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Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Anniversary: Biography, Revolutionary, Visionary and Freedom Fighter

PWOnlyIAS January 23, 2024 12:01 6054 0

Subhas Chandra Bose birthday is commemorated every year on January 23. This year marks the 127th anniversary of his birthday. This day is also celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas' or Courage Day.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Anniversary: Biography, Revolutionary, Visionary and Freedom Fighter

Context: Subhas Chandra Bose birthday is commemorated every year on January 23.

  • This year marks the 127th anniversary of his birthday.
    This day is also celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ or Courage Day.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Political Journey and Ideological Evolution

  • Subhas Chandra Bose: Birth and Legacy
    • Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23rd January 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province, to Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose. 
    • His Jayanti is celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ on 23rd January.

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  • Subhas Chandra Bose: Education, Influences, and Media Ventures
    • Career in Civil Services: In 1919, he had cleared the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination. Bose, however, resigned later.
    • Spiritual Inspiration: He was highly influenced by Vivekananda’s teachings and considered him as his spiritual Guru. 
    • Political Inspiration: His political mentor was Chittaranjan Das. 
    • News Papers: He worked as the editor for Das’s newspaper–Forward, and later started his own newspaper, Swaraj.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Congress: Rise, Differences, and the Forward Bloc
    • Early Association with INC:  He was deeply influenced by the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Congress in 1921.
    • Rise to Prominence:  Bose quickly rose to prominence within the INC due to his charisma and leadership qualities. He was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1938 and again in 1939.
    • Differences with Gandhi: One of the key disagreements was over the use of non-violence as a means of achieving independence.
    • Formation of the Forward Bloc:  In 1939, due to these differences and the outbreak of World War II, Subhas Chandra Bose resigned as the President of the INC and formed a new political group called the Forward Bloc. 
      • In March 1940, Bose convened an Anti-Compromise Conference at Ramgarh; it was a joint effort of the Forward Bloc and the Kisan Sabha.

Ideological Differences: Gandhi and Bose’s Perspectives on Freedom and Governance”

Parameter Mahatma Gandhi Subash Chandra Bose
Non-Violence vs. Militant Approach
  • Gandhi believed in non-violence (ahimsa) and satyagraha as the means to achieve freedom. He objected to violence as it led to more problems and bitterness.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose, on the other hand, believed that violent resistance was necessary to oust British rule. He thought non-violence alone would be inadequate.
Means and Ends
  • Gandhi emphasized the importance of moral means to achieve a just end. 
  • He rejected the use of unethical or violent methods to reach a goal.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose was pragmatic and willing to align with different powers, including the Axis during World War II, if it served the purpose of gaining independence, even if he disapproved of their ideologies.
Form of Government
  • Gandhi’s ideal state, Ramrajya, rejected representative government, constitution, army, and police. He promoted a stateless society based on self-governance and moral values.
  • Bose advocated a democratic system with state ownership and control over industries, indicating a more authoritative approach in the initial stage of nation-building.
Ideas on Economy
  • Gandhi promoted a decentralized, village-based economy, shunning industrialization and capitalism. 
  • He believed in self-sufficiency and rejected labor-saving machinery.
  • Bose favored industrialization, socialism, and state ownership to modernize India, create employment, and compete with foreign powers. He admired efficiency and discipline.
Religion
  • Gandhi had a deeply religious outlook and believed in the unity of all religions, emphasizing truth and love as their common principles.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose was influenced by Hindu spirituality but was a secularist, advocating neutrality toward all religions and rejecting discrimination based on faith.
Caste and Untouchability
  • Gandhi supported the varna system but aimed to eradicate untouchability. 
  • He believed in the complementarity of men and women in their roles.
  • Bose was against social hierarchy, supported inter-caste marriages, and sought the elimination of untouchability. He had a more progressive view of gender equality.
Women
  • Gandhi advocated for women’s participation in the freedom struggle and their emancipation but held traditional views on women’s roles.
  • Bose actively promoted the involvement of women in political and military roles, forming a women’s regiment in the INA and pushing for their empowerment.
Education
  • Gandhi preferred vernacular education, emphasizing moral and spiritual development alongside academic knowledge.
  • Bose favored higher education, particularly in technical and scientific fields, to modernize India and promote industrialization.

 

The Indian National Army (INA): Formation, Activities, and Legacy

  • Inception: The INA was originally envisioned by Mohan Singh, an Indian army officer who sought Japanese support during World War II.
  • Initially, the Japanese handed over Indian prisoners of war (POWs) to Mohan Singh, who attempted to recruit them into the INA.
  • With the fall of Singapore, many Indian POWs were willing to join the INA, and by the end of 1942, around 40,000 men were ready to participate.
  • The INA’s first division was formed in September 1942, with 16,300 men, coinciding with the Quit India Movement.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose took over the leadership of the INA in 1943 and formed the Provisional Government for Free India in Singapore.
  • The provisional government declared war on Britain and the United States and was recognized by the Axis powers.
  • The INA created various regiments, including the Rani Jhansi Regiment for women.
  • INA troops crossed into India in 1944 with the slogan “Chalo Delhi!” but had to withdraw as the Japanese retreated.
  • The INA’s fate was sealed with Japan’s surrender in August 1945, and many members were taken prisoner.
  • Subhas Chandra Bose’s death in an air crash in 1945 marked the end of the INA’s activities, but the soldiers’ court-martial upon their return to India sparked a powerful movement in their defense.
Also Read Other Biography
Lal Bahadur Shastri Shaheed Bhagat Singh
Jayaprakash Narayan Nanaji Deshmukh
Indira Gandhi Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sam Manekshaw Mahatma Gandhi

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose FAQs

He was inspired by Swami Vivekananda's teachings spiritually and was politically influenced by Chittaranjan Das.

While Gandhi advocated non-violence and moral means, Bose believed in a militant approach, including violent resistance if necessary, to oust British rule.

The Forward Bloc was a political group formed by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939 due to ideological differences with Gandhi and the outbreak of World War II.

He led the Indian National Army (INA) and formed the Provisional Government for Free India in Singapore, aligning with the Axis powers to fight against British colonial rule.

The INA's fate was sealed with Japan's surrender in 1945, and many members were taken prisoner.

The Rani Jhansi Regiment was a women's regiment within the INA, reflecting Bose's commitment to women's empowerment and their role in the struggle for independence.

Bose favored industrialization and socialism, state ownership of industries, and progressive views on social issues like caste, untouchability, and gender equality.
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