Neta ji Subhas Chandra Bose: Life, Contribution & Ideology

Why in News? 

Recently, on January 23, 2025, India celebrated Parakram Divas to mark the 128th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose in Odisha. This day was dedicated to honour his significant contributions to India’s independence movement and to remember his enduring legacy in shaping the future of the nation.

Life and Background of Subhas Chandra Bose

• Born: Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, into a Bengali Kayastha family.
• Family: His father, Janakinath Bose, was a prominent lawyer and his mother, Prabhavati Devi, hailed from an aristocratic family in Kolkata.
  • Bose was the ninth child in a family of 14 siblings. He shared a special bond with his older brother Sharad Chandra Bose.
  • His wife’s name was Emilie Schenkl. He married Emilie in 1942 in a Hindu ceremony at Bad Gastein.
  • His daughter’s name was Anita Bose.
• Education: Initially, he attended Protestant School in Cuttack, followed by Ravenshaw Collegiate School.
  • At the age of 15, Subhas completed a thorough study of Swami Vivekananda’s works.
  • In 1915, he passed his Intermediate exams despite being unwell.
  • In 1916, he pursued a BA in Philosophy at Presidency College, Kolkata, where he led student protests.
  • He initially tried to join the 49th Bengal Regiment, but he was declared unfit for military service.
  • Later, he enrolled in Scottish Church College and continued his studies and passed BA (Honours) in Philosophy in 1919, at Calcutta University.
• Career: Subhas’s father wanted him to join the Indian Civil Services (ICS), but he was torn between his personal convictions and family expectations.
  • After much contemplation, he decided to take the ICS exam in 1919 and traveled to England.
  • Although he struggled to find a school, he eventually enrolled at Kitts William Hall, focusing on Mental and Moral Sciences.
  • In 1920, he secured the 4th position in the ICS exams but soon realized that serving the British would conflict with his nationalist ideals.

Subhas Chandra Bose’s Contribution to India’s Freedom Struggle

Subhas Chandra Bose who is also known as Netaji, remains one of the most influential leaders in India’s fight for independence. His contributions went far beyond the military field and shaped the course of the nation’s freedom movement.

• Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. This event led him to resign from his prestigious job in the ICS and return to India in 1921. 
• Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, he worked with leaders like Chittaranjan Das, whom he admired and who became his political mentor. 
• Subhas Chandra Bose joined the Indian National Congress in 1921.
• He was elected as the president of All India Youth Congress in 1923. 
• Bose opposed the Motilal Nehru Report, which demanded a Dominion Status for India. 
• In 1928 when the Simon Commission arrived in India. Bose led a campaign against it in Calcutta, and he strongly advocated for Purna Swaraj.
• He actively participated in the Salt March (Salt Satyagraha) of 1930 and collaborated with Jawaharlal Nehru and M. N. Roy during the 1930s. 
• He disagreed with the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931. 
• In 1938, he won the presidency of the Congress at the Haripura Session. 
• In 1939 he again became the President of the Indian National Congress. During this time, Bose called for full independence, after some time he resigned from the Congress presidency 
• On May 3, 1939, Bose founded the “Forward Bloc” in Makur, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, to strengthen the left-wing political movement in Bengal and gain significant support. 
• In 1942, he acknowledged Gandhi’s leadership and Quit India Movement. His radio broadcasts from Germany and Japan inspired Indians to take up arms against the British.

Bose’s Vision of Military Resistance

Subhas Chandra Bose envisioned a bold and militant approach to securing India’s independence from British rule, which was central to his strategy during World War II.

• Formation of Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army, INA): In 1942, with the support of Japan, Bose began organizing an armed force named the Azad Hind Fauj to fight against British colonial rule. The first attempt to form INA was under the leadership of Captain Mohan Singh in Southeast Asia. 
• Role of Subhas Chandra Bose: In 1943, Bose took the leadership of the INA after the resignation of the initial leaders. Bose chose to move to Southeast Asia to take charge of the INA, recognizing the importance of military action to achieve independence. With Bose’s leadership, the INA was revived and restructured. He reassembled the army, expanded its ranks, and inspired a sense of unity.
• Training and Mobilization: The INA consisted of both Indian prisoners of war who had been captured by the Japanese and Indian volunteers from Southeast Asia. At its peak, the army had around 40,000 soldiers and was actively trained and prepared for warfare.
• Slogan “Dilli Chalo”: One of the most powerful moments of Bose’s leadership was his rallying cry, “Dilli Chalo”, symbolizing the march towards India’s capital to liberate it from British control.  “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom“, was also a famous slogan of Bose.
• Azad Hind Radio: Bose also initiated the Azad Hind Radio in 1942 to communicate with Indians across the world, urging them to join the independence movement and fight for freedom. It became a critical tool for spreading Bose’s message.
• Proclamation of Azad Hind Government: On October 21, 1943, Bose declared the formation of the Azad Hind Government in Singapore, with himself as the head. This government was recognized by several countries, including Japan, Germany, and Italy, and represented India’s formal challenge to British rule.
• Symbol of Unity: The INA’s official motto—“Unity, Faith, Sacrifice”—captured the essence of Bose’s vision. He believed in the power of unity among Indians, regardless of religion, region, or language, as key to defeating the British.
• Surrender and Aftermath: The tide of World War II shifted, and the Japanese forces were defeated. After the fall of Burma and the Japanese surrender, Bose’s vision of a military solution to India’s independence faced a setback.

Ideological Differences Between Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose

Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose were two towering figures in India’s freedom struggle, whose contributions were immense but whose ideologies often stood in stark contrast. 

• Non-Violence vs. Militant Approach
  • Gandhi: A firm believer in Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (civil disobedience), Gandhi believed that peaceful methods were the only way to achieve India’s independence.
  • Bose: He felt Gandhi’s non-violent methods were ineffective against British colonial rule. He advocated for militant resistance, believing that only violent actions could remove imperial rule from India.
• Means and Ends
  • Gandhi: He strongly opposed using any means, no matter how desirable the end goal might be. For Gandhi, the morality of the methods used was as important as the outcome.
  • Bose: For Bose, the end justified the means. He had no qualms about seeking help from authoritarian powers like Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
• Form of Government
  • Gandhi: He envisioned an India based on Ramrajya, a society rooted in truth, non-violence, and self-regulation. Gandhi believed India could thrive without a representative government, constitution, military, or centralization of power.
  • Bose: Initially, Bose supported a democratic system for India, but later believed that democracy might not be sufficient for nation-building and eradicating poverty and social inequality. He supported a more centralized approach.
• Militarism
  • Gandhi: Gandhi was deeply opposed to militarism. His vision for India was free from military discipline, with a focus on self-regulation and truth.
  • Bose: On the contrary, Bose admired military discipline and believed that the creation of an armed force was essential to fight for independence.
• Economic Vision
  • Gandhi: Gandhi’s economic philosophy was based on decentralization. He wanted an India where economic control would lie in the hands of local communities, focusing on self-sufficiency and handicrafts.
  • Bose: Bose supported industrialization and wanted India to build large industries to compete with the Western powers. He believed in the necessity of a strong industrial base for the nation’s progress.
• Education
  • Gandhi: Gandhi opposed the English educational system, which he believed was designed to perpetuate colonial rule. He emphasized the need for basic education for all, including vocational training.
  • Bose: In contrast, Bose supported higher education, particularly in technical and scientific fields, to transform India into an industrial power.

Approach to Heritage, Religion, and Development

1. Gandhi: Gandhi was deeply influenced by Indian culture and spirituality, advocating for a simple life in accordance with traditional values. He believed in self-reliance and rural development.
2. Bose: Bose, while also rooted in Indian tradition, was more focused on modernization and industrial development. His approach to heritage and religion was more pragmatic.

Impact of Subhas Chandra Bose’s Contributions to India’s Independence

Subhas Chandra Bose’s contributions were instrumental in shaping the course of India’s struggle for independence. His bold leadership, strategic thinking, and relentless commitment to the cause inspired millions.

• Military Action: Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA) to challenge British colonial rule. Although the INA did not achieve military success on the battlefield, it became a symbol of resistance and pride for many Indians.
• Leadership: His charismatic personality inspired millions, especially the youth, to take an active role in the struggle for independence. His slogans fueled nationalist sentiments and motivated many to join the movement.
• International Outreach: Unlike other leaders of the Indian National Congress, Bose sought to build alliances with foreign powers, including Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, to secure military and financial support for India’s independence. This approach helped raise international awareness about India’s struggle.
• Empowerment of Women: Bose strongly believed in the empowerment of women in the freedom movement. He formed the Rani of Jhansi Regiment within the INA, which allowed women to actively participate in the military effort.

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