The forgotten leader – Subhas Chandra Bose Part -3

Introduction
One Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680) from Bhonsle Maratha clan, fought Muslim rulers to guard self-respect for all in particular to women. Years passed, India has to wait for nearly 200 years to get a warrior like Subhas Chandra Bose. Incidentally these 200 years, India was ruled by British.

Azad Hind Fauj
Bose is a visionary. He dreamt of a free India. He organized army for this cause and named it as Azad Hind Fauj, (Indian National army). In 1943 Bose understood that the Nazi government under Hitler is unable to help for the cause of India`s freedom. Hence he travelled from Germany to Japan in a U-180 submarine. The route is from Germany to Cape of Good hope and to the south east of Madagascar, where Bose was transferred to the I-29 for the rest of the journey to Imperial Japan. This was the only civilian transfer between two submarines of two different navies in World War II. This travel was very adventurous and he risked his life for the freedom of our mother land. Bose survived with water and steam boiled potatoes through-out this journey. Bose’s iron will made him to survive and think, formulate and realize a way to fight the imperial British.

Indian National Army
The birth of Indian National Army (INA) is attributed to a Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara, head of the Japanese intelligence unit. He wanted to built an army that would fight with British with the support of Japanese army.1941 will be remembered in Indian history, the reason this Indian National Army was conceived that year and it became operational in the first week of 1942. In 1943 Rash Behari Bose handed over total control of INA to Subhas Chandra Bose.

Bose`s contribution to INA
This Bose army was well received by patriotic Indians living aboard. Donations in the form of money and gold poured in. Subhas organized women’s unit, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (named after Rani Lakshmi Bai) headed by Capt. Lakshmi Swaminathan, which is seen as a first of its kind in Asia. This is affectionately called by Azad Hind movement.

Bose slogan
During this period Bose promised fellow countrymen that he can fight British and win freedom through his army. In many radio talks he used to slogan “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!”

Bose government
The INA troops were under the control of provisional government formed by Bose. This government printed currency notes, postage stamps and court and civil codes. Incidentally this provisional government of Bose was recognized by nine countries viz., Germany, Japan, Italian Social Republic, the Independent State of Croatia, Wang Jingwei regime in Nanjing, China, a provisional government of Burma, Manchukuo and Japanese-controlled Philippines.

First independent Indian territory
Andaman and Nicobar island were taken over by Japan and first Indian provisional government with INA was established in 1943.Bose renamed these islands as Shaheed (Martyr) and Swaraj (Independence).
This forge continued and in Moirang of Manipur, he got the honour of hoisting Indians tricolor flag.

Father of the Nation
Despite of all the hardships Bose encountered, his love towards the people who hated still remained ever green in his mind. He is a person who has no enemies. Once he was elected as Congress president defeating Gandhi`s nominee, still he resigned owing to ideological difference with him. Bose was shown door by Gandhi and his clan. Still he loved them. A token of evidence is narrated below:
Bose gave radio talks from Singapore. In one of his talks he addressed Gandhi as Father of the Nation. Bose asked for his good wishes for his endeavors

Mystery
On 18th August 1942, Bose boarded a Japanese flight which was over loaded and crashed in Taiwan. It was declared that Bose succumbed to injuries. Many scholars disputed with this theory. 
His disappearance is still a mystery to many Indians who loved him so much.

The forgotten leader – Subhas Chandra Bose Part -2

The forgotten leader – Subhas Chandra Bose Part -1