Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: GK Facts

Here are 40 fascinating facts about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of India's most revered freedom fighters:

Early Life and Education

1. Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha.

2. His father, Janakinath Bose, was a prominent lawyer, and his mother, Prabhavati Devi, was a devout homemaker.

3. He was the ninth child among 14 siblings in his family.

4. Bose completed his schooling at Ravenshaw Collegiate School in Cuttack.

5. He later attended Presidency College and Scottish Church College in Kolkata.

6. In 1919, he went to England and passed the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination in 1920.

7. Bose resigned from ICS in 1921, driven by his patriotism and desire to serve India.

Political Career

8. Bose joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in the 1920s.

9. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo.

10. In 1938, Bose was elected as the President of INC at the Haripura session.

11. He was re-elected in 1939 but resigned due to differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress leadership.

12. He formed the Forward Bloc in 1939 to consolidate leftist forces within the Congress.

Role in India's Independence Movement

13. Bose believed in achieving independence through armed struggle rather than non-violence.

14. He coined the famous slogan "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom."

15. Bose escaped from India in 1941, traveling to Germany via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union.

16. In Germany, he met Adolf Hitler and sought his support for India's independence.

17. He founded the Azad Hind Radio in Germany to propagate India's independence cause.

18. Bose formed the Indian Legion (Free India Legion) with Indian prisoners of war in Germany.

Azad Hind Fauj (INA)

19. In 1943, Bose went to Japan and took command of the Indian National Army (INA), also known as Azad Hind Fauj.

20. The INA was formed with the help of Indian soldiers captured by the Japanese in Southeast Asia.

21. Bose established the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) in Singapore on 21 October 1943.

22. The INA's slogan was "Jai Hind," which later became India's national salute.

23. Bose addressed the INA soldiers as "Netaji," meaning "Respected Leader."

24. The INA fought alongside the Japanese in the battles of Imphal and Kohima in 1944.

25. Although the INA could not liberate India, its efforts inspired millions of Indians.

Ideals and Vision

26. Bose was a proponent of industrialization and modern education.

27. He believed in secularism and equal rights for all communities.

28. Bose advocated for women's empowerment and included women in the INA.

29. The Rani of Jhansi Regiment, an all-women regiment, was part of the INA.

30. He had a strong vision for a socialist and self-reliant India.

Personal Life

31. Bose secretly married Emilie Schenkl, an Austrian, in 1937.

32. They had a daughter, Anita Bose Pfaff, born in 1942.

Death Controversy

33. Bose reportedly died in a plane crash in Taipei, Taiwan, on 18 August 1945.

34. His death remains shrouded in mystery, with several theories suggesting he survived.

35. The Shah Nawaz Committee (1956), Khosla Commission (1970), and Mukherjee Commission (2005) investigated his death but could not provide conclusive evidence.

Legacy

36. The slogan "Jai Hind" is widely used in India as a symbol of patriotism.

37. Netaji's birthday, 23 January, is celebrated as Parakram Diwas (Day of Courage) in India.

38. Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is named in his honor.

39. His residence in Kolkata, Netaji Bhawan, is now a museum.

40. Netaji continues to inspire generations as a symbol of courage, determination, and selflessness.

Subhas Chandra Bose remains a towering figure in India's history, celebrated for his indomitable spirit and relentless pursuit of freedom.