Part of: Prelims and Mains GS-1: Modern Indian History, Indian National Movement, Important personalities
In News: A ‘grand statue’ of Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed at India Gate. The statue, made of granite, shall be a fitting tribute to the immense contribution of Netaji in our freedom struggle, and would be a symbol of the country’s indebtedness to him. Till the work for the statue is completed, a hologram statue of Netaji will be present at the same place.
Life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Twice elected President of the Indian National Congress, (1938-Haripur and 1939-Tripuri).
Actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 and vehemently opposed the suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement and signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931.
Owing to political differences, he resigned from the Congress Presidentship in 1939 and organised the All India Forward Bloc a faction within the Congress in Bengal.
Stood for unqualified swaraj (independence), and opposed Motilal Nehru Report which spoke for dominion status for India.
In Calcutta, Bose organised mass protests and was arrested. He was later put under house arrest from where he escaped.
Organized youth and promoted trade union movements. In 1930, he was elected Mayor of Calcutta, the same year he was elected the President of AITUC.
Azad Hind Fauj
Leader of Azad Hind Government
Head of State of this Provisional Indian Government-in-exile
Bose was convinced that armed struggle was the only way to achieve independence for India. He had been a leader of the radical wing of the Indian National Congress in the late 1920s and 1930s, rising to become Congress president in 1938 and 1939 but was ousted following differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress leadership.
Subhas Chandra Bose had escaped from India in 1941 and gone to Germany to work for India’s Independence. In 1943, he came to Singapore to lead the Indian Independence league and rebuild the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to make it an effective instrument for the freedom of India.
Netaji went to the Andaman which had been occupied by the Japanese and hoisted there the flag of India. In early 1944, three units of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) took part in the attack on the north-eastern parts of India to oust the British from India.
The Azad Hind Fauj, with the slogan of ‘Delhi Chalo’ and the salutation Jai Hind was a source of inspiration to Indians, inside and outside the country. Netaji rallied together the Indians of all religions and regions, living in south-east Asia, for the cause of India’s freedom.
A women’s regiment of Azad Hind Fauj was formed, which was under the command of Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan. It was called the Rani Jhansi regiment. The Azad Hind Fauj became the symbol of unity and heroism to the people of India.
Bose’s death was seen as the end to the Azad Hind movement.
Note:
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep: Ross Island of Andaman & Nicobar Island
Bose is among the most misunderstood icons of modern India because much information about his work and his ideas have either remained unutilised or inaccessible.
