Syllabus: GS1/History
In News
- Recently, it has been highlighted that Subhas Chandra Bose moved from idealism to a practical, balanced approach combining moral vision with effective action.
Subhas Chandra Bose
- Early life: He was a major Indian nationalist leader in the freedom struggle against British rule.
- He was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha, and was an academically brilliant student who studied in Calcutta, later going to England to prepare for the Indian Civil Services (ICS).
- Despite clearing the ICS examination, he chose to resign and join the freedom movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
Contribution in Freedom struggle
- He was elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1938 at the Haripura session, where he advocated making swaraj a national demand and opposed British-controlled federation plans.
- In 1939, he was re-elected after defeating the Gandhi-backed candidate Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, but soon faced internal opposition when he was unable to form a working committee.
- As a result, he resigned from the Congress presidency and was replaced by Rajendra Prasad.
- He formed the Forward Bloc to unite the more radical left-wing members within the Congress.
- In 1940, he was arrested before launching a protest against the “Black Hole of Calcutta” memorial and was later released in December after a hunger strike.
- During World War II, he sought support from Axis powers, including meeting Adolf Hitler in Germany and later moving to Japan.
- He led the Indian National Army (INA), formed from Indian prisoners of war and expatriates, to fight against British forces in Southeast Asia.
Ideological differences between Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi
- Gandhi supported a gradual path to independence, while Bose demanded immediate and decisive action.
- Gandhi rejected materialism and modern technology, whereas Bose viewed technology and mass production as essential for India’s progress and dignity.
- Gandhi favored a decentralized social order and was skeptical of the modern state, while Bose believed a strong centralized state was necessary to solve India’s problems.
- Bose also rejected Gandhi’s strict commitment to non-violence.
- Despite these differences, Bose respected Gandhi’s importance and was the first to call him the“father of the nation” in a 1944 broadcast from Singapore on Azad Hind Radio.
Philosophy
- Subhas Chandra Bose evolved from Vedanta-inspired idealism to a pragmatic, dialectical worldview combining spirituality with Hegelian thought.
- He developed Samyavada, a doctrine of harmony that sought to synthesize opposing ideologies and build a modern socialist India based on equality, industrialization, and social justice.
- He believed independence meant not just political freedom but full social and economic transformation through centralized planning and rapid modernization.
- His political vision blended moral ideals with practical state-building, though it also included support for strong centralized authority during reconstruction.
Death and Legacy
- He is believed to have died in a plane crash in Taiwan in August 1945, though the circumstances remain disputed.
- He is remembered in India as a national hero symbolizing courage, sacrifice, and determination in the freedom struggle.
Governments steps to honour
- Since 2021, January 23 has been observed as Parakram Diwas to honour Subhas Chandra Bose and inspire courage, especially among youth, by celebrating his legacy of bravery and patriotism.
- Each year features commemorative events, including the inaugural ceremony at Victoria Memorial Hall in 2021, a hologram statue at India Gate in 2022, naming of 21 Andaman and Nicobar islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees in 2023, and a 2024 event held at the Red Fort, highlighting his connection to India’s freedom struggle.
Indian National Army (INA)
- It was formed on 17 February 1942 after the British surrender in Singapore, mainly consisting of Indian prisoners of war captured by the Japanese in Southeast Asia.
- Subhas Chandra Bose took command of the INA in Singapore on 4 July 1943, leading a force of about 12,000 soldiers.
- He gave the famous call “Delhi Chalo” and aimed to march toward Delhi to liberate India from British rule.
- In 1944, the INA advanced into India, reaching areas like Imphal and Kohima, but the campaign ultimately failed at Imphal.
- By 1945, British forces had regained control in Burma, forcing the INA into retreat.
Source :TH
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