Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, this name hardly requires any introduction in India. The epitome of unflinching and fearless patriotism. Popularly called as ‘Netaji’ by people Bose led the young, radical wing of the Indian National Congress in the late 1920s. His life story is nothing short of a thriller drama. His death and its cause are still shrouded in mystery. This year while we are celebrating the 124th birth anniversary of this iconic Indian leader, let’s try to learn about him in detail.
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Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: Life History
Netaji was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa to Janaki Nath Bose, a lawyer and Prabhavati Devi. Bose was a brilliant student, topping the examination in Philosophy from Calcutta’s Scottish Church College, he went on securing the fourth position in the Indian Civil Service examination in England in 1920. However, affected by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, Bose refused to continue in the service and decided to take part in the freedom struggle more actively. On his return, Bose joined the INC and rose to become the President in 1938 and 1939. But he resigned in 1939 and went on founding the Forward Bloc party. The ideology differences between Bose and Gandhiji was one of the reasons for his exit from Congress.
During World War II, Netaji took the support of Nazi Germany and Japan to counter the British rule in India. In 1942, he was honoured with the title ‘Netaji’ in Berlin, by Indian soldiers along with German and Indian officers of the Indische Legion and Special Bureau for India respectively. He used to do special radio broadcasts Berlin to inspire Indians to fight against the British. In July 1943, after reaching Singapore from Germany, Netaji led the Indian National Force or the Azad Hind Fauj to free India from the British rule.
Netaji died on August 18, 1945, suffering burns after his Japanese plane crashed in Formosa (Taiwan). Many, however, refuse to believe the fact and circumstances of his death. There have been many conspiracy theories that persisted ever since his reported death. Many believed that Plane Crash was a ploy set up by Netaji himself to hoodwink Allied forces. Certain groups believe that he has lived like a monk somewhere in Varanasi in his last days. Anyways the government-appointed various commissions to enquire the death of Netaji, like the Mukherjee Commission, as well as the Shahnawaz and Khosla commissions. Till today, Netaji’s death & the now-famous Netaji files grab lots of eyeballs.
Netaji’s Family
Netaji was born to Janaki Nath Bose and Prabhavati Devi, as the ninth of 14 children. His older brother, Sarat Chandra Bose was a barrister and Indian independence activist. In 1937, he married his secretary Emilie Schenkl in Berlin, Germany. Anita Bose Pfaff, a German economist, as well as a politician in the Social Democratic Party of Germany, is the only daughter of Subhas Chandra Bose and Emilie Schenkl.
Quotes by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
As we celebrate Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary, here are some inspirational quotes of the leader.
- It is blood alone that can pay the price of freedom. Give me blood and I will give you freedom.
- One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives.
- Freedom is not given, it is taken.
- Reality is, after all, too big for our frail understanding to fully comprehend. Nevertheless, we have to build our life on the theory which contains the maximum truth.
- We cannot sit still because we cannot, or do not, know the Absolute Truth.
- When we stand, the Azad Hind Fauj has to be like a wall of granite; when we march, the Azad Hind Fauj has to be like a steamroller.
- Life loses half its interest if there is no struggle — if there are no risks to be taken.
- The secret of political bargaining is to look more strong than what you really are.
- India is calling. Blood is calling to blood. Get up, we have no time to lose. Take up your arms! we shall carve our way through the enemy’s ranks, or if God wills, we shall die a martyr’s death. And in our last sleep, we shall kiss the road that will bring our Army to Delhi.
- No real change in history can be achieved by discussions.
- It is our duty to pay for our liberty with our own blood.
- Soldiers who always remain faithful to their nation, who are always prepared to sacrifice their lives, are invincible.
Quiz on Netaji
- When was Subhash Chandra Bose born?
Ans: 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa - When did Subhash Chandra Bose first elected as president of INC?
Ans: 1938 (Haripura congress section) - Who is the founder of “Forward Block party”?
Ans: Subhash Chandra Bose - When did forward Block Party Founded?
Ans: 1939 (in the same year he left the congress) - Who gave the slogan Jai hind to the nation?
Ans: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose - Who called Subhash Chandra Bose as “Desh Nayak “?
Ans: Rabindra Nath Tagore - Who was the political guru of Netaji?
Ans: Chita Ranjan Das - When did Netaji award with the Bharat Ratna?
Ans: 1992 - Which commission was appointed to Inquire about the mysterious disappearance of Netaji?
Ans: Mukherjee Commission - Who is the writer of the book “The Indian Struggle”?
Ans: Subhash Chandra Bose - “Springing Tiger: A Study of a Revolutionary” is a biographical work on which Indian leader? Ans: Netaji
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