Legacy of SC Bose

• 22 Jan 2025

For Prelims: Parakram Diwas, Rash Behari Bose, Indian National Army, Subhas Chandra Bose, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Param Vir Chakra, Presidency College, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Ananda Math, Mahatma Gandhi, Indian federation, Rajendra Prasad, Forward Bloc, Black Hole Tragedy, Azad Hind Radio, Alipore Bomb Case, Ghadar Movement, Veer Savarkar, Indian Independence League (IIL). 

For Mains: Contribution of Subhas Chandra Bose and Rash Behari Bose in India’s Struggle for freedom. 

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

On the occasion of Parakram Diwas 2025, the Ministry of Culture is organising a grand celebration from 23rd January to 25th January 2025 at Barabati Fort in Cuttack, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birthplace. 

• 21^st January marks the 80th death anniversary of Rash Behari Bose, a founding leader of the Indian National Army with whom Subhas Chandra Bose was associated. 

What is Parakram Diwas? 

• About: Parakram Diwas (Day of Valor) is celebrated annually on 23rd January to honor the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of India’s greatest freedom fighters. 
  • Parakram Diwas 2025 is being celebrated on the 128th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose (SC Bose). 
• Past Celebrations: 
  • 2021: The first Parakram Diwas was held at Kolkata's Victoria Memorial. 
  • 2022: A hologram statue of Netaji was unveiled at India Gate, New Delhi. 
  • 2023: 21 islands in Andaman and Nicobar were named after Param Vir Chakra awardees like Major Somnath Sharma, Nayak Jadunath Singh etc. 
  • 2024: The event was inaugurated at Red Fort, Delhi, marking the site of the INA trials. 
• Significance: The day symbolizes the courage, valor, and patriotism of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who led the Indian National Army (INA) and advocated for complete independence. 
  • It also serves as a reminder of Netaji’s famous slogan, "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom," which inspired millions in the fight for India's independence. 

What are Key Facts About SC Bose? 

• Early Life: Born in 1897 in Cuttack (now in Odisha, then in Bengal), to Janakinath and Prabhavati Bose, Netaji was raised in a family that valued English education and Hindu customs. 
  • He attended Ravenshaw Collegiate School and later studied at Presidency College, Calcutta, where he became involved in anti-British activism. 
• Ideological Foundations: He was inspired by the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda, as well as the themes of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Ananda Math. 
  • He developed a unique synthesis of Western and Indian cultures, focused on India's freedom and revival. 
• Early Political Involvement: SC Bose passed the Indian Civil Service exam in 1920 but resigned in 1921 to join the Indian freedom struggle. 
  • In 1921, Netaji met Mahatma Gandhi in Bombay but disagreed with his approach to independence, particularly his patience and commitment to non-violence. 
• Disagreements with Congress: In 1938, Netaji was elected Congress president at the Haripura session, and advocated for swaraj and opposed an Indian federation under the Government of India Act, 1935. 
  • In 1939, Netaji was re-elected as Congress president in the Tripuri session, defeating Gandhi-backed Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Gandhi saw this as a personal defeat, leading to the resignation of 12 out of 15 Working Committee members, including JL Nehru, Patel, and Rajendra Prasad. 
    • Bose attempted to form a new working committee but failed, leading to his resignation and replacement by Rajendra Prasad. 
  • Bose resigned from the chairmanship of the party on 29th April, 1939 and proposed the Forward Bloc to unite the radical-left Congress members, offering an alternative leadership based on anti-imperialism and socialism after independence. 
• Death: After the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WW II, the Japanese surrendered on 16th August 1945, Bose left South East Asia on a Japanese plane and headed toward China. However, the plane allegedly crashed, leaving SC Bose badly burned, but still alive, according to some accounts. 
• Legacy: Bose’s leadership, ideology, and call for complete independence made him one of the most influential figures in India’s freedom struggle.

What was SC Bose Role in India’s Freedom Movement? 

• Dramatic Escape: Bose was arrested in 1940 before he could campaign to remove the monument dedicated to the Black Hole tragedy of Calcutta, where 123 Europeans died on 20th June 1756 (1 year before Battle of Plassey).  
  • His escape from India in 1941, travelling under various disguises, marked his relentless pursuit of independence, even in the face of British surveillance. 
• International Alliances: After reaching Europe, Bose sought support from Nazi Germany, Soviet Union and later Imperial Japan in Asia, countries that were interested in defeating Britain during World War II.  
  • Bose was allowed to start the Azad Hind Radio and was provided with a few thousand Indian prisoners of war captured by the Axis powers in WW II. 
• Journey to South East Asia: In February 1943, Bose and his aide Abid Hasan traveled from Germany in a submarine, crossing the Atlantic ocean, Cape of Good Hope, and Indian Ocean, before reaching Tokyo by air, completing a 90-day, perilous journey. 
• Indian National Army (INA): INA was formed in 1942, consisting of thousands of Indian prisoners of war captured by the Japanese, and supported by Japanese troops.  
  • Under the Chalo Delhi campaign, INA under SC Bose crossed the Indo-Burma border and marched towards Imphal and Kohima in March 1944. However, it ended in Imphal with the defeat of Japan. 
  • Initially, Captain Mohan Singh was appointed as the commander of INA.  
• Azad Hind Government: In October 1943, Bose formed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind in Singapore. The headquarters moved to Rangoon in January 1944. 
  • It was recognized by 9 countries namely Japan, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Burma, Thailand, Philippines, Manchuria, and the Republic of China (under Wang Jingwei). 
• INA Women’s Regiment: Bose also created the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, which was composed of women who fought alongside men in the struggle for independence. 
• INA Trails: The nationalist sentiment reached a crescendo around the trials of Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon that developed into violent confrontations against the British raj. 
  • INA Trials were a series of military tribunals held by the British colonial government in 1945-46 to try INA officers and soldiers for treason. 

