A glowing tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birthday
23rd January is celebrated as Netaji Jayanti or Subhash Bose Jayanti in many parts of India. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23rd January, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa Division of Bengal Province under British India and died on 18th August 1945 at the age of only 48. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born to Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. Subhash was the ninth child among eight brothers and six sisters. His father named Janakinath Bose, was an affluent and successful lawyer in Cuttack in Orissa and received the title of “Rai Bahadur”. Janakinath Bose later became a member of the Bengal Legislative Council. The venerable and honorific term “Netaji” means highly respected leader. Netaji was a great patriotic nationalist whose defiant patriotism made him a highly respected national hero in British India. He was deeply influenced by Swami Vivekananda’s humanitarian and patriotic teachings and was known for his great patriotic zeal as a student. He was a charismatic leader as well as influencer of the youth and earned the epithet ‘Netaji’ by establishing and leading the Indian National Army (INA)named Azad Hind Fouj during India’s struggle for independence from British Raj. Netaji wanted to free India including Pakistan and Bangladesh from British colonial rule of oppression and suppression with the help of Germany and Japan during 2nd World War (1939-1945). Netaji’s father wanted him to an ICS Officer, a lucrative administrative job in British India. Netaji was so brilliant that he stood 4th in the ICS exam in England. But his inner urge for participating in the independence movement of India was so intense that he didn’t like to work under British Colonial Government and in April 1921, he resigned from the coveted Indian Civil Service job and came back to India because of his great love for the country. His most famous quote was “Give me blood and I will give you freedom. ” Netaji was a great patriot, honest, courageous, charismatic, revolutionary, non-communal progressive and humanist. I wholeheartedly salute and pay my glowing tribute to his great leader Netaji Subash Bose on his 123nd birth anniversary. Thank you very much.
Former professor, writer and advisor to CBNA ।। Montreal, Canada, 22nd January, 2020
