the Indian Civil Services. He stood fourth in order of merit. But he left civil Service`s apprenticeship and joined India`s freedom struggle.
During his service with the Indian National Congress, he was greatly influenced by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Sri Aurobindo. He did not agree with Gandhiji`s methods of achieving Independence through non-violence. He believed that the only way of achieving Independence was by shedding blood. He therefore returned to Kolkata to work under Chittaranjan Das, the Bengali freedom fighter and co-founder of the Swaraj Party. He was imprisoned for his revolutionary activities on various occasions. In 1921, Bose organized a boycott of the celebrations to mark the visit of the Prince of Wales to India for which he was imprisoned for the first time. Bose was elected to the post of Chief Executive Officer of the newly constituted Calcutta Corporation in April 1924. That same year in October, Bose was arrested on suspicion of terrorism. At first, he was kept in Alipur Jail and later he was exiled to Mandalay in Burma. Bose was once again arrested on January, 1930. After his release from jail on September 25, he was elected as the Mayor of the City of Kolkata. Netaji was imprisoned eleven times by the British over a span of 20 years either in India or in Rangoon. During the mid 1930s he was exiled by the British from India to Europe where he championed India`s cause and aspiration for self-rule before gatherings and conferences. Throughout his stay in Europe from 1933 to 1936, he met several European leaders and thinkers. He travelled extensively in India and in Europe before stating his political opposition to Gandhi. Subhash Chandra Bose married Emilie Schenkl, an Austrian born national, who was his secretary, in 1937 in German. Bose wrote many letters to Schenkl of which many have been published in the book “Letters to Emilie Schenkl”, edited by Sisir Kumar Bose and Sugata Bose.
Subhas Chandra Bose became the president of the Haripura Indian National Congress against the wishes of Gandhiji in 1938. He was elected as the president for two consecutive terms. Expressing his disagreement with Bose, Gandhi commented “Subhas` victory is my defeat”. Gandhi`s continued opposition led to Netaji`s resignation from the Working Committee. He was left with no alternative but to form an independent party, the “All India Forward Bloc”.
In his call to freedom, Subhas Chandra Bose encouraged full participation of the Indian Masses to strive for independence. Bose initiated the concept of the “National Planning Committee” in 1938. His correspondence reveals that despite his clear dislike for British subjugation, he was deeply impressed by their methodical and systematic approach and their steadfastly disciplinarian outlook towards life. The contrast between Gandhi and Bose is captured with reasonable measure in a saying attributable to him “”If people slap you once, slap them twice”. Having failed to persuade Gandhi for the mass civil disobedience to protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow`s decision to declare war on India`s behalf without consulting the Congress Leadership, he organised mass protests in Kolkata. The disobedience was calling for the `Holwell Monument` commemorating the Black Hole of Kolkata. He was thrown in Jail and was released only after a seven-day hunger strike. Bose`s house in Kolkata was kept under surveillance by the British. With two pending court cases; he felt that the British would not let him leave the country before the end of the war. This set the scene for Bose`s escape to Germany, via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. In Germany he instituted the Special Bureau for India under Adam von Trott zu Solz, broadcasting on the German-sponsored Azad Hind Radio. Here he founded the “Free India Centre” in Berlin, and created the Indian Legion consisting of some 4500 soldiers who were the Indian prisoners of war. The soldiers had previously fought for the British in North Africa prior to their capture by Axis forces.,
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian nationalist who was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement. He is also known as Netaji, which means “respected leader” in Bengali.
Bose was born in Cuttack, Odisha, on January 23, 1897. He was the ninth child of Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a homemaker. Bose had a happy childhood and was close to his family.
Bose was educated at the Presidency College in Kolkata and the University of Calcutta. He was a brilliant student and excelled in academics. He was also interested in politics and joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1920.
Bose quickly rose through the ranks of the INC and became one of its most prominent leaders. He was a strong advocate for Indian independence and was critical of the British colonial rule. He also played a key role in the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
In 1939, Bose resigned from the INC and formed the All India Forward Bloc. The Forward Bloc was a socialist party that advocated for radical social and Economic Reforms. Bose also founded the Indian National Army (INA), an armed force that fought against the British in World War II.
Bose died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945. His death remains a mystery to this day. However, he is still remembered as one of the most important figures in Indian history.
Bose was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1992. He was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 1954.
Bose was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant leader and a passionate advocate for Indian independence. However, he was also autocratic and ruthless. He was a man of contradictions, but he was also a man of great vision and courage.