What were the Ideological Differences Between Gandhiji and Bose? 

Aspect	Mahatma Gandhi	Subhas Chandra Bose
Ideology	Believed in non-violence (Ahimsa) and truth (Satyagraha) as means to achieve freedom.	Advocated militant resistance and believed violent means were necessary for India's independence.
Means and Ends	Emphasized ethical means, rejecting the idea of using unethical methods for desirable ends.	Focused on achieving results, even allying with Axis powers (Germany and Japan) for India's freedom.
Form of Government	Advocated decentralization with self-sufficient village republics; favored minimal state control.	Favored a strong central government with socialist planning; believed an authoritarian system was initially necessary.
Economic Vision	Opposed industrialization and large-scale mechanization; advocated a self-reliant, village-based economy.	Supported modernization, industrialization, and scientific development for economic growth and social upliftment.
Caste and Untouchability	Opposed untouchability but supported the varna system for social harmony; advocated caste-based duties.	Completely rejected the caste system; advocated for a casteless, egalitarian society and inter-caste marriages.
Militarism	Opposed militarism; believed in minimal defensive force and emphasized peace and non-violence.	Admired military discipline; established the Indian National Army to fight British rule.
Education	Advocated basic education (Nai Talim), focusing on morality, self-sufficiency, and vocational training in local crafts.	Emphasized higher education in technical and scientific fields for industrial and national development.
Approach to British Rule	Rejected collaboration with the British, especially during World War II, and opposed alliances with fascist powers.	Criticized British hypocrisy and sought alliances with Axis powers to exploit their weaknesses for India's freedom.
Vision for Freedom	Advocated Swaraj through non-violent civil disobedience, with a moral and spiritual approach to governance.	Sought immediate independence through revolutionary action and a socialist model for post-independence reconstruction.

Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 

• The annual Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar has been instituted in 2018 to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management. 
• The award is announced every year on 23rd January. 
• It carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual. 

What are Key Facts about Rash Behari Bose? 

• About: Born in Bengal, Rash Behari Bose was inspired by revolutionary ideals from a young age and joined the independence movement at 16. 
• Revolutionary Activities: He gained prominence during the Alipore Bomb Case (1908), and took part in the bomb plot to assassinate Viceroy Charles Hardinge in 1912. 
  • In 1913, Rash Behari Bose met Jatin Mukherjee (Bagha Jatin) under whose mentorship, Bose became more determined to fight for India's freedom. 
  • He became a key figure in the Ghadar Movement, an international political movement founded by Indian expatriates to overthrow British rule. 
  • In Japan in 1924, Rash Behari Bose met Subhas Chandra Bose, facilitated by Veer Savarkar. 
• Escape to Japan: Fleeing British intelligence, he left India in 1915, eventually taking refuge in Japan. 
  • In 1924, he founded the Indian Independence League (IIL) in Japan, with the goal of organizing and mobilizing Indians for the struggle against British rule. 
• Azad Hind Fauj: In 1942, Rash Behari Bose formed Azad Hind Fauj to fight for India’s freedom.  
  • He handed over the leadership of the INA to Subhas Chandra Bose, recognizing his potential to lead the independence struggle. 

Conclusion 

The legacy of both Subhas Chandra Bose and Rash Behari Bose continues to inspire India's independence movement. While Subhas Bose led the Azad Hind Fauj, Rash Behari Bose laid its foundation and played a crucial role in uniting revolutionaries for India’s freedom struggle, leaving an indelible mark in history. 

Drishti Mains Question:

How did Subhas Chandra Bose’s vision for India’s independence differ from Mahatma Gandhi’s approach?

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)  

Prelims

Q. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a (2014)

(a) revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco 

(b) nationalist organization operating from Singapore 

(c) militant organization with headquarters at Berlin 

(d) communist movement for India’s freedom with headquarters at Tashkent 

Ans: (a)

Q. During the Indian Freedom Struggle, who of the following raised an army called ‘Free Indian Legion’?(2008)

(a) Lala Hardayal  

(b) Rashbehari Bose 

(c) Subhas Chandra Bose  

(d) V.D. Savarkar 

Ans: (c)

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Mains 

Q. Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian Phase. Elaborate. (2019) 

Q. Highlight the difference in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (2016) 

Q. How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss. (2015)