We all know India has a rich culture pillaged by invaders for centuries. But throughout Indian history, there were several world leaders who resisted. Gave their all for the glory of the country. As a nation, we have either forgotten those stories of valour or have ignored them. That realization saddens me the most.
These stories are often forgotten or dusted under the rug. But I believe stories like these are meant to be told. These stories define who we are as Indians. The story of Subash Chandra Bose is one of many untold chronicles waiting to be foretold.
Table of Contents
About Subash Chandra Bose
Born on 23 January 1897, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a freedom fighter who wholeheartedly resisted the British invasion. The unsung war hero of India was the reason why we enjoy independence. He had famously led the Indian national force from abroad against the Western powers during the 2nd world war.
Netaji was a dear ally to Gandhi and a firm advocate of a militant approach to independence. Considered as India’s finest freedom combatant, his legacy is cherished and celebrated all across the country.
Netaji’s zodiac sign: Aquarius
Netaji’s early life & education
Subhash Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa (now known as Odisha). His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a homemaker.
He had 13 siblings and Netaji was born 9th in the line. Netaji excelled in education and topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First Class in Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta.
He was strongly influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekanand and had a deep connection to the country from the get-go. He travelled to England in 1919 to appear in the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920 and came out fourth in order of merit. However, it was also the time when India saw major political unrest, i.e. Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Disturbed by the incident, he left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to return to India in 1921.
Netaji’s married life
Netaji was married to an Austrian stenographer in 1937. It is believed that the marriage was a secret and done without ceremony or witnesses. He had a daughter named Anita Bose Pfaff in 1942.
Netaji’s Career Trajectory
In India, he came in close contact with Mahatma Gandhi. On Gandhiji’s instructions, he started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, whom he later acknowledged as his political guru. He quickly climbed the social ladder and achieved a prominent position in Indian National Congress. He became Congress president in 1938. It was in 1939 re-elections that differences started to arouse between Gandhi and Netaji.
Given his radical attitude, Bose was ousted from the party. It was in 1941 Bose arrived in Nazi Germany, where the leadership offered unexpected but equivocal sympathy for India’s independence. Embracing the concept of “an enemy’s enemy is a friend”, he sought the cooperation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. During this time, he formed the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war.
When the INA reached Indian soil in 1944, it was realized that the defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War have made them inept. As a result, the INA retreated. It was then announced that Subhas Chandra Bose was allegedly killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. However, many speculate that he was still alive after the air crash.
Netaji’s death
It was officially recorded that Subhash Chandra Bose’s death occurred from third-degree burns on 18 August 1945 after his overloaded Japanese plane crashed in Japanese-ruled Formosa (now Taiwan). However, many of his supporters believe that he is still alive and lived in exile till the day he died.
Awards
On 23 January 1992, a press release was published by the President’s Secretariat to confer the award posthumously on Subhas Chandra Bose. The decision triggered much criticism as his death was never officially recorded and a PIL was filed in the Calcutta High Court to revoke the award.
However, he has been featured on the stamps in India from 1964, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2016 and 2018. In 2021, the Government of India declared 23 January as Parakram Divas to commemorate the birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose.
Movies & documentaries influenced by Netaji’s life
- Netaji Subhash, a feature documentary film about Bose was released in 1947. The documentary was directed by Chhotubhai Desai.
- Subhash Chandra (1966) was an Indian Bengali-language biographical film based on the life of Netaji.
- Neta Ji Subhash Chandra Bose is a 1966 Indian biographical drama film about Bose by Hemen Gupta.
- In 2004, Shyam Benegal directed the biographical film, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero depicting his life in Nazi Germany (1941–1943), in Japanese-occupied Asia (1943–1945) and the events leading to the formation of Azad Hind Fauj. The film went on to garner massive critical acclaim.
- Subhash Chandra Bose: The Mystery, a 2016 documentary film by Iqbal Malhotra, follows conspiracy theories regarding Bose’s death.
- In 2017, History tv 18 aired Netaji Bose – The Lost Treasure, which explored the INA treasure controversy.
- In 2017, Alt Balaji and BIG Synergy Media released a 9-episode web series, Bose: Dead/Alive
- Gumnaami is a 2019 Indian Bengali mystery film directed by Srijit Mukherjee, which deals with Netaji’s death mystery, based on the Mukherjee Commission Hearings.
Lessons
Remembering the legacy of late freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, scientist eminent Astro strategist Hirav Shah brings you 2 lessons to learn from Netaji:
1- Believe in your ideologies
It’s safe to say that our forefathers died protecting what they thought was right. It is because of their sacrifice and the insistent struggle for freedom that we enjoy the lives that we live today. As Netaji had once said, “One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives.”
We should never forget the lives lost during our struggle for freedom. It is because of their grand sacrifice that we get to tell our stories. They did so because they believed in their cause. They were so determined that they lost their lives without even giving a second thought.
2- There are always 2 sides to the coin
If you believe that the Independence was won simply by preaching non-violence, then you are dead wrong. Courage and Bravery are the basic foundation of Independence and triumph.
Many lives were lost during this constant struggle for freedom. If we discount their sacrifice, then there is no point in calling ourselves Indians. As Subhash once said, “No real change in history has ever been achieved by discussions.” And that stands true today as well.
Conclusion
Subhash was no ordinary man. He was not toughen Up As a Leader in fact he was a born leader, and you could tell that just by looking at him. A dynamic leader who coined the phrase, “You give me blood and I will give you freedom,” still manage to send shivers down my spine simply because of the sheer ferocity displayed in that ONE line. The lion who breathed fire and the dragon who won us true freedom, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is the true hero-concludes Astro strategist Hirav Shah.
About Hirav Shah
Hirav Shah is an eminent Business Astrologer and Entrepreneur, who can help you reach new levels of success in the coming year. Shah’s unique practice mixes the fundamentals of Astrology with Business Principles, thereby introducing you to a whole new dimension of affluence.
Hirav Shah has an astounding global presence with clients based across various business sectors. He is a big believer in taking massive action, has formulated strategies and made the right strategic bets based on the certainty of outcome to help some of the world’s most renowned brands.
From business setup and expansion to crisis and exit, he can give you a strong Astro based analysis on where to apply leverage and where to cut losses.
Image:Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
