PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan 23: January 23 is a day to remember Subhas Chandra Bose who did a bold promise before an unreasonable request… “Give me Blood, I shall give you Freedom” at the time when thinking about fighting Britishers was thought something impossible.
Subhash Chandra Bose or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, as he is fondly known, is one of the most revered freedom fighters of India. Born in Cuttack (a city in Odisha) on 23 January 1897, Bose was one of the brightest students since his school days. Since his young days, he was highly influenced by Vivekananda’s teachings and considered him as his spiritual Guru.
Bose was active with the radical wing of the Indian National Congress during his young days. His nationalistic temperament first came to light when he was expelled from Presidency College for assaulting Professor Oaten for anti-national comments.
Bose’s ideologies were highly contradictory to that of Mahatma Gandhi, who was highly popular among the masses. While Bose stood for self-governance, even if it meant the use of force against the British, Gandhi emphasized non-violent means.
On June 22, 1939, Bose organized the All India Forward Bloc, a faction within the Indian National Congress, aiming at consolidating the political left. The impact was considerable in Bengal and South India.
While his death is one of the greatest mysteries in history, Bose is said to have died from third-degree burns in a plane that crashed in Taiwan on August 18, 1945. Many Indians did not believe that any such crash had happened. Masses also believe that Bose’s body was cremated in the main Taihoku crematorium on August 20, 1945.
On the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary, the central government has announced to prepare a grand statue of the iconic freedom fighter at India Gate as a symbol of India’s “indebtedness” to him. The statue will be installed under a canopy, which used to have a statue of King George V that was removed in 1968.
