Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti: Remembering the Legacy of the Great Freedom Fighter

Every year on January 23, India celebrates the birth anniversary of one of its most prominent freedom fighters, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. This year marks the 127th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, was the ninth child of Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. He showed great promise as a student and completed his BA in Philosophy from Presidency College, Calcutta. He even excelled in the English Civil Services Examination, scoring the highest marks in English and placing fourth overall.

In 1921, after resigning from the Indian Civil Service, Bose returned to India and soon gained notoriety as a rebel by the British government. He worked under the mentorship of Congress leader Chittaranjan Das and played a pivotal role in the formation of the Swaraj Party. Bose established newspapers like Swaraj and served as the editor of the Forward, a newspaper started by Chittaranjan Das.

Throughout his life, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose held various leadership positions, including President of the All India Youth Congress Committee and Secretary of the Bengal State Congress. He even served as the mayor of Calcutta in 1930.

In 1942, Bose formed the Indian National Army in Southeast Asia with the help of Japan. This army consisted of Indian soldiers captured by the British Indian army during the war. Bose went on to establish the provisional government of Free India or Azad Hind in 1943 in Andaman and Nicobar, which were then captured by Japanese forces.

The circumstances surrounding Bose’s death remain a mystery, as he is believed to have died in a plane crash shortly after take-off. In order to investigate this, the Government of India has set up multiple committees over the years.

To commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, January 23 is celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ or Courage Day. It is a day to remember and honor his contribution to India’s freedom struggle and the foundation he laid for the modern Indian state.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose continues to inspire generations with his fearless spirit, determination, and unwavering love for his country. His contributions to India’s fight for independence remain etched in our history, and his legacy is celebrated and remembered with great reverence.