JAI HIND... ( NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE)

JAI HIND……

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of the greatest freedom fighters of India who shook the British empire completely and compelled them to leave our country, was born on 23^rd January 1897 in Cuttack to Janaki Nath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. Netaji , a 4^th position holder in the ICS examination held in England 1920,  could have passed his life in Luxuries and comfort but he declined to work under British rule and joined Indian National Congress to free the country from British. In the year 1938 & 1939 he was elected as the President of Indian National Congress but due to the differences of opinion with Gandhiji and his followers he left the congress and formed Forward Block. Due to his active involvement in Freedom struggle he was placed under house arrest by the British. In 1941 he escaped in disguise from Kolkata  and reached Germany through Afghanistan. After that the role that he played as freedom fighter segregates him from others.

Swami Vivekananda wanted young people of India must be lion, filled with self confidence and courage and must have a great organizing capacity. What Swamiji thought Netaji was born out of it.

At the outset of the second world war, he had travelled to number of countries, including Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and imperial Japan, so as to seek alliance with each and to attack the British in India. In Germany, Netaji formed Indian Legion comprising of 4500 soldiers in 1941 to fight against British. The Legion helped Hitler’s Nazi regime a lot. On the other hand Adlof Hitler , also assured Netaji their help in India’s freedom struggle. This was Netaji’s first born army. Shri Bose became a part of the Axis Power which was headed by three great giant countries- Japan, Italy and Germany. Nazi Regime recognized a provisional “Free India Government” in exile under Netaji Bose. Later on he established Govt. of free India  in Singapore. Government of free India had their own coins, stamps, Court and Civil code. They also had their own Radio center and named it Azad hind Radio Center.

In the end of 1942 , Netaji Bose went to Japan to organize the POW to form an army to fight against British. Then Prime Minister of Japan Hideki Tojo promised  full Co operation from their end  for India’s Freedom Struggle and accordingly  Japanese handed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1944. These islands were renamed as ’ Shaheed’ and ‘Swaraj’. These islands were first to get Independence. Later on , Netaji  re- organized  Azad hind Fauj or Indian National Army ( INA) with the imperial Japanese assistance . He thus formed INA comprising of - Indian Prisoners-of –war and plantation workers from British Malaya.  - Singapore and other parts of South east Asia to fight  against the British forces. Even though the INA was founded by Mohan Singh but it was actually accelerated by Subhas Chandra Bose. Under the able leadership of Netaji  INA strength crossed 85000 mark.  . Netaji declared war against British by taking more than 11 countries like  Germany, Japan, Italy, Singapore, Malay,Burma, Phillipines, Malaysia among others together , where he was the unifying factor. Later on a  BUST of Subhas Chandra Bose was erected in the compound of RENKOJI Temple ( a Buddhist temple) in Japan for the tribute to the great  soul (Netaji),

Subhas Chandra Bose to strengthen his Military force had to move from one country to another. His transportation by Airplane, Submarine, Helicopter and Roadways were provided by Axis power countries, mainly by Japan, Italy and Germany. On 11^th September 1942, National Anthem was sung for the first time in Germany. With his huge number of soldiers in INA and  support  from like minded countries , Netaji gave the slogan “ Delhi Chalo”. Netaji's plan was to enter Northeast India through Burma. Unfortunately INA could never reach Delhi due to number of factors taking place together- Illness of Soldiers , many died of Malaria , food problem, Rainy season , they had no fighter plane, soldiers became very tired  due to long months of travel and moreover murder of Mussolini on 28^th April 1945, Hitler committed suicide on 30^th April 1945 and Bombing of Japan on 6^th and 9^th August 1945  became very difficult for INA  to enter India. To rejuvenate the  INA once again to stand and fight against British, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was also not there. It is believed that Netaji died in a plane crash in Taiwan on 18^th August 1945.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Assam :

In 1938 Netaji came to Assam as a president of AICC and stayed in ‘ Asely Hall ’ (Near Earl Sanatorium in Shillong). It was a very critical time for Assam under the leadership of Sir Sadullah, who was determined to form Muslim league Ministry in Assam. Gopinath Bordoloi invited  Netaji to visit Assam and to save Assam. Netaji was regarded as having a more sensitive , sympathetic understanding  of problems of Assam than other National leaders like Mulana Abul Azad and J.L. Nehru. Netaji’s entry( on Bordoloi’s invitation) came as savior and vehemently objected  to the decision of Sadullah. Gopinath Bordoloi  who had two votes short for the formation of congress- led ministry and there were division among the congress but after the arrival of Subhas Chandra Bose all the congressmen were reunited and Gopinath Bordoloi secured the needed seats. It may be noted here that when the second world war was declared, National leaders of congress decided that all the Congress Ministries should resign to declare ‘ Congress refusal to be involved in the war’. Bose was of the clear view that the Bordoloi’s government need not resign because of the unique vulnerability of Assam on the Border of India. Mahatma Gandhi  much later on understood Netaji’s saying. But in 1945  when Netaji led INA was approaching India it was the same Gopi Nath Bordoloi who opposed  Netaji’s  alliance with Japan even though the congress in Assam was divided on the issue. Several   young congress men like Deva Kanta Barooah, later on congress president wanted to welcome Bose.

Let me end my writings with Subhas Chandra Bose Saying “ It does not matter who among us will live to see India free. It is enough that India shall be free and that we shall give our all to make her free”.

Jai hind

Santanu Nandi Purkayastha

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REFERENCES:

MAHANAYAK – BY Vishwas Patil

AZAD HIND: Subhas Chandra Bose, writings and speeches—S. C. Bose

CHALO DELHI - Writing and speeches 1943-1945  -----------     S. C. Bose.  And Internet.