“Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti: Honouring the Valiant Patriot and Militant Freedom Fighter” 

Mumbai: In the annals of India’s struggle for freedom, the name Subhash Chandra Bose reverberates with valor and determination. Famously proclaiming, “Tum Mujhe Khoon do main tumhe Azadi dunga” (Give me blood, and I will give you freedom), Netaji Bose, as he is affectionately known, emerged as a militant freedom fighter and patriot.

Born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa, to Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi, Subhash Chandra Bose hailed from a family of distinction. His father, Janakinath Bose, was a renowned lawyer, while his mother, Prabhavati Devi, was a woman of deep religious convictions.

A brilliant student, Bose secured the second position in the matriculation exam and displayed intellectual prowess early on. Influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna, he pursued his B.A. Hons in Philosophy, graduating in 1918 from the University of Calcutta.

Opting for a path less traveled, Bose journeyed to England in 1919 for further studies but declined a position in the Indian Civil Service, driven by a fervent desire to serve his homeland. Returning to India in 1921 amid a tumultuous national landscape, Bose immersed himself in the Indian National Congress, aligning with Mahatma Gandhi’s Noncooperation Movement.

A revolutionary at heart, Bose’s nationalist fervor clashed with the British discrimination he witnessed, propelling him into the fiery realms of India’s fight for freedom. Elected twice as the president of the Indian National Congress, Bose, along with Jawahar Lal Nehru, championed a more militant and left-wing approach to independence, setting him apart from Gandhi and other Congress leaders.

Bose’s indomitable spirit led to the formation of the Azad Hind Army, also known as the Indian National Army (INA). His relentless efforts, including 11 imprisonments for his ideologies and use of force against the British, showcased his unwavering commitment to India’s cause.

Seeking international alliances, Bose left the Congress party, garnering support from the Japanese for the INA in Southeast Asia. Under his leadership, the INA mounted a successful offensive in the North-eastern parts of India, albeit temporary due to Japan’s surrender.

Tragically, Bose’s legacy met an uncertain end with a reported plane crash on August 18, 1945. However, his undying dedication to India’s freedom struggle immortalises him as one of the nation’s greatest heroes, leaving an indelible mark in the pages of history.