Subhas Chandra Bose

 

Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose (also known as Netaji) was an Indian nationalist leader who was a key figure in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule in the 1940s. He was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, India, to a lawyer and his wife.

Bose was a brilliant student, and he passed the Indian Civil Service examination with high marks. However, he resigned from his position in the Indian Civil Service to actively participate in India's struggle for freedom.

He was a leader of the Indian National Congress, but he disagreed with Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and resigned from the party in 1939. He then formed the Forward Bloc, a coalition of nationalist groups.

During World War II, Bose sought the help of the Axis powers to assist in India's struggle for independence. He formed the Indian National Army, which fought alongside Japanese troops in the Battle of Imphal and the Battle of Kohima in 1944.

Bose died in an airplane crash in 1945, under mysterious circumstances. The exact details of his death are still a matter of controversy.

Despite the controversy surrounding his death, Bose is still remembered as one of the most prominent and influential leaders of the Indian independence movement and is commonly referred to as "Netaji" (which means "Respected Leader" in Bengali). His birthday, January 23, is celebrated as "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti" in India.

Childhood of Subhas Chandra Bose 

Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, India, to a lawyer named Janakinath Bose and his wife, Prabhavati.

He was the ninth of 14 children and was known for his academic talents. He completed his schooling in Cuttack and passed the matriculation examination at the age of 13. He then went on to study at Ravenshaw College, also in Cuttack, where he was the class president and secretary.

In 1913, Bose passed the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination with flying colors, ranking fourth among all candidates. However, he felt that the British-administered Indian Civil Service was not the right place for him to serve his country.

He had a strong interest in Indian independence from an early age, and his political views became more radical as he grew older. He was inspired by the teachings of the Indian nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who advocated a more aggressive struggle for independence.

Bose was also known for his strong willpower and determination, as well as his charisma and leadership abilities. He was deeply committed to the Indian independence movement and spent much of his life working to achieve this goal.

Educational Background of Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose had a strong educational background. He passed his matriculation examination at the age of 13 and then went on to study at Ravenshaw College in Cuttack, Odisha, India. He was the class president and secretary there.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Bose appeared for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination in 1913 and secured the 4th position among all candidates. He was selected for the ICS but resigned from it to join the Indian freedom struggle.

In 1919, he went to England to study at the University of Cambridge to prepare for the ICS examination, but he came in contact with Indian nationalist leaders and was influenced by their ideas and ideologies. He was also a member of the Indian Majlis, an organization for Indian students in England. He also became Secretary of the Cambridge Majlis.

Bose was awarded a scholarship to study at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he earned a Tripos in Natural Sciences. In 1920, he appeared for the ICS examination again and stood fourth, but did not take up the position, which he had already resigned from to pursue his political aspirations.

He was also a well-read and knowledgeable individual, He was fluent in several languages including Bengali, English, Hindi, German and Japanese.

Married life of Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose married Emilie Schenkl, an Austrian national, in 1937. They had met while Bose was in Europe seeking support for the Indian independence movement. They had a daughter named Anita Bose Pfaff, who was born in 1942.

Their marriage was kept secret for much of the time, as Bose did not want his personal life to distract from his political activities. He also feared that his marriage to a white woman might be used against him by his political opponents.

During the time of their marriage, Bose was frequently away from home due to his political activities, and his wife Emilie and daughter Anita remained in Vienna. They reunite after World War II, but Bose died in a plane crash soon after, and Emilie and Anita never knew about the death of Bose for many years.

Emilie lived a low-profile life in Vienna with their daughter and later on in Germany. She died in 1996.

Establishment of the National Congress

The Indian National Congress was established in 1885 by a British civil servant named Allan Octavian Hume, along with other Indian leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Dinshaw Wacha, and Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee.

The organization was established as an all-India political party to work for the political and economic advancement of the Indian people. It aimed to bring together people from different regions, religions, and social backgrounds to work for the common goal of Indian independence from British colonial rule.

At its first meeting in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1885, the Indian National Congress passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a national educational system and the use of the vernacular languages in government and education.

Subhas Chandra Bose was not a part of the establishment of the Indian National Congress, but he became an active member of the party in the 1920s. He rose quickly through the ranks of the party and was elected president of the Congress twice, in 1938 and 1939, but resigned from the party due to differences with Mahatma Gandhi on the Congress's political ideology and methods of achieving freedom.

Even though Bose was not a part of the establishment of Congress, his involvement in the political organization and his ideology for freedom struggle played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.

Establishment of Azad Hind Fauj

The Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army (INA), was a military force established during World War II by Indian nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose. The goal of the INA was to secure Indian independence from British colonial rule by supporting the Axis powers and fighting alongside them against the British.

Bose formed the INA in 1942, while he was living in exile in Nazi Germany. He received support from the Japanese government, which agreed to help him establish the INA and train its soldiers.

The INA consisted of Indian soldiers who had been captured by the Japanese during their advances in Southeast Asia, as well as Indian expatriates and Indian students living in Japan and other parts of Asia.

The INA saw its first action in 1944, when it fought alongside Japanese troops in the Battle of Imphal and the Battle of Kohima. Despite initial successes, the INA was ultimately defeated by the British Indian Army.

After the war, the INA soldiers were put on trial by the British Indian government for treason. The trials caused a great deal of public outrage and led to widespread civil disobedience in India. This large public support for the INA soldiers was one of the factors that led to the eventual withdrawal of British colonial rule and the independence of India.

Bose is regarded as a national hero in India for his role in the Indian independence movement, and for his establishment and leading of the INA. He is commonly referred to as "Netaji" (which means "Respected Leader" in Bengali).

The prison life of Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose was known for his strong willpower, determination, and leadership abilities. He was deeply committed to the Indian independence movement and spent much of his life working to achieve this goal. He had a charismatic personality and was able to inspire and mobilize many people to join the struggle for Indian independence.

Bose was a well-educated and well-read individual. He was fluent in several languages, including Bengali, English, Hindi, German, and Japanese. He also had a strong interest in Indian culture, history, and philosophy, and was deeply influenced by the teachings of Indian leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Sri Aurobindo.

In terms of his personal life, Bose was married to Emilie Schenkl, an Austrian national, in 1937. They had a daughter named Anita Bose Pfaff, who was born in 1942. However, due to his involvement in political activities, much of his married life was spent away from his wife and child. Their marriage was kept secret for much of the time, as Bose did not want his personal life to distract from his political activities.

During the time of his political activities, Bose lived a life full of hardships and challenges. He was arrested several times by the British authorities and was exiled to different places. Despite the risks and challenges he faced, Bose remained committed to the goal of Indian independence until the end of his life.

Bose is remembered as one of the most prominent and influential leaders of the Indian independence movement. His birthday, January 23, is celebrated as "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti" in India.