Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Unyielding Spirit of India’s Freedom Struggle

(On the Occasion of His 129th Birth Anniversary)

By Ravi Rohmetra

Subhas Chandra Bose was among the most celebrated and charismatic freedom fighters of India. A powerful influencer of the youth, he earned the revered epithet ‘Netaji’ by founding and leading the Indian National Army (INA) during India’s struggle for independence. Though initially aligned with the Indian National Congress, ideological differences led to his eventual separation from the party. Determined to free India from British rule, Bose sought assistance from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during the Second World War. His mysterious disappearance after 1945 gave rise to numerous theories regarding his fate, making him one of the most enigmatic figures in Indian history.

Childhood and Early Life

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack (then in Orissa) to Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. He was the ninth child in a family of fourteen siblings. His father, an affluent and successful lawyer, was honoured with the title ‘Rai Bahadur’ and later served as a member of the Bengal Legislative Council.

A brilliant student, Subhas Chandra Bose graduated with a degree in Philosophy from Presidency College, Calcutta. Deeply influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, he displayed intense patriotic zeal from a young age. An incident involving an altercation with Professor E.F. Otten over racist remarks brought him to the notice of colonial authorities.

At his father’s insistence, Bose travelled to England and appeared for the Indian Civil Services examination, securing fourth rank with the highest marks in English. However, his commitment to India’s freedom struggle proved stronger than the allure of a prestigious career. In April 1921, he resigned from the ICS and returned to India. Later that year, he was arrested for organizing a boycott of celebrations marking the visit of the Prince of Wales.

During his stay in Germany, Bose met Emilie Schenkl, an Austrian national. The two were married in a secret Hindu ceremony in 1937 and had a daughter, Anita, in 1942. In 1943, shortly after her birth, Bose left Germany to resume his mission in Asia.

Political Career

Association with the Indian National Congress

Subhas Chandra Bose began his political journey under the mentorship of Chittaranjan Das, whom he regarded as his political guru. He worked closely with Das in Calcutta, edited newspapers such as Forward, and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation during Das’s mayoralty.

Bose played a vital role in mobilising students, youth, and labourers, emerging as a dynamic and firebrand nationalist leader. He was admired within the Congress for his exceptional organisational abilities and served several prison terms for his revolutionary activities.

Differences with the Congress

At the 1928 Guwahati session of the Congress, sharp differences emerged between the younger and senior leadership. While the younger leaders demanded complete independence without compromise, the senior leaders favoured dominion status within the British Empire.

The ideological divide between Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose widened further, ultimately leading Bose to resign from the Congress in 1939. The same year, he founded the Forward Bloc. Despite his firm opposition to British rule, Bose acknowledged certain strengths of British political organisation and engaged in discussions with prominent British leaders and thinkers, including Clement Attlee and Sir Stafford Cripps, on the future of an independent India.

Formation of the Indian National Army

Bose strongly opposed the Congress decision to support Britain during the Second World War. Calling for mass participation in the freedom struggle, his powerful slogan—“Give me blood, and I will give you freedom”—evoked an overwhelming response. Alarmed, the British imprisoned him. After declaring a hunger strike and with his health deteriorating, Bose was released but placed under house arrest.

In January 1941, he made a daring escape and reached Germany via Peshawar. With support from Germany and later Japan, Bose travelled to Southeast Asia and assumed command of nearly 40,000 soldiers. He reorganised them into the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj.

The INA captured the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from British control, renaming them Shaheed and Swaraj Islands. A Provisional Government of Azad Hind was established, and in March 1944, INA forces crossed the Burma border and stepped onto Indian soil. However, the changing tide of the war and the eventual surrender of Japan and Germany forced Bose to halt further military advance.

Mysterious Death

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared under mysterious circumstances following the retreat. According to official accounts, he boarded a Mitsubishi Ki-21 bomber from Saigon on August 17, 1945, en route to Tokyo. The aircraft crashed in Taiwan the following day, and Bose reportedly succumbed to severe burn injuries on August 18, 1945. His cremation took place on August 20 at Taihoku Crematorium, and his ashes were placed at the Renkoji Temple in Tokyo.

However, Bose’s comrades never saw his body, nor any photographs of his injuries. This fuelled widespread disbelief and speculation. Many believed that Netaji had survived and would one day return to lead India. Even Mahatma Gandhi expressed doubts regarding Bose’s death.

Several inquiry commissions were set up by the Government of India. While early reports confirmed his death in the crash, the Justice Mukherjee Commission (2006) questioned this conclusion. However, its findings were rejected. In 2016, declassified Japanese documents reaffirmed that Bose had indeed died in Taiwan on August 18, 1945.

Ideology and Legacy

Bose firmly believed in democracy for independent India, but his foremost ideology was unconditional freedom for the motherland—even if it meant seeking support from fascist regimes.

Netaji’s impact on the Indian psyche remains profound. His stirring slogan ‘Jai Hind’ continues to inspire generations. The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata stands as a tribute to his enduring legacy.

In Popular Media

Netaji’s life has been widely portrayed in documentaries, television series, and films. Notably, Shyam Benegal’s acclaimed biopic Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004) brought renewed attention to his life and sacrifice, earning critical praise both in India and internationally.

( Ravi Rohmetra is a social worker and freelance writer and can be reached at 9419652999(M), email: ravirohmetra@gmail.com)