During the struggle for independence, a galaxy of heroic men and women served the motherland in his or her own way. The concept of the goal differed from dominion status to complete independence.

Their methods to achieve the goal also differed according to their understanding of the problem and their attitudes and temperaments. But one thing is without doubt common in them and that is their unimpeachable patriotism and their keen desire to rid the motherland of imperialistic shackles.

Subhash Chandra Bose- belongs to those galaxies of heroes of the national movement whose memory is highly cherished by their countrymen and whose name evokes a responsive chord in their heart. Subhash Chandra Bose holds a distinguished place in that galaxy. He was one of the Congress leaders and later on a revolutionary leader of India.

It was C.R. Das who was instrumental in making Subhash Chandra Bose enter the stage of Indian politics. He was born on 23rd January, 1897 in Cuttack. His mother’s name was Prabhavati, who was a learned lady of religious views.

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She was a devotee of Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Like Shivaji, Subhash Chandra Bose also had a strong imprint of his mother’s views on his life. His father, Jankinath Bose was a successful lawyer, who later on became chairman of the Municipal Committee.

His father promoted the cause of education in the province and insisted on higher education for his children. During his school days he came in contact with his teacher Beni Parasad Madho, who also left the imprint of his religious views on him. He also listened to Swami Vivekanand’s sermons which impressed him and had their impact on him.

He was an exceptional child who showed the signs of his revolutionary spirit right from his early days. He passed his Intermediate examination in the first division in 1915. He was the student of Presidency College, Calcutta, where Often was teaching. Often was in the habit of denigrating the Indian people at every conceivable occasion. Other students could put up with this insult but Subhash Chandra Bose was made of sterner stuff. He could not tolerate it. He flew into a rage and slapped him in the class. He was rusticated from the College and went back to Cuttack. By Sir Aushotosh Mukherji’s intervention, he was readmitted and he passed his B.A. examination in 1919.

Though lie had no intention to join the civil services under the British Government, he did go to England and appeared in the I.C.S. examination in deference to the wishes of his father. He got fourth position in the merit list. If he desired, he could have spent his life in a cushioned position in the steel frame of British bureaucracy. But he had a mission in life and he wanted to spend his life in serving the motherland and liberating her from the British shackles.

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He came back to India in 1921. Those were the days of Non- Cooperation Movement. He did not plunge into the agitation, because he was not particularly attracted towards Gandhiji’s way of thinking and method of work. Lokmanya Tilak and Aurobindo Ghosh appealed to him more than Gandhiji did. His heroes were Rana Pratap and Shivaji. In his own words, “A day will dawn when the Indians will have to follow the Maharashtrian way for regaining freedom. They will have to copy the example of Great Shivaji.

In those days C.R. Das was popular in Bengal. He was promoting the cause of national movement by spreading education and putting his thoughts and views in his own newspaper. He was entrusted with the task of running the National College and editing the paper. He served the cause of the freedom movement through both of the above said means. He gained popularity in Bengal. He organized demonstrations in Calcutta to protest against the visit of the Prince of Wales. He was sentenced six months imprisonment and put behind the bars.

In 1928, Subhash Chandra Bose was appointed as the Chief executive Officer of the Calcutta Corporation of which C.R. Das was the Mayor. In this capacity he did very useful work for the city. He had become an active supporter of the Swarajist party. He became an eyesore to the British Government because of his association with the revolutionaries. He was arrested under Special Ordinance and sent to Mandaly Jail on 24th October, 1924. His failing health was causing worry to the Government. Therefore he was set free in 1927 on health grounds. After his release he resumed his political activities with renewed vigor. He was again imprisoned in 1927 and 1931 for his fiery speeches against the Government.

In 1938 he was elected President at Haripur Congress Session. He suggested that a deadline be fixed and ultimatum given to the Government asking them to surrender power unconditionally. Gandhi I did not agree with his views and therefore, when he contested for the president ship of the Congress again next year, Gandhi I supported Sitaramayya as a rival candidate. Despite stiff opposition, he once again won the leadership of the Congress. But soon he resigned due to the nagging and obstructionist attitude of the old guard and formed a new organization-Forward Bloc.

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In the meanwhile, the Second World War had broken out. Hitler had put the British Government in tight corner. He realized that the time was ripe for an armed revolt. When he met Vir Savarkar the latter also suggested to him to strike when the iron was hot. On his return to Calcutta, he was put under detention. His mind was restless and he was keen to be free.

He observed fast and feigned illness. He grew a beard and avoided meeting people and gave the impression that spiritual mood had overtaken him. Thus hoodwinking the police, he went out in the guise of a Pathan.

He boarded a train forty miles away from Calcutta and reached Peshawar and from there to Kabul. From Kabul he went to Moscow and then to Germany. There he met Hitler who was impressed by him and promised to help him. He formed the ‘Free Indian Army’ and also organized all the Indian war prisoners to form a ‘Liberation Army1. Later on in the thick of the war, Subhash Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army. In a famous speech he delivered on 2nd July, 1943, he said, “Comrades, let your one slogan be ‘Delhi Chalo’. Whatever befalls you in sunshine and dark hours, in grief or joy, in hardships or through triumphs; I assure you I will always remain with you. But today I cannot offer you anything except hunger, thirst, hardships, travails and death itself! It is no matter whom of us lives or dies. Let us sacrifice everything and make India free, for in that everything will be achieved.”

In another immortal speech he roared, “Our Motherland is in search of freedom; she is need of rebels who will drown enemy in their pool of blood. Give me your blood, I will give you independence. This is the demand of the Goddess of independence.”

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On hearing the heart-breaking news of the complete surrender by Japan, Subhash Chandra Bose flew from Bangkok to Tokyo. It is said that the beloved hero of the Indian people met with a sudden death in a plane crash on the Formosa Island. Though he is dead yet he lives in the hearts of Indian people as ever before. His heroic and dramatic struggle and sacrifice has secured for him, a permanent place in the Indian History.