Subhas Chandra Bose birthday is commemorated every year on January 23. This year marks the 128th 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.

• 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”

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.