He had a different take altogether. While Mahatma Gandhi maintained that independence from the British could be secured only through Non Violence, Netaji favored the use of a military option against the British. His ‘outside the box’ approach didn’t go well with the Congress.
He was of the view that No Nation should beg for freedom; the persuasive approach would take ages and valuable time would be lost. In 1939, the widening fissure forced Subhash Chandra Bose to resign from the Congress and follow his own path to freedom.
Bose knew that the only way he could raise an army was to leave India and look for foreign soil. It was a tall order and he sought the assistance of the Axis powers as Britain was a common enemy.
On 21 October 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose proclaimed the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India) at Cathay Building in Singapore and set up a government in exile. The Azad Hind had their own currency, court & civil code. With 40,000 soldiers, the Azad Hind forces fought the British in Imphal and Burma. Without air support from the Japanese, the INA lost the war. Compounding matters was the defeat of Japan in 1945 (WW2) which signaled the end of the INA.
Looking at the persona of Subhash Chandra Bose, he was a man who was ready to look at different options rather than stick to the weather beaten path of Ahimsa. An individual who took high risks, he was a picture of supreme confidence despite the lack of support from his home country. He did what he thought was right which forced the British to take notice.
In hindsight, what would have happened if the Congress had supported his idea? The INA would have enjoyed home advantage and forced the British to rethink. In all probability, we would have secured independence a few years before!
The tall and handsome man from Cuttack inspired thousands of Indians to take up arms. He was as popular if not more than the leaders of his time who fought for independence.
“Give me blood and I will give you freedom“, Bose’s clarion call still echoes across India.
Pic Credit - OpIndia, Capt Lakshmi & Netaji
