HPAS/ N.T. Allied Mains 2022-23 Answer Writing Challenge: Model Answer

Question: Explain Subhash Chandra Bose’s contribution to India’s struggle for independence. (20 Marks)

Answer: 

Introduction:-

• Most people agree that Subhas Chandra Bose, also known as Netaji, was the most important liberation fighter.
• He had exceptional leadership qualities and was a brilliant speaker. He is renowned for his intense and active participation in the movement for Indian independence. Many individuals were motivated to take part in the Indian freedom war by his leadership style.

BODY

Subhash Chandra Bose’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle:

1. Association with C.R. Das: He was jailed alongside C.R. Das because of their same political activity. Bose was proposed as the CEO by C.R. Das, who had just been elected Mayor of the Calcutta Cooperation.  In 1924, he was detained for his political activity.

2. Trade union:-He organised young people and supported trade union organisations. He was elected Calcutta’s mayor in 1930, the same year he was chosen to lead The All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

3. Association with Congress:He stood for unqualified swaraj (independence), and opposed Motilal Nehru Report (1928) which spoke for dominion status for India.

• He actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 and vehemently opposed the suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement and signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931.
• In the 1930s, he was closely associated with left politics in Congress along with Jawaharlal Nehru and M.N. Roy.
• Because of the endeavour of the left group, the congress passed very far-reaching radical resolutions in Karachi in 1931 which declared the main Congress aim as socialization of means of production besides guaranteeing fundamental rights.

4. Congress presidentship:Bose won the congress presidential elections at Haripura in 1938.

• Next year at Tripuri, he again won the presidential elections against Gandhi’s candidate Pattabhi Sitarammayya.
• