Subhas Chandra Bose: Ideological Vision & Contributions

Subhas Chandra Bose is popularly known as Netaji. He was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha. SC Bose will always be revered as the icon of militant nationalism and supreme sacrifice. His birthday anniversary, 23rd January, is commemorated as "Parakram Divas".

He had been connected to INC initially; however, he dissociated from congress because of ideological divergence with Gandhiji and others since he strongly advocated for total independence through the power of action.

SC Bose had gained fame and popularity for his unconventional style, dynamic leadership qualities, and dedication for freeing India.

Early Life and Influences of the bose reflected his keen sense of patriotism, significantly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings. He completed his education at the prestigious Presidency College in Kolkata and later at the University of Cambridge. He cleared the Indian Civil Service Examination in 1920. Chittaranjan Das was his political mentor and Swami Vivekananda as his spiritual guide

Nationalism and Socialism

Bose's ideology was rooted in the principles of nationalism, socialism, and leftist thought:

• Complete Independence: He insisted on achieving Purna Swaraj (complete independence) rather than dominion status.
• Socialist Vision: His vision was an industrialized and modernized India. He advocated for state ownership of major industries and economic planning.
• Secularism: He upheld a secular vision, emphasising unity beyond religion, caste, or region.
• Militant Approach: He believed in armed resistance as a viable path to freedom.

Political Journey

Role in Congress

Bose became a member of the Indian National Congress and soon attained prominence as follows:

• Elected President of the Youth Wing of the Congress.
• Congress President in 1938 and 1939, making the political party adopt a more radical stand on its fight for independence.
• Disagreements with Mahatma Gandhi over how to gain independence made him resign in 1939, resulting in the creation of the Forward Bloc.

Formation of the Indian National Army (INA)

• During World War II, Bose looked for associations with Axis powers by taking advantage of the world war to challenge the British rule of India.
• In 1942, Bose created the Indian National Army (INA) using Japan. He gave new life to the INA by recruiting Indian soldiers from the Japanese capture.
• The INA was comprised of many soldiers from varied regions, religious backgrounds, and ethnicities including women.
• Popular slogans of Bose were "Jai Hind," "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom," and "Dilli Chalo."

Revitalizing the Independence Movement

• Bose's leadership inspired a more militant approach to independence, balancing the movement's moderate and extremist ideologies.
• His advocacy for immediate and uncompromising independence galvanised younger leaders and freedom fighters.

International Alliances

• Bose's association with the Axis powers proved his strategic abilities. But it was also controversial since it was considered unethical to align with powers such as Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
• The operations of the INA, despite being military failures, greatly demoralised the British and laid down the path for them to exit colonial rule.

• Subhas Chandra Bose played a significant role in India's freedom struggle by advocating for complete independence. He rejected British dominion status.
• He founded the Forward Bloc and revitalised the independence movement with his militant approach.
• He is best known for leading the Indian National Army (INA). He formed the Azad Hind Government in exile and with prisoners of war to fight against British rule.
• His slogan, "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom," inspired millions. His relentless pursuit of liberation left an indelible mark on India's struggle for independence.

The National Planning Committee (NPC)

• In 1938, the Congress President Subhas Chandra Bose, constituted the National Planning Committee (NPC), and Jawaharlal Nehru became the chairperson, to come up with the national economic plan of India.
  • It centered on industrialization, reduction of poverty and agrarian changes and issued 26 volumes of reports on different aspects of development, when World War II disrupted its work.

All India Forward Bloc

• He founded the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), on May 3, 1939, and revitalized the independence movement with his militant approach.
• AIFB was a left-wing political party in India, which was formed after Bose left the presidency of the Congress on ideological grounds (when he disagreed with Gandhi on the matters of independence).

Azad Hind Fauj (INA)

• Formation & Leadership: The INA had first been founded by Mohan Singh, but was rejuvenated by Subhas Chandra Bose who took over from Rash Behari Bose as the next commander on July 4, 1943.
• Mission and Slogan: The army set to topple the British armed struggle and their motto is Ittehad, Itmad aur Qurbani (Unity, Faith and Sacrifice).
• Military Action: The INA joined the Japanese forces in the Burma-India conflict, against the British.
• Impact: The INA, though it did not play out to its military advantage, above all, in the trials of the red forts had caused an outburst of patriotism in the whole nation and accelerated the decline of British rule.
• His slogan, "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom," inspired millions, and his relentless pursuit of liberation left an indelible mark on India's struggle for independence.
• Key Figures:
  • Rash Behari Bose was one of the masterminds and the presidents of the Indian Independence League, whereas Captain Mohan Singh was the First leader.
  • One of the first all female combat units in modern history, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, which was led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan.

Turning Point of INA

• The Battles of Imphal and Kohima were critical decisive battles of World War II, where the Allies (British-Indian Army) fought against the Japanese Army assisted by the Indian National Army (INA) which was led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Though won by Britishers, was mainly assisted by the Naga people, left almost 60,000 Japanese dead, and is today known as the Stalingrad of the East. It marked the beginning of Japan's decline in Southeast Asia.
• Many INA soldiers were captured by the British, and the popular INA Trials took place in Red Fort (1945-46) by the British.
• Its officers such as Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were put on trial. Criminal proceedings instigated mass demonstrations throughout India.

Azad Hind Government 1943

• On October 21, 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in Singapore, proclaimed the Azad Hind Government (also known as Provisional Government of Free India, or Arzi Hukumate-Azad Hind) to free India under the assistance of Axis powers.
• The key points:
• Formation: This provisional government was established, with the help of Japan, Germany, and Italy on Oct 21, 1943 in Singapore.
• Leadership: The head of state was Subhas Chandra Bose, the supreme adviser was Rash Behari Bose.
• INA Mobilization: The government was the political arm of the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) and was restructured by Bose to initiate a military action against British troops with battle cry being Chalo Dilli.
• Rani of Jhansi regiment: in October, 1943, an all-women combat regiment was formed, which was led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan.
• Administration & Finance: The government formed its own bank, the Azad Hind Bank in Rangoon to facilitate the collection of donations by Indians in East Asia and issued its own currency and postage stamps.

Taihoku Plane Crash 1945

• As Japan was collapsing, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose wanted to escape and restructure his resistance probably by enlisting the help of the Soviet Union. To keep this in mind he left Southeast Asia (from Saigon) along with Japanese officials.
• In August 1945, World War II was coming to its conclusion as the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in the surrender of Japan.
• On 18 August 1945, a Japanese military aircraft carrying Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, crashed at Taihoku (present-day Taipei, Taiwan). The crash supposedly took place shortly after take-off from Taihoku airport.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was oriented to the Axis powers in World War II, following the concept of Britain as an enemy of India and its friend.

Role of Germany (1941-1943)

• In 1941 Bose escaped from (House Arrest) India to Berlin where he sought refuge.
• In Berlin with the help of Germans he established The Free India Centre.
• In January 1942, Bose opened Azad Hind Radio which was used to transmit messages to India to resist.
• Created the Free India Legion of Indian POWs in Europe, with the help of Hitler.
• Though, German assistance was poor and somewhat ineffective since Hitler was keen on the European front.
• In 1943, Bose moved to East Asia through a submarine journey.

Role of Japan (1943--1945)

• Upon arriving in Singapore in July 1943, Bose took command of INA from Rash Behari Bose and Mohan Singh who led its formation with Japanese help in 1942.
• The Japanese military provided arms, training, and money to the INA.
• Assisted in the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (1943) which Japan recognized.
• Japan handed over administrative control of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the Provisional Government in late 1943, which were renamed "Shaheed" and "Swaraj" islands.
• INA fought on the same side in Imphal-Kohima, 1944 as Japan.

S.C. Bose and Gandhi reflected the diversity of approaches within the freedom movement which is evident in the following points:

When was Subhash Chandra Bose born?

He was born on January 23, 1897 in Calcutta.

Who was Subhash Chandra Bose?

He was a freedom fighter.