Remembering Netaji – the immortal national hero who is ever alive
Today India woke up to a different morning. The morning today made India feel patriotic from within the heart as the calendar read – 23 January. Today, we are celebrating the birthday of our very own Netaji. This is the 125th year of the historical celebration.
The legendary nationalist hero secures a special place in the hearts of every Indian for his non-compromising approach and defiant patriotism. Our very own Netaji taught India the magic of his famous approach of Tit for Tat. It is Netaji who made Indians break the shackles of servitude of the British, realize the worth of self and ‘break a tooth for every tooth broken and break a bone for every bone broken.’
This is the day that demands recapitulating the selfless acts of the national hero and taking pride in being born to a land where Subhas Chandra Bose was born.
Early Life
Subhas Chandra Bose, who is lovingly called Netaji by the Indians, took birth on 23 January in the year 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa to Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose. Even though he was the ninth child in the family of fourteen children, all the siblings of Netaji grew up in the same environment of love for education, humanity and intense patriotism.
Although Netaji had a brilliant academic career, he developed a special knack for his religion from a very early age; the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna in various religious books influenced young Subhas of 16 years immensely.
Intensifying patriotism
The patriotism of Netaji grew and intensified during the same time when he regularly witnessed how the British humiliated and made sarcastic remarks about Indians publicly. The blazing fire that gurgled inside young Subhas exaggerated further when he felt deeply influenced by the outbreak of World War 1.
The sparks of a true patriot started flickering from that time onwards when Netaji did not think twice about protesting against the insult of Indian students by Professor Oaten of Presidency College by assaulting him physically.
Netaji was so strong willed to denounce the British dominance in India that he happily abandoned the option of joining the Indian Civil Service even after securing the fourth position in ICS. The reason is, he was not prepared to serve the British government and disrespect his Motherland and his fellow brethren. His philosophy was,
“Only on the soil of sacrifice and suffering can we raise our national edifice”
The series of rifts
Netaji, the name Subhas Chandra Bose got from Mahatma Gandhi, for his intense love for India and rebellious approach, became national hero in 1938 when he accepted the nomination of Congress President.
However, the world split into two between Netaji and Gandhiji during this time when he expressed his strong desire not to compromise with the British and apply force to expel the cruel colonizers of the Motherland. This was the time when he stood for unqualified Swaraj (self-governance).
The sharp contrast between the approaches of Netaji and Gandhiji also created a rift between Netaji and Jawahar Lal Nehru.
This rift was the catalyst that led to the formation of a faction within the Indian National Congress on 22 June 1939; the All India Forward Bloc was formed.
Mass civil disobedience
Netaji, who always thought of his country and countrymen, strongly opposed it when Viceroy Lord Linlithgow decided to declare war on behalf of India during World War 1 without taking the due consent of the Congress leadership. He launched a mass civil disobedience in protest.
Unfortunately, he failed to convince Gandhiji about the necessity of this step. The relationships between Gandhiji and Netaji became more bitter. Nevertheless, Netaji organized a mass protest in Kolkata and demanded the removal of the Holwell Monument from Dalhousie Square.
Beginning of patriotic movement of India
The arrest of Netaji following civil disobedience and his escape to Germany to meet Hitler marks a new phase in patriotic movement of India under the leadership of this rebellious national hero.
But soon, when he could sniff that Hitler will not be of any help for expelling the British out of India, he left for Japan. Even this decision was soon to prove futile, and Netaji moved to Germany.
Azad Hind Force
Remembering Netaji on this day would not be complete without mentioning Azad Hind Force. This political movement originated outside India in 1940s with the sole purpose of overthrowing the British from India by allying with the Axis powers. This was the manifestation of the dream of the Independence Army which Netaji had always dreamed.
The dream materialized in 1943 when Netaji arrived at the Far East. In tge later years, Azad Hind grew up into an institution under Netaji with its own stamps, court and civil code, currency and radio station.
The Rani of Jhansi Regiment that emerged during this time and was headed by important is Capt. Lakshmi Swaminathan is of equal significance here because it was the first of its kind of woman regiment under the guidance of Netaji.
The famous quote of our loving Netaji still sets the patriotic blood of all the Indians boiling -
Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!"
These evocative words were an inspiration for the Indians during that time to join hands in fighting out the British colonial rule in India.
Death or no death
Subhas Bose is a hero who never dies. It was initially believed that he died in a plane crash on 18 August 1945 after a third-degree burn. But contradictions soon started rumbling that it was an eyewash of Netaji for fooling the British.
Nevertheless, the controversies regarding the death of Netaji have never ended even to this date.
We actually do not have any concrete information if Netaji died on that day or not. But we Indians, who love our Netaji, are not bothered about the death of the mortal body of our superhero. The reason is, his eternal presence shall remain evergreen in the hearts of every patriotic Indian.
By
Apara Bhattacharya
For Instanewsgram