As we pay tribute to monumental patriot Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, let’s delve into some fascinating aspects of his life. His immense contribution to India’s freedom struggle, larger-than-life persona, and charisma marked by unwavering courage, visionary leadership, and selfless sacrifice continue to inspire generations. As we reflect on his legacy, we are reminded of his profound impact on India’s independence movement and the numerous ways in which he inspired a nation to fight for its freedom.
The ‘Prince Among Patriots‘: Netaji was affectionately called this by Mahatma Gandhi, a testament to his radical and legendary contributions to the freedom movement. Despite their differing political ideologies, Netaji referred to Gandhi as the ‘Patriot of Patriots’, showcasing his large-heartedness.
Spiritual Patriotism: Swami Vivekananda and Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa deeply influenced Netaji’s psyche. Netaji discovered Vivekananda’s works at 15, sparking a lifelong inclination towards spirituality.
Imprisonment and Perseverance: Netaji was imprisoned 11 times between 1921 and 1941. Remarkably, he assumed the post of Mayor of Calcutta in 1930 while still incarcerated.
Azad Hind Radio and Iconic Phrases: Netaji established the Azad Hind Radio station in Germany and coined phrases like ‘Jai Hind’, ‘Dilli chalo’, and ‘Give me blood and I shall give you freedom’.
Marital Life: During his time in Germany, Netaji married Emilie Schenki, an Austrian woman, to gather support for India’s freedom and had a daughter, Anita Bose, a renowned German economist.
Daring Escape: In 1941, Netaji planned a disguised escape from house arrest with Sisir Bose’s help, using a clever ruse to evade police surveillance. Despite being monitored by police day and night, it was Netaji’s brainchild to let the escape be in the guise of something that does not look unusual. Thus, by citing the reason for tuning a transistor for Uncle Subhas, Sisir used to daily come to meet Netaji and finally materialized their grand escape plan with Netaji’s foresightedness.
Meetings with Global Leaders: Netaji met Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano in 1941 to discuss India’s independence and later stayed in Rome with his wife.
Mysterious Death: Netaji’s death remains shrouded in mystery till now. Following the much talked about news of the plane crash in Taiwan on 18th August, 1945; it was believed that Subhas Chandra Bose had taken the guise of a ‘sadhu’ and lived in UP. People knew him as Gumnami Baba.
Academic Excellence and Contributions: Netaji was a brilliant student who cracked the Indian Civil Services examination but resigned to fight for India’s freedom. He edited the ‘Forward’ newspaper, started ‘Swaraj’, and published ‘The Indian Struggle’ in 1935.
