Popularly known as 'Netaji', Subhas Chandra Bose was born on this day in 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha.
The world is celebrating the 123rd birthday of Subhas Chandra Bose today.
Popularly known as 'Netaji', Subhas Chandra Bose was born on this day in 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha.
A number of functions have been organised in different parts of the country to mark the occasion.
Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a museum on Bose and the Indian National Army. The museum on Bose and the Indian National Army showcases various artefacts related to Subhas Chandra Bose and INA. The artefacts include a wooden chair and sword used by the leader, medals, badges, uniforms and other artefacts related to the INA.
Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army was formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II to secure Indian independence from British rule. Bose had announced the formation of the country's first independent government - 'Azad Hind Government' - on October 21, 1943.
Here are some interesting facts about Netaji and his Indian National Army:
Photo Courtesy - Netaji Research Bureau (netaji.org)
1. Netaji in a car on his way to see Emperor Hirohito of Japan: 1943
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Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, then a part of Bengal Province’s Orissa Division. After finishing his school education, he briefly studied at Presidency College. He later studied philosophy from Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta and then went to study in Britain.
2. Netaji with INA officers AC Charrerji, MZ Kiani and Habibur Rahman: 1944
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Subhas Chandra Bose qualified the prestigious Indian Civil Services Examination (ICS). However, he soon quit as he did not want to work under the British government.
3. Netaji with Mahatma Gandhi and other Congress leaders: 1938
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He joined the Independence movement and became a member of the Congress party. He, however, had major ideological differences with leading figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru. A radical leader in Congress, he became the President of the party in 1938 but was ousted after differences with Gandhi and the party’s high command. He differed with Mahatma Gandhi’s methods of non-violence and wanted to wage war against our colonial rulers.
4. Netaji at Saigon Airport: 1945
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Netaji made his 'great escape' from his ancestral house in Kolkata in 1941 when he was under house arrest by the then British government. He made his way to Soviet Union and then to Germany.
5. Bose reviewing his troops in Singapore in 1943
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The Azad Hind Fauj was first established by Captain-General Mohan Singh in Singapore in 1942 but was later disbanded. With the help of Indians living in Southeast Asia, Bose revived the INA and assumed charge of it.
6. Proclaiming Freedom: 1943
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On October 21, 1943, he assumed charge of the Supreme Command of the INA and announced the proclamation of the Azad Hind Government. A great orator, Netaji gave a clarion call of independence with his famous ‘Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!’ speech. The speech was made in Burma in 1944 to members of the Indian National Army.
7. Netaji with Women's Regiment of the INA: 1943
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His army clashed with the British forces around Imphal and Kohima in 1944. Britain's struggle to repel a combined force of Netaji-led INA and Japan during World War II, around Imphal and Kohima in 1944 has been adjudged as the 'greatest ever battle involving British forces' in a contest run by the National Army Museum in London.
