His Attitude Towards Netaji and Indian National Army Dr

Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Mahatma Gandhi - His Attitude Towards Netaji and Indian National Army Dr. Shridhar Charan Sahoo Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of the armed assistance in Germany and South East foremost leaders of the Indian Freedom Asia. Even, He had no hesitation to seek help movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. But in from fascist powers like Germany and Italy course of time, he lost his faith that only who during the time were fighting the British. through the Gandhian As it were “Under the Strategy of non- soul-stirring leadership Violence, India could of Netaji Subhas achieve its freedom Chandra Bose, the from British rule. Indian National Army Unlike other popular launched a frontal leaders of the attack as an integrated movement, he force smashing all dreamt of the barriers of religion, freedom of the caste and creed”. country by waging a What was the war against the precise attitude of the British. During the Mahatma towards Second World War, Netaji and his Indian he made a daring and National Army which thrilling escape from took a different path the country eluding from his strategy of British Intelligence non- Violence? This and formed an Indian divergence in strategy and means and, National Army outside the country to fight methods of struggle in the context of India’s for India’s Freedom. In fact, for his sole life struggle for freedom has led sometimes to a mission to free India from British bondage, dichotomous presentation and perception he left no stone unturned in his quest for of Gandhi –Subhas relationship as if they OCTOBER - 2019 56 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 were two parallel lines without any meeting went through but he, in his life, verified the point. saying of Tulsidas that all becomes right for The present article is an attempt to the brave.” read between the lines and understand these While on the subject, one should two men of destiny who inspite of their also read between the lines of Abul Kalam divergence had their mutual regard, love and Azad’s book “India Wins Freedom” Said respect for each other. Abul Kalam Azad : “I also saw that Subhas The perspective adhered to is not Bose’s escape to Germany had made a that of a diehard critic but that of an objective great impression on Gandhiji. He had not and sympathetic mindset which seeks to formerly approved many of Bose’s actions analyze and understand them with a broader but now I found a change in his outlook. and deeper vision. Many of his remarks convinced me that he admired the courage and resourcefulness THE GREAT ESCAPE AND THE Subhas Bose had displayed in making his MAHATMA escape from India. Reading between the lines Many in India thought that Subhas of Gandhiji’s own statement and that of Abul Bose’s escape from India to Germany and Kalam Azad one would never fail to see “that South East Asia had distressed Gandhiji. Gandhiji never disapproved of his (Bose’s) This, however, seems to be far from the truth action because he knew that Subhas Bose’s eventhough Gandhi maintained that we activities abroad could only supplement and should not seek any other power’s help to greatly strengthen the work of national free India from the British Yoke. This in his emancipation. view, would not be a non-violent approach. Netaji’s Struggle Abroad and The Gandhi’s attitude to Subhas’s dramatic Congress Movement escape “and his “heroic exploits in the cause of country’s liberation” is best explained in Subhas also considered his struggle his own words: “ Netaji by great strategy in Germany and South East Asia “as a gave the slip to the guard put over him by continuation of the work of the national the Government of Bengal and by sheer Congress in India and never for a moment courage and resourcefulness reached Kabul did he think that his activities were in anyway and passed through European countries, opposed to those of the Indian National finally found himself in Japan, collected from Congress whose devoted worker he had scattered material an army of brilliant young always been. He felt and he also said so in men drawn from all communities and from his many statements that his movement and all parts of India, and dared to give battle to the Quit India Movement in India ran parallel a mighty Government. A lesser man would and horizontal to each other. Therefore he have succumbed under the trials that Netaji unreservedly extended his fullest support to OCTOBER - 2019 57 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 the Congress activities in India from his India was to supplement from outside the Radio broadcasts. In a broadcast from Azad struggle going on at home”. Hind Radio, Germany on August 31, 1942 The Mahatma and His Estimate of Subhas described the Quit India Movement Netaji as “India’s epic struggle” and kept the outside world informed about all events in Unlike many others Gandhiji never India and tried to secure sympathy and help cast aspersion on Subhas’s motives or for India’s struggle for freedom. He appealed imputed the taint of Fascism to him. This he his countrymen to trust him and his did not do even after Subhas openly joined countrymen abroad who were working the Axis Powers during the Second World “heart and soul” with them for the speedy War. In fact, Gandhi had absolutely no liberation of India . That he considered his reservation about his patriotism. Regarding movement to be never opposed to but rather his love for the country and his determination complementary to the Quit India Movement to achieve its freedom Gandhi considered is further testified from his broadcast from Subhas as “ second to none” His sincerity Berlin on October 12, 1942. Said Subhas: according to him was “ transparent” and he “Nobody has fought Gandhi so hard since adored his “spirit of self – sacrifice and 1939 as I and my party in the Congress have. suffering”. This estimate of Bose during their But today all distinctions between the Right last meeting at sewagram in June, 1940 and Left within the Indian National Congress continued even after he had openly sided have disappeared and the Indian people with the Axis powers. As it were, Gandhiji stand united in their demand for immediate spoke in “glowing terms” about Subhas independence.” and his services to India in a condolence Assuring his all out support to the when there was a news flash that he had died Congress movement at home Subhas said:” in an air-crash. This defied the understanding All Indians outside India who are not living of Cripps who complained to Abul Kalam in countries directly under the control of our Azad that he had not expected a man like enemies have now been brought together into Gandhi to speak in such glowing terms about one well-knit organization. They are closely Subhas who was a “confirmed believer in following developments in India and on the violence” and had openly sided with Axis other hand, they are keeping unimpeded powers.” contact with international events. They are Louis Fischer, an American making all possible preparations to bring at Journalist, equally expressed his sense of the right time the maximum assistance to you shock and surprise about Gandhiji’s telegram who have been carrying on this struggle at of condolence for Subhas’s reported death home inspite of internment, persecution and and his regret for the demise of a man who brutality “In fact, Bose’s object in leaving went to fascist Germany and collaborated OCTOBER - 2019 58 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 with it. Gandhiji, however, defended Bose regard for the Mahatma. This continued as “a patriot of patriots” “He may be undimmed inspite of what has been described misguided I think he is misguided, I have as Gandhiji’s “extremely unreasonable and often opposed Bose. Twice I kept him from hostile attitude” during the Tripuri crisis. This becoming President of Congress. Finally, respect and regard for Gandhi becomes he did become President, although my views evident time and again in his broadcast often differed from him. But suppose he had speeches from Germany and South East gone to Russia or to America to ask aid for Asia. A few extracts from his broadcast India. Would that have made it better?”. speeches would confirm this. In his broadcast When Louis Fischer pointed out that “it does address from Bangkok on October 2, 1943 make a difference to whom you go” Gandhiji Bose said : “This day Indians all over the said: “I do not want help from anybody to world are celebrating the 75th birth make Indian free “and wanted India to help anniversary of their Greatest Leader herself ? “What is more significant for our Mahatma Gandhi. It is customary on such purpose is to note that Gandhi was not at all an occasion to relate the life experiences of prepared to pay attention to Fischer’s the man whom we honour and to whom we apprehension that Subhas with his youth and pay our homage of love and respect… I “Propensity for dramatic action” might shall, instead, devote myself to an estimation succumb to the lure of fascism and make of the place of Mahatmaji in the history of India a free but fascist country whereby India India’s struggle for Independence. The would be worse off than British Rule. On service which Mahatma Gandhi has rendered the other hand, Gandhi turns the table to to India and to the cause of India’s freedom British Rule and does not hesitate to is so unique and unparallelled that his name condemn it on the same score.

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