Saurashtra University Re – Accredited Grade ‘B’ by NAAC (CGPA 2.93) Thanky, Peena, 2005, “Subhash Chandra Bose and his discourses: A Critical Reading”, thesis PhD, Saurashtra University http://etheses.saurashtrauniversity.edu/id/827 Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Saurashtra University Theses Service http://etheses.saurashtrauniversity.edu [email protected] © The Author SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE AND HIS DISCOURSES: A CRITICAL READING A THESIS SUBMITTED TO SAURASHTRA UNIVERSITY, RAJKOT FOR THE DEGREE OF Doctor of Philosophy IN ENGLISH Supervised by: Submitted by: Dr. Kamal Mehta Mrs. Peena Thanky Professor, Sainik School, Smt. H. S. Gardi Institute of Balachadi. English & Comparative (Dist. Jamnagar) Literary Studies, Saurashtra University, Rajkot. 2005 1 SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE 1897 - 1945 2 SMT. H. S. GARDI INSTITUTE OF ENGLISH & COMPARATIVE LITERARY STUDIES SAURASHTRA UNIVERSITY RAJKOT (GUJARAT) CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the work embodied in this thesis entitled "Subhash Chandra Bose and His Discourses : A Critical Reading" has been carried out by the candidate Mrs. Peena Thanky under my direct guidance and supervision for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in the Faculty of Arts of Saurashtra University, Rajkot. I further declare that the work done and presented in this thesis is original and independent. I further certify that the work has not been submitted either partly or fully to any other University or Institute for the award of any Degree. Supervisor Dr. Kamal Mehta Professor, Smt. H. S. Gardi Institute of English & Comparative Literary Studies, Saurashtra University, Rajkot. Forwarded by: Prof. A. K. Singh Head, Smt. H. S. Gardi Institute of English & Comparative Literary Studies, Saurashtra University, Rajkot. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I express my sense of profound gratitude to almighty God who gives me strength to face the challenges of the world bravely. I owe my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Kamal Mehta, my esteemed guide for his scholarly guidance and support during the course of my present study. Without his help and encouragement this thesis would have been impossible. I respectfully express my thanks to Dr. Avadhesh Kumar Singh, Professor and Head, Smt. Surekhaben Hasmukhbhai Gardi Institute of English and Comparative Literary Studies and other faculties - Dr. J. K. Dodiya, Mr. R. B. Zala, Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee and Mr. Anup Nair who were always helpful and contributed in my endeavours as a research student. Words will never suffice my sense of gratitude when it comes to the support and encouragement that my parents endowed me with. They inspired me and kept me motivated throughout in each of my dispiriting moments. My husband Riddhish and kid Aum can not be thanked in words. They have always been understanding, very caring, supportive and helpful. I extend my sincere thanks to the officers and staff of Sainik School, Balachadi for their involvement, co-operation, concern and support. 4 I also thank the librarians of Sainik School, Balachadi, Saurashtra University, M. S. University, State Library and all the other libraries that I visited for their help and co-operation. My thanks are due to my typist Mr. Shahbhai, without whom this thesis would not have appeared in this concrete shape. I thank many others who helped directly or indirectly in this work. (Mrs. Peena Thanky) 5 CONTENTS Page No. Acknowledgements CHAPTER - 1 1-23 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER - 2 24-79 SUBHAS - AN UNOFFICIAL AMBASSADOR OF INDIA (1933-37) CHAPTER - 3 80-116 CONGRESS PRESIDENT (January 1938 - May 1939) CHAPTER - 4 117-169 THE ALTERNATIVE LEADERSHIP (June 1931-1941) CHAPTER - 5 170-188 SUBHAS AND EMILIE (1934-1942) CHAPTER - 6 189-206 CONCLUSION SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 207-211 PHOTO GALLERY 212-217 ❈❈❈ 6 CHAPTER - 1 INTRODUCTION 7 CHAPTER - 1 INTRODUCTION Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a great personality and visionary. He was a born rebel and revolutionary but apart from that, he was an excellent statesman, an able administrator and an excellent mind. He was a military genius with natural leadership qualities. Morally, spiritually and intellectually also, he was a giant. He was passionately devoted to the cause of Indian freedom from his youthful days and pursued his aim with uncommon zeal and single mindedness. His patriotism was beyond doubt. All these salient features of this great personality are revealed in his writings and speeches - formal or informal - and so it has