Bose’s legacy is still debated today. Some see him as a hero who fought for Indian independence. Others see him as a traitor who collaborated with the Japanese during World War II. However, there is no doubt that Bose was a major figure in Indian history and that his legacy will continue to be debated for years to come.
References:
- Bose, S. C. (1946). The Indian struggle: 1920-1942. London: Allen & Unwin.
- Guha, R. (1997). India after Gandhi: The history of the nation since 1947. London: Macmillan.
- Sen, S. (1993). The life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about Subhas Chandra Bose, without mentioning the topic:
- Who was he?
He was a freedom fighter who led the Indian National Army against the British. - When was he born?
He was born in 1897. - When did he die?
He died in 1945. - What did he do?
He was a freedom fighter who led the Indian National Army against the British. - Why is he important?
He is important because he was a key figure in the Indian independence movement. - What are some of his achievements?
He led the Indian National Army to victory in several battles against the British. - What are some of his failures?
He was unsuccessful in his attempt to overthrow the British Raj. - What are some of his controversies?
He was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer. - What is his legacy?
He is remembered as a national hero in India.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the Indian National Army, without mentioning the topic:
- What was it?
It was an army formed by Indian nationalists to fight against the British. - When was it formed?
It was formed in 1942. - Who led it?
It was led by Subhas Chandra Bose. - What did it do?
It fought against the British in several battles. - Why is it important?
It is important because it was a key part of the Indian independence movement. - What are some of its achievements?
It won several battles against the British. - What are some of its failures?
It was unsuccessful in its attempt to overthrow the British Raj. - What are some of its controversies?
It was accused of being a Nazi sympathizer. - What is its legacy?
It is remembered as a key part of the Indian independence movement.
Subhas Chandra Bose was an Indian nationalist who was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement. He is also known as Netaji, which means “respected leader”.
Bose was born in Cuttack, Odisha, in 1897. He studied at Presidency College in Kolkata and then at Cambridge University in England. After graduating from Cambridge, he returned to India and joined the Indian National Congress.
Bose was a strong advocate of Indian independence. He believed that India should be free from British rule. He also believed that India should be A Secular State, where all religions would be treated equally.
Bose was arrested by the British government in 1921. He was released from prison in 1924, but he was kept under house arrest. In 1932, he escaped from house arrest and went to Europe.
In Europe, Bose met with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. He tried to get their support for the Indian independence movement. However, he was unsuccessful.
In 1941, Bose went to Japan. He formed the Indian National Army (INA), which was made up of Indian soldiers who had been captured by the Japanese. The INA fought against the British in World War II.
Bose died in a plane crash in Taiwan in 1945. His death is still a mystery. Some people believe that he was killed by the British, while others believe that he escaped and lived in hiding.
Bose is a controversial figure. Some people see him as a hero who fought for Indian independence. Others see him as a traitor who collaborated with the Japanese.
Question 1
Subhas Chandra Bose was born in:
(A) Cuttack, Odisha
(B) Kolkata
(C) New Delhi
(D) Chennai
Answer
(A)
Question 2
Subhas Chandra Bose studied at:
(A) Presidency College in Kolkata
(B) Cambridge University in England
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) neither (A) nor (B)
Answer
(C)
Question 3
Subhas Chandra Bose was a strong advocate of:
(A) Indian independence
(B) Secularism-2/”>Secularism
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) neither (A) nor (B)
Answer
(C)
Question 4
Subhas Chandra Bose was arrested by the British government in:
(A) 1921
(B) 1924
(C) 1932
(D) 1941
Answer
(A)
Question 5
Subhas Chandra Bose escaped from house arrest in:
(A) 1924
(B) 1932
(C) 1941
(D) 1945
Answer
(B)
Question 6
Subhas Chandra Bose met with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in:
(A) Europe
(B) Japan
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) neither (A) nor (B)
Answer
(A)
Question 7
Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA) in:
(A) 1941
(B) 1942
(C) 1943
(D) 1944
Answer
(A)
Question 8
The INA fought against the British in:
(A) World War I
(B) World War II
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) neither (A) nor (B)
Answer
(B)
Question 9
Subhas Chandra Bose died in a plane crash in:
(A) Taiwan
(B) China
(C) Japan
(D) India
Answer
(A)
Question 10
Subhas Chandra Bose is a controversial figure because:
(A) some people see him as a hero who fought for Indian independence, while others see him as a traitor who collaborated with the Japanese
(B) he was a complex and contradictory figure
(C) both (A) and (B)
(D) neither (A) nor (B)
Answer
(C)