“Give me blood and I will give you freedom!”- Remembering Bose on his 121st anniversary

January 23, 2018

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 comes another day that reignites the fire of patriotism in each one of us. And that is the birth anniversary of the revolutionary freedom fighter, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23. Netaji was among the key figures in the Indian independence struggle by driving the British out of the country. During the Second World War, he led the Indian National Army known as Azad Hind Fauj in forming alliances against the British. His famous slogan that sparked patriotism in the hearts of people is Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe aazdi dungaduring the fight for independence. These words, even today continue to inspire many.

Netaji led the Indian nationalist movement in East Asia and also established the Azad Hind Radio station in Germany. He believed in the teachings of Swami Vivekananda's on universal brotherhood. On Netaji's birth anniversary, here are some important facts about him.

#1 Bose was excelled in academics and secured top ranks in school and university. In 1918, he completed his BA in Philosophy with a first-class score.

#2 In 1920, he cleared the Indian Civil Service examination in England. Wanting to participate in India's freedom struggle, he resigned from his civil service job on April 23, 1921.

#3 In the late 1920s and 30s, Bose was a fierce leader of the Indian National Congress. Although he was the Congress President in 1938 and 1939, Following differences with MK Gandhi, Netaji was expelled from Congress leadership in 1939. Thereafter, he started openly attacking the Congress' foreign and internal policies.

#4 He was jailed during various instances for his stand for complete independence, during the period between 1921 and 1941.

#5 Bose was against Gandhi's non-violent approach to freedom and spoke about violent measures to drive away Britishers.

#6 He started a newspaper called Swaraj and also served as editor of the Forward, a newspaper started by Chittaranjan Das. Netaji was elected as the President of All India Youth Congress Committee and the Secretary of Bengal State Congress in 1923. In 1930, for a brief period, Subhas Chandra Bose served as the mayor of Calcutta.

#7 He travelled across Europe so as to seek an alliance to attack the British government during the outset of the Second World War. He met leaders including Benito Mussolini, however, was put under house arrest by the British until his escape from Indian in 1940.

#8  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on visiting Subhas Chandra Bose memorial hall in Kolkata on August 23, 2007, told Bose's family, "The Japanese are deeply moved by Bose's strong will to have led the Indian independence movement from British rule."

Compiled by TNT News Desk with inputs from India.com

Featured image courtesy: India Today