AJU MUKHOPADHYAY HISTORY Subhas Chandra Bose : A Legend and Challenge (II) AJU MUKHOPADHYAY Congress and the issue of partition foreign conquest. The partition of the country must go. .’3 Gandhi, who often said, ‘You shall have In spite of his passion to be the final to divide my body before you divide India’, word in the Congress from which Subhas or if partition happened, it would be over his was suspended, Gandhiji with his strong dead body, now said to Nirmal Bose, ‘With moral and ethical judgment could not deny whom was I going to carry on the fight? that partition could be saved had Subhas Don’t you realise that, as a result of one been there. ‘Before he was assassinated in year of communal riots, the people of India 1948, Gandhi—a senior journalist told me— have all become communal? They can see rebuked Nehru and Patel for not being able nothing beyond the communal question. to reign in partition madness and wished that They are tired and frightened. The Congress his “other son” (Subhas) was here!’ has only represented this feeling of the Reminded by Congressman, who had whole nation. How can I oppose it?’ witnessed the dressing-down, that Bose was (Gordon/Freedom 22) dead and he had himself come to that Partition was nightmarish to many. It belief, Gandhi shot back, “He’s in Russia”.’ became so in the life of people particularly (Anuj 45) in the two partitioned provinces of India— Congress assumed a dictatorial character Bengal and Punjab. Sri Aurobindo ever during Gandhi’s presence and continued disfavoured partition. So he sent his special under the hegemony of one family from emissary to the Congress leaders in 1942, Nehru’s time. The consequences of it are felt urging them to accept the Dominion status now in all political circles. Nehru was for the time being, as Cripps offered, so as to Gandhi’s selection as the custodian of India avoid partition. The wiser leadership after the partition-riddled freedom was won rejected the advice. In his message over the and always remained his faithful follower. All India Radio, Trichinopally on 14 August After partition and independence, Gandhi 1947, Sri Aurobindo said among other was almost nowhere in the running of the things that, ‘It is to be hoped that the country. He continued to remain on his Congress and the nation will not accept the chosen path of moral and ethical reformation settled fact as forever settled or as anything of the people and country living at his more than a temporary expedient. For if it secluded corners. He was not fit to rule, but lasts, India may be seriously weakened, even he fixed the ruler who enjoyed power till crippled; civil strife may remain always 1964. The result has been variously possible, possible even a new invasion and discussed by many historians. 24 Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture September 2017 SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE : A LEGEND AND CHALLENGE (II) Netaji in Exile successful had the Axis Power not dwindled against the Nuclear Power; had it not been It needs to be mentioned that in spite of followed by killing of Musolini, suicide of his ambivalent attitude towards the British, Hitler and fall of Japan. It must be his praise for their real worth and wrath for understood that Subhas knew all the their domination of India, his opposition to implications of inviting the young imperialist British was unflinching. Never imperialists to his country in league with the was his tenacity, promise and determination fascists and dictators. He knew all the got reduced by any personal friendship at the possible consequences and yet risked all. He cost of the country. His attitude was was in good humour with all such powers observed by his rivals from the beginning of even up to the end and was in good his political career which he made clear to relationship with Russia also, though we are Gandhi also. Going to jail and again sitting still in the dark as to what happened of him for discussion type of movement, he never in course of time. indulged in. Since the British rulers knew it, their actions against him could be read All-out efforts to gain power accordingly. While others were kept in jail On 18 March, 1941, after facing and brought out again as per need and unprecedented hardship and difficulties he convenience, Subhas passed the major could start for the Russian border disguised portion of his time as active politician out of as Orlando Massotta with an Italian passport the country or in distant jails or in house and eventually reached Germany. Although arrest. The reason was, they assured his immediate call for an Axis declaration on themselves, that this popular, selfless lover Indian independence was not successful, he of the land should not get opportunities often was helped to establish his Indian to influence his countrymen so that might Independence League office engaging Indian truly expedite the parting days of the British employees. Gradually he became widely Raj. They were truly afraid of Bose’s known in Berlin and welcomed by Indians. presence among the countrymen as his rivals From this point he became known as ‘Netaji’ in the country were afraid of his presence and his slogan and greeting, ‘Jai Hind’ after his disappearance. False rumour of his became popular which is still a part of the getting killed in air crash was spread not due concluding words of speech in India. to their asinine ideas but because of their The most important work of Netaji in fear of that genuine, sincere and fearless Germany was the creation of the INA. personality’s return which would shatter all Netaji was convinced that without an army pseudo leadership and dictatorship in due of her own India would not be able to win course. So all his adversaries took all and retain her independence. Soon after my precautions to see him exiled, out of the arrival in Berlin I was taken by Netaji to reach of the millions of the country. visit the INA training centre at Frankenberg Subhas for the most part of his political near Dresden. There we found that most tremendous enthusiasm prevailed among the career was exiled forcibly and, towards the men. They all had a profound faith on Netaji middle of the World War, he took his and were prepared to die for him and for the decision to plunge headlong in the struggle, cause. Another aspect which impressed me in the real field of war, to accomplish a real very much was their extraordinary strength struggle of ‘Do or Die’. He would be of solidarity. There was no difference Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture September 2017 25 AJU MUKHOPADHYAY between Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs and moved to Singapore and assumed the charge Christians. Major Krappe was in charge of the Indian Independence League as its of the military training of the INA. Major President and called for the allegiance of the Krappe had a profound respect for Netaji, INA which was reorganized by Rash Behari treated the INA men as his own children and Bose. On 9 July 1943, Bose addressed a took a keen interest in their training. (Netaji in Germany by Promode Sen Gupta/Purabi gathering of 60000 people and said, ‘There 86-87) is no nationalist leader in India who can claim to possess the many-sided experience Subhas established effective contact that I have been able to acquire.’ And with with Japan. With German help, in their extensive tours to neighbouring countries Uboat with Abid Hussain he embarked on like Rangoon, Bangkok and Saigon he his next journey during the perilous days of began his campaign, meeting and exhorting the World War on 8 February, 1943, and on Indians and others sympathetic to the cause, reaching a prearranged spot in far away making hard labours day and night in Madagascar, they met with a representative organizing the movement in different ways. of Japan waiting with submarine. In the In August he assumed the Supreme water amid scattered boats, men and Command of the INA. whizzing bullets they were transferred in a It is to be remembered in this context dinghy to the submarine which took them to that Subhas, with some other students, once Sabang on the northern tip of Sumatra Island petitioned to the Government for a and from there they were flown with the University Military Training Corps for Japanese Liaison Officer to Tokyo on military training during his college days in 13 June, 1943. India and repeated it in Cambridge. He got After the fall of Singapore the Indian himself trained in the meantime which no Prisoners of War were at the disposal of other top-ranking civilian leader of the time Japan. Capt Mohan Singh was in charge of could dream. He always felt that Indians the INA (Indian National Army) but he had essentially required such trainings to serious dispute with the Japanese. The INA effectively combat imperialism. His idea of was then disbanded and he was under arrest. leading militarily also among other means Great revolutionary Indian leader, Rash became successful here to the extent Behari Bose, was in the overall charge of the possible. Indian Independence Movement in South East Asia. Subhas arrived in Tokyo at this Inauguration of Provincial Government point of time and was received by the On 21 October, 1943, Bose inaugurated Japanese Premier, Tojo. He said in the Diet, the Provincial Government of Free India and ‘Japan is firmly resolved to extend all means appointed a Council of Ministers.