been my earnest endeavour to study 8 Subhas and his mind through his letters, articles, speeches and statements. Non-fictional works have attracted critical attention these days. Subhas's writings also come under this category. The general perception of Subhas Chandra Bose's personality is that of a leader and freedom fighter, but he was a thinker, visionary and a prolific writer. He was a social reformer, a great orator and of course, a genuine human being. All these aspects of his personality are well reflected in his letters, articles and speeches. Yet these aspects of him have remained less known to the countrymen. The popular perception of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is that of a warrior hero and a revolutionary leader who led a life of suffering and sacrifice and during the Second World War waged a great armed struggle against the British for the freedom of India. What is often forgotten is that the warrior paused between battles to reflect and write about the fundamental political, economic and social issues of India and the world during his life time. Despite being immersed in the tumult of the anti-colonial struggle, Subhas Chandra Bose delved back in his writing into India's long and complex history and looked forward to the socio economic reconstruction of India, once the political independence 9 was won. The ideas he put forward were not of either a wondering mystic oblivious of the earth or a doctrinaire revolutionist reared on imported copybook maxims. They were the products of a philosophical mind applied to careful analyses of specific historical situations and informed by direct and continuous revolutionary experience in different parts of the world of a kind, unknown to any other leader of contemporary India. The other reason to do research on this topic is that Indian Independence has already completed 58 years and so this is the right time to assess such great minds like Subhas Chandra Bose and their thoughts. The dream of independent India could come true only because of great patriots like Subhas Chandra Bose. After the gap of these 58 years, now it can be analysed well as to how important he was for the Indian freedom struggle and what was his role in it. Many books are already written on Subhas Chandra Bose so far and much research work is also going on. But no work until today has focused to understand this leader on the basis of his writings. Subhas's colleagues and opponent leaders have written articles on his ability as a military genius, genuine leader and great revolutionary. But these articles are a sort of memories and reminiscences of the experiences of 10 Subhas's colleagues who worked with him in Indian National Army or they are silent salute to pay respects to him. Whatever is written is what was experienced. What I have to do in this dissertation is to understand and analyse this great man through his own thoughts and ideas, his own expressions, his own writings. My study is purely based on (a) Subhas's letters to his friends and relatives where he opened his heart, (b) on his speeches where he touched peoples hearts and (c) on articles where he revealed his thoughts and future plans. I feel this is something which has not been attended till now and so I chose to study Subhas through his writings. The present work has some limitations also. Firstly, there are in all twelve volumes of Subhas's works, but unfortunately only four of these twelve volumes are available at present. Netaji Research Bureau did not respond to any of my letters regarding the availability of the other volumes and Oxford University Press, which has published all the twelve volumes, also does not possess any more other than these four (Vol. 7, 8, 9 and 10) volumes which I sought directly from the press. What is very deplorable is the fact that any Government or public state library also does not possess any of Netaji collected works and so my work, is basically based on these four volumes which covers his 11 writings from the year 1933 to 1942. I received Netaji's book The Indian Struggle towards the last stage of my research i.e., when I was on the verge of completing my studies. So I was not able to analyse and study it very minutely. Nevertheless, I must mention that the period covered for the study i.e. 1933-1942 happens to be the most crucial period in the life of India and Subhas. Subhas was on the peak of his career. Naturally, these volumes throw light on these years and hence the study has got great relevance. The time span of 1933 to 1942, in Subhas Chandra Bose's life can be divided in three major portions. (1) 1933 to 1937 when he was almost out of the country for his treatment and was not politically very active.