During the final phase of India’s struggle for independence, Subhash Chandra Bose has made an outstanding contribution. He believed in the ideology of militant patriotism. He was the spearhead of the revolutionary freedom struggle in India.
Subhash Chandra Bose was born on January 23rd, 1897 at Cuttack in Orissa. His father is Janki Nath Bose who was prominent lawyer and member of the Bengal Legislative Council. During his student life he was an avid reader and had the makings of a scholar. He had a revolutionary mind towards the freedom struggle. He studied philosophy as one of the subjects which helped him to attain the ideal of offer service to the humanity and Mother India. He faced racial prejudice in the college which made him to organize a protest against the lecturer due to which he was expelled from the college. He was sent to England to compete for ICS in which he secured 4th rank. But later it was abandoned by him.
When Subhash Chandra Bose came in India, he joined Congress on the behest of Gandhiji. He met Gandhiji and Nehru and told them about his ideas of patriotism. Subhash Chandra Bose believed that only military power could wipe out the British rule from India. Both Gandhiji and Nehru were against the militant politics of Netaji. But he was so popular which led him to the position of the President of Congress.
After quitting from congress due to some political egos, Bose asked the masses to change the face of the Civil Disobedience movement in to an armed struggle, exploiting the adversity of the British in the world war. He was jailed in 1927 due to his aggressive patriotism and was considered as number one enemy. He commenced fast unto death on November 29, 1940 for his release from the prison.
Later he escaped from jail and went overseas to met Hitler, Romain Rolland, Ribbentrop and other members of the Nazi hierarchy and asked them for support against the British. He got the help of the Japanese C-in-C Terauchi in the struggle to liberate India. He formed Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) in 1941 and set up Provisional Government of Free India in exile. He gave a speech on July 9, 1943 which was attended by 60000 people. His great words “Give me blood, I will give you freedom” is still remembered. So many people were inspired and many came to join the INA. Also he had a definite plan for reconstruction of India after the independence.
Bose and his men started war against the British with the support of the Japanese army. But World War II was on its peak and Japan had to call back its troops. The INA was defeated by the British and Bose escaped to Japan. On his way he disappeared in a plane crash and his whereabouts are still unknown.
