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| Subbash Chandra Bose, freedom fighter. Britannica |
The Union Culture Ministry' announcement on Tuesday that stating from this year January 23, birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, one of the greatest freedom fighters of India and the one who first called Mahatma Gandhi the ''Father of the Nation'' would be celebrated annually as “Parakram Diwas” - day of courage, is a good news. Indeed, a rich tribute to him for his selfless contribution to India's freedom
His 125th birth anniversary celebrations will begin on 23 January this year and continue till 22 January 2022. Glad to hear that a permanent exhibition will be opened in the Victoria Hall, Kolkata, WB on his birth anniversary day this year and the Indian PM Shri Modiji will visit Kolkata to declare open several events. There will be celebration at Cuttack (Odisha), Netaji's birthplace. As part of long celebrations coin and postage stamp bearing his mage would be released. The other proposal on the anvil are the introduction of an express train in his name by the Railway Ministry, the painting of some Air India aircraft with Bose’s images by the Civil Aviation Ministry, a special ''Beating Retreat'' ceremony by the Defense Ministry, etc. Bose's catchy slogan was “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!” as well as “Jai Hind. He started a sort of one man army by reorganizing Indian national Army (first founded by Mohan Deb) in SE Asia (numbering more than 40000 and included volunteers, retired. service men and prisoners trained by the Japanese army.). The Indian government had just announced that the Howrah-Kalka mail is renamed as the ''Netaji Express'' in honor of Chandra Bose.
In a notification, the Ministry said the government had decided to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary this month in a manner worthy of him and his sacrifice to get India freed from the vice-like grip of the British rulers. The crown administration had never shown any sign of loosening their control on the Indian subcontinent, particularly, during the second world war (1939-1945). After WWII, though emerged victorious, Brittan was almost bankrupt and severely clobbered by the powerful German
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| PM. Churchill and Bengal famine 194.youtube.comwatch?v=om0612PjI5k |
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| PM.Churchill and Bengal famine 1943.quora.com |
army and the Axis powers. The hasty retreat under German bombardment was the first indication that that ''all was not well in the empire’s HQ''. The over ambitious country had begun to see holes in their imperialistic greed. The great Bengal famine of 1943 that saw the death of about about 3 million people and the irresponsible attitude during that time by the conservative British politicians led by Winston Churchill and equally disparaging remark made by him on the Bengal famine and on Gandhi had widened the cracks and pushed the freedom struggle in faster mode.
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| Bose with Patel and Gandhi. .bbc.com/news |
Honoring an upright and gritty political leader like Netaji Bose will positively give inspiration to the coming younger generation. India's young people, particularly in the south, are more exposed to certain dishonest and corrupt politicians than honest and dedicated politicians of past era who were action oriented. Whatever they did it was for the welfare of the people and progress of the nation. There was no such a thing called linguistic chauvinism. Unfortunately, certain politicians of today in the South, besides being atheists openly indulge in caste-based and communal-based politics. None of them is interested in the progress of our nation and the integrity of our multi-lingual and multi-religious communities. ''Secularism'' has become a misnomer in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere to confuse gullible people and make biased remarks on countless dedicated political leaders.. In a democratic country well spirited politicians with correct and unbiased ideology can take the country forward and improve the standard of life. .
As for Netaji, he faced more foes than others in his political carrier and he never lost his patriotic zeal; when confronted by adversaries, he was quite tolerant and never lost his ground. Apart from being a charismatic political leader, he was bold and courageous As a firebrand leader his obsession was to free India and, to achieve it, he would go to any extent, putting his personal life at risk. Old timers will never forget WWII adventures - his daring escape from house arrest by the British, his secret meeting with Nazi leader Hitler and unexpected journey in a German submarine to Sumatra (held by Japanese) and finally his mysterious sudden death .in a plane crash in Taiwan on 18 August 1945.
.Across India every nook and corner you will see the picture of Netaji; he is not with us, but his legacy continues to day and for ever.
Tit-bits:
Netaji Subbash Chandra Bose: A brief note:
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| Bose resigned prestigious ICS post and later formed INA..sscadda.com |
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| 1918 Bose with Gandhiji, annual congress meeting. wikipedia. |
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945), hailing from a rich Bengali family of Cuttack (now Odisha), right from the young age, had disliked the British for their oppressive rule in India, racial bias, exploitation of Indian natives and their resources, etc. Under his father's compulsion, having completed BA in Philosophy at Scottish Church college Kolkata, he went to England to take the prestigious ICS exam. Though he came out with flying colors (1920), he left the lucrative govt. job in April 1923 and, in the same year, came under the influence of C.R. Das, a popular Bengali politician and freedom fighter. In 1923, Bose became the President of the All India Youth Congress and also the Secretary of Bengal State Congress. He also held powerful post in the Calcutta Municipal corporation. He got a good name while holding all these posts and proved that he was a stickler for discipline.
His active participation in several protests against the British got their attention. The government arrested him on several occasions and, at last, in 1925 deported him to Burma (Myanmar). This time the British suspected Bose had close contact with the terrorists in Bengal and elsewhere. His trip to Europe in the mid 1930s got him a chance to talk to important European political leaders, Indian students and others. There he saw the impact of Communism and fascism on the people. Back in India in 1938 he became the Congress President. As he had crossed sword with Gandhji and others over the conduct of freedom movements after his reelection as the President in 1939, he was ousted from that post. Bose was doubtful about non-cooperation methods to get freedom from the adamant British.
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| At Chennai 1939, Bose with Posumpon Thevar. twitter.com/anujdhar |
Bose soon resigned from the presidency and formed the All India Forward Bloc. (He was well assisted by patriot Sri. Muthuramalinga Thevar of S. Tamil Nadu in various phases and in the later years after India's freedom he won the election from his native place (1952) on Forward Block party ticket. In 1941, while under house arrest Bose escaped and went to Nazi Germany and other places. From aboard he carried on his freedom struggle, by forming an army consisting of mostly Indian volunteers, ex-poisoners and others trained by the Japanese. army. The INA - Indian National Army, based in SE Asia, would work against the British in tandem with Indian freedom fighters in India. To some extent he succeeded in advancing with the INA toward India. However, with the capture of Singapore by the British forces from the Japanese and surrender of the INA, Bose escaped to China (Manchuria). As Russia had problems with Britain, his idea was to seek their help. Unfortunately, his idea of free India - Azhad Hind did not see the light as he died in a plane crash in Taiwan in August 1945. His unexpected death still remains a puzzle. Is it an accident or an act of sabotage? Time only will tell.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subhas_Chandra_Bose
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/4/1/churchills-policies-to-blame-for-1943-bengal-famine-study
