Bose –The Bold and Valiant Son of Bharat Mata
BY MANOSHI SINHA
It was only Netaji Bose who could aggressively mobilize funds for this cause by motivating and organizing thousands of Indians settled abroad.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, one of the iconic freedom fighters of India, who by forming the Azad Hind Fauj and adopted the path of armed revolution for the independence to driving out the British from India. For political reasons, those following the behest of the British in India never accepted Netaji’s enormous role in forcing the expatriate British to transfer power in 1947.
The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now announced Republic Day celebrations from January 23 instead of January 24, and the unveiling of his statue along with celebrating this day as Parakram Diwas is a historic and significant gesture in this direction. Also a heartfelt tribute to the great leader who sacrificed everything for India’s independence. This statue of him will continue to inspire democratic values and future generations.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born this day, the 23rd of January in 1897 in Cuttack.
Why did Netaji escape from India and when?
Netaji Bose was the President of the Indian National Congress in 1938 and 1939. Bose believed that it was only by using arms that the British could be driven out of India. But Mohandas Gandhi and other Congress leaders disagreed with the boss’ argument. Ultimately, he was ousted from Congress leadership in 1939 due to this ideological difference.
Lord Linlithgow was the British Viceroy of India when the Second World War broke out on September 3, 1939. On the same day, Lord Linlithgow declared India as belligerent and at war. The Congress and Muslim League supported the British on this decision which led to deployment of lakhs of Indian soldiers to fight in the War under British.
Netaji Bose advocated a mass civil disobedience campaign, to protest against the Viceroy’s decision. His strategy wasn’t supported by Gandhi and the Congress. Following mass protests, Netaji Bose was arrested and sent to jail. Later, he was placed under house arrest by the British. Anand Mohan Sahay’s wife Sita Sen (as narrated to me by their daughter Lt Asha Sahay of Azad Hind Fauz; while an interview) visited Netaji during his house arrest in disguise and motivated him to come to Japan to take leadership of Indians settled there.
Only a daring and brave son of Bharat Mata could undertake such death-defying journeys, moving from one country to another, until he could find a safe haven where he could gather forces to wage war against British to free India.
It was only Netaji Bose who could aggressively mobilize funds for this cause by motivating and organizing thousands of Indians settled abroad. On 1st of September in 1942, Rash Behari Bose had formed the Indian National Army (INA) as the military wing of his organization called Indian Independence League with the support of the Indian prisoners of war in Japan. In June 1942, Rash Behari Bose declared that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose should take the lead of INA as President. Netaji further expanded the INA as Azad Hind Fauz and established the Azad Hind Government on 21 October 1943 in Singapore. The Azad Hind government was then recognized by 11 countries.
An interview I took of Lt Rama Mehta of Azad Hind Fauz, which includes unknown facets of Netaji Bose, is included in a chapter in Part 2 of #SaffronSwords. (Saffron Swords Part 1: https://www.amazon.in/Saffron-Swords-Authors-Manoshi-Yogaditya/dp/B07Q139493
