India is a country with many diversities. We have diversity in religion, languages, food preferences and many other things but are we a nation which can tolerate diversity in opinion? I'm asking this question today because of a very specific reason. The reason is Subhas Chandra Bose who is fondly called Netaji (Respected leader) whose 118th birth anniversary was celebrated across India on 23rd January, 2013.
There are two very important points that has to be taken into account here which shows that why a different view is not tolerated in India.
1. Netaji Subhas chandra Bose was a leader of national stature and around 1930's he can he said to be the tallest leader in India. Some people believed that he was more loved and respected than any other leader in India during that time. He held the post of secretary in INC around 1927 and also became the president of INC in 1938 but just because of his difference in opinion with Gandhi, the man was thrown to oblivion. His birth anniversary is not given due importance and his bravery and his work for freedom struggle is not promoted. He doesn't even get half the space in the text books which Mahatma Gandhi or other leaders get.
2. Second point regarding the difference in opinion is related to his death. Some people believe that he died in a plane crash with 3rd degree burns but most of his followers and admirers believed that it was just an exit strategy from him.
Even Wikipedia writes that he died on 18th August, 1945 but that is challenged by most of the people. Many commissions were formed to investigate the validity of his death but all the results have been futile. People in India still believe that he remained alive many years after faking his death.
Interestingly,this belief has its roots in the fact that Netaji in his real life was a master of disguise, he escaped many times by fooling the British army. The people obsessed with colonial culture in India described him as the British did. They were not interested to honor him and were just interested in their own honor.
The obsession with Netaji is such that people who fought war with him still remembers him, the family of those people who grew old listening to the stories of Netaji and his bravery, still consider him among the greatest freedom fighters India ever had.
Even in the current election season the head of the chief opposition party,Rajnath Singh,has demanded an investigation on the mystery of Netaji's death. (News article 1, News article 2 )This shows how much is the respect and affection people still have for him.
- He was the man behind the formation of Indian National Army (INA)
- He gave the slogan "JAI HIND"
- He gave the slogan "Tum Mujhe khoon do, Main tumhe Azadi Dunga" (Give me your blood and I will give you independence)
- He was the prime minister of Azad Hind (or free India) i.e., he presided the Provisional Government of free India.
Some other sites you will find useful -
http://www.subhaschandrabose.org/
http://www.netaji.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subhas_Chandra_Bose
Feedback is appreciated. :)
Def a good post, a great tribute to the great leader.
ReplyDeleteMystery surrounding his death is really astonishing.
But his credentials as a great leader is worth-inspiring.
Jai hind ! good wishes.
Yes, it is the recent revelation of the Justice Mukherjee committee tells that the plane crash in which he is presumed to be dead actually never happened in real life.
DeleteHe is definitely one of the greatest leaders of our country if not the greatest. :)
i really admire him alot and i just hope that he would have survived
ReplyDeleteYes, I think the whole India wants to know the answer for that mystery but everyone in their heart believe that he must have survived. :)
DeleteA solid post Gaurab. There is something I don't understand when it comes to mass behaviour though. Both Subhash and Gandhi were great in their own accord and they both led a path which they felt was right. I am not sure why the ideologists or what they have against Subhash. He certainly was one man who deserved a lot of respect. Just cos some people have different ideologies, it doesn't mean that they have to be sidelined.. So much for the purists I tell you.. Tolerance certainly is a great virtue :)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Vijay. It means a lot. He was sidelined for a reason and everyone know that. If he returned to India then there was nobody who could have stopped him from becoming the prime minister as he was the most popular leader that time and even now his popularity is alive. :)
DeleteA worthy tribute to a great leader.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Kiran for your wonderful feedback. :)
DeleteA good write up Gaurab :) And definitely the mystery behind his murder is intriguing.. hope to find some answers in the near future.. and good to see your post after long.. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Shruti. Yes, the whole of India wants to know the answer for this. Thousands of people who gave their life for him and their families are still waiting to find the answers for their leader and the people of the country for whom he fought still asking the government for the answers. :)
DeleteI am actually curious to know what happened to Subash chandra bose....if he was alive for many years...he should have actually came back to India but he didnt...if he had...the people of india would have accepted him with open hands....
ReplyDelete