Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Source: PIB
GS I: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
Overview
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Why in the News?
President of India paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary January 23, 2024 which is being celebrated as Parakram Diwas.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
- He was a prominent Indian nationalist leader and one of the key figures in the struggle for India’s independence from British rule.
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s contributions to India’s independence movement and his charismatic leadership continue to inspire people in India and around the world.
Details about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
- Early Life:
- He was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, India.
- He came from a prominent Bengali family with a history of civil service and political involvement.
- Education:
- Bose studied at Cambridge University in England and cleared the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination in 1920.
- However, he resigned from the civil service in 1921, following his strong opposition to British colonial policies.
- Political Career:
- Bose joined the Indian National Congress and became a prominent leader in the early 1920s.
- He served as the Mayor of Calcutta in 1930.
- However, due to ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress leadership, Bose resigned from the party in 1939.
- Formation of Forward Bloc:
- In 1939, Bose formed the Forward Bloc, a left-wing group within the Indian National Congress, to seek India’s immediate independence.
- He advocated radical methods to achieve this goal.
- Escape to Germany and Japan:
- During World War II, Bose sought international support for India’s independence and sought the help of Axis powers.
- He escaped house arrest in 1941 and traveled to Germany and then to Japan.
- Formation of the Indian National Army (INA):
- In 1943, Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA) in collaboration with the Japanese, to liberate India from British rule.
- The INA played a crucial role in the Burma Campaign against the British.
- “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom”:
- Netaji coined this famous slogan to motivate his supporters and soldiers in the fight for India’s independence.
- Disappearance and Controversies:
- Netaji’s death remains a subject of controversy. According to the official version, he died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945.
- However, some various theories and claims suggest he might have survived and lived in different places under assumed identities.
- Legacy:
- He is remembered as a valiant freedom fighter and a charismatic leader who played a significant role in the struggle for India’s independence.
- His legacy is celebrated annually on his birthday, January 23, which is observed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti in India.
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