SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE
Introduction
1. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was one of the great leaders of India`s national struggle who felt that sacrifice alone could prepare a nation for independence. He believed in action rather than words and had faith in Indian culture and civilization. According to him though Gandhiji had raised the movement for national struggle to great heights yet non-violence and Satyagraha were not the methods for acquiring independence. He properly understood the value of propaganda at national and international levels as an instrument and useful weapon for national liberty. He was opposed both to communism and communist philosophy. He appreciated fascism because it believed in concrete action rather than theory. Beyond that he did not subscribe to fascist philosophy. His individual life was full of struggle for the independence of his nation. National independence was the sole object of his life. In the economic field his ideas were close to socialist philosophy. He pleaded for the use of scientific inventions for large scale production for the economic regeneration of the country.
His Early Life
2. Subhash Chandra Bose was born at a village in 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal. His father Janaki Nath was a lawyer in Orissa. The family was well educated and cultured. Subhash got his early education in a missionary school at Cuttack from where he passed his high school examination.
Influences on Subhash Bose
3. Subhash Chandra Bose was influenced by the writings and teachings of Swami Vivekanand and was highly inspired by him. He not only learnt from him broadness in outlook but also the pride in the glory of the India’s past. It was from him that he got the idea that India had a mission of spreading civilization in the world, which India alone could do as a free Nation. Among others who influenced him was Aurobindo Ghosh. Subhash Chandra Bose neither wrote nor spoke too much. His ideas and thoughts are available in his book ‘Indian Struggle’ (1920-1934) which is a specimen of his patriotism and inspired career.
His Ideas
4. (a) On Politics. Subhash Chandra Bose was working at a time when the national congress was on the crossroads and required to decide between Gandhian right wing views and Subhash Chandra`s left wing philosophy. He appreciated Gandhiji for his devotion to the cause of national freedom, but beyond that Gandhian philosophy and method of working did not appeal to him. According to him Gandhian ethical approach was not the only solution to national problems.
(b) On Communism. Subhash Chandra Bose was very critical of Communist philosophy. No doubt he was a leftist in the Congress but his interpretation of leftist philosophy was different from that of commonly understood Communist philosophy. He was a supporter of socialism and aimed at wiping out poverty and illiteracy from India. He also stood for the abolition of Zamindari system and wanted to relieve the agriculturists of their dependence. He also felt that there should be no system of land lordism. According to him, one of the methods of achieving it was cultivation and introduction of co-operative system in all important walks of life.
(c) On Indian History. According to Subhash Chandra Bose India`s past was very glorious and the nation could rightly take pride in her heritage. It was a dynamic culture which not only changed with the passage of time but also adjusted very conveniently to changed circumstances. Decay, however, came when dynamic instinct was replaced by stagnancy and nation beacame inactive. Modern times bring new outlook introducing inaction in life but according to him such preachings as ‘Fate’ and ‘Ahimsa’ are the cause of decline of the nation.
(d) On Hindu - Muslim Unity. According to Bose separatist distinction between the Hindus and Muslims was only an artificial creation. He said that political system of pre- British days could not be characterised as Muslim rule because important Hindu personalities were associated with Muslim rule both at the centre as well as in the provinces.
(e) On Fascism. Subhash Bose was very much influenced by the fascist method of the struggle and their determination and will power. He was convinced that the nation will have to show determination and get ready to struggle hard for attaining independence and freedom. He was also inspired by the onslaught which the fascist leaders made on the social, economic and political institutions of their time in order to rid the society of its evils.
Formation of Forward Bloc
5. In 1939 Subhash Bose was elected as president of the Congress defeating Gandhi’s candidate Dr Pattabhai. The victory was a symbol of Subhash Bose`s popularity but some members of Congress Working Committee could not adjust themselves to Subhash Bose’s ideas, uncompromising attitude and opposition to British rule in India, as well as criticism made by him about Gandhiji’s philosophy of ‘ahimsa’ and ‘non-violence’. The result was that there was friction in the organisation and Subhas Bose left and founded a new organization known as Forward Bloc. Its aim and objects were to make an attempt to bring congressmen closer to the Bloc.
Assessment of his Work
6. There is perhaps little doubt that Subhash Bose was one of the top ranking nationalists and patriots of India. The very fact that he left the land of his birth to organise his struggle for liberating Mother India from a foreign soil is in itself sufficient proof of his patriotism. The vigour and energy with which he could manage affairs both in Japan and Germany and the capability with which he organized Indian National Army are themselves proof of his administrative capability and presence of mind.
7. The British realised the magnitude of the Indian National Struggle for freedom and also the brewing discontentment among Indian Armed Forces only due to him and his INA. It was also due to his untiring efforts that the struggle for freedom got world-wide outlook leading to the British Government’s bowing before Indian nationalism. He was perhaps one of the few Indian leaders who vigorously pleaded that social and political reforms must go hand in hand. He was a patriot of the first order and lived and died while struggling for the freedom of Mother India. His death has been shrouded in controversy as some believe that he infact did not die in the air crash as known.
1. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was one of the great leaders of India`s national struggle who felt that sacrifice alone could prepare a nation for independence. He believed in action rather than words and had faith in Indian culture and civilization. According to him though Gandhiji had raised the movement for national struggle to great heights yet non-violence and Satyagraha were not the methods for acquiring independence. He properly understood the value of propaganda at national and international levels as an instrument and useful weapon for national liberty. He was opposed both to communism and communist philosophy. He appreciated fascism because it believed in concrete action rather than theory. Beyond that he did not subscribe to fascist philosophy. His individual life was full of struggle for the independence of his nation. National independence was the sole object of his life. In the economic field his ideas were close to socialist philosophy. He pleaded for the use of scientific inventions for large scale production for the economic regeneration of the country.
His Early Life
2. Subhash Chandra Bose was born at a village in 24 Paraganas district of West Bengal. His father Janaki Nath was a lawyer in Orissa. The family was well educated and cultured. Subhash got his early education in a missionary school at Cuttack from where he passed his high school examination.
Influences on Subhash Bose
3. Subhash Chandra Bose was influenced by the writings and teachings of Swami Vivekanand and was highly inspired by him. He not only learnt from him broadness in outlook but also the pride in the glory of the India’s past. It was from him that he got the idea that India had a mission of spreading civilization in the world, which India alone could do as a free Nation. Among others who influenced him was Aurobindo Ghosh. Subhash Chandra Bose neither wrote nor spoke too much. His ideas and thoughts are available in his book ‘Indian Struggle’ (1920-1934) which is a specimen of his patriotism and inspired career.
His Ideas
4. (a) On Politics. Subhash Chandra Bose was working at a time when the national congress was on the crossroads and required to decide between Gandhian right wing views and Subhash Chandra`s left wing philosophy. He appreciated Gandhiji for his devotion to the cause of national freedom, but beyond that Gandhian philosophy and method of working did not appeal to him. According to him Gandhian ethical approach was not the only solution to national problems.
(b) On Communism. Subhash Chandra Bose was very critical of Communist philosophy. No doubt he was a leftist in the Congress but his interpretation of leftist philosophy was different from that of commonly understood Communist philosophy. He was a supporter of socialism and aimed at wiping out poverty and illiteracy from India. He also stood for the abolition of Zamindari system and wanted to relieve the agriculturists of their dependence. He also felt that there should be no system of land lordism. According to him, one of the methods of achieving it was cultivation and introduction of co-operative system in all important walks of life.
(c) On Indian History. According to Subhash Chandra Bose India`s past was very glorious and the nation could rightly take pride in her heritage. It was a dynamic culture which not only changed with the passage of time but also adjusted very conveniently to changed circumstances. Decay, however, came when dynamic instinct was replaced by stagnancy and nation beacame inactive. Modern times bring new outlook introducing inaction in life but according to him such preachings as ‘Fate’ and ‘Ahimsa’ are the cause of decline of the nation.
(d) On Hindu - Muslim Unity. According to Bose separatist distinction between the Hindus and Muslims was only an artificial creation. He said that political system of pre- British days could not be characterised as Muslim rule because important Hindu personalities were associated with Muslim rule both at the centre as well as in the provinces.
(e) On Fascism. Subhash Bose was very much influenced by the fascist method of the struggle and their determination and will power. He was convinced that the nation will have to show determination and get ready to struggle hard for attaining independence and freedom. He was also inspired by the onslaught which the fascist leaders made on the social, economic and political institutions of their time in order to rid the society of its evils.
Formation of Forward Bloc
5. In 1939 Subhash Bose was elected as president of the Congress defeating Gandhi’s candidate Dr Pattabhai. The victory was a symbol of Subhash Bose`s popularity but some members of Congress Working Committee could not adjust themselves to Subhash Bose’s ideas, uncompromising attitude and opposition to British rule in India, as well as criticism made by him about Gandhiji’s philosophy of ‘ahimsa’ and ‘non-violence’. The result was that there was friction in the organisation and Subhas Bose left and founded a new organization known as Forward Bloc. Its aim and objects were to make an attempt to bring congressmen closer to the Bloc.
Assessment of his Work
6. There is perhaps little doubt that Subhash Bose was one of the top ranking nationalists and patriots of India. The very fact that he left the land of his birth to organise his struggle for liberating Mother India from a foreign soil is in itself sufficient proof of his patriotism. The vigour and energy with which he could manage affairs both in Japan and Germany and the capability with which he organized Indian National Army are themselves proof of his administrative capability and presence of mind.
7. The British realised the magnitude of the Indian National Struggle for freedom and also the brewing discontentment among Indian Armed Forces only due to him and his INA. It was also due to his untiring efforts that the struggle for freedom got world-wide outlook leading to the British Government’s bowing before Indian nationalism. He was perhaps one of the few Indian leaders who vigorously pleaded that social and political reforms must go hand in hand. He was a patriot of the first order and lived and died while struggling for the freedom of Mother India. His death has been shrouded in controversy as some believe that he infact did not die in the air crash as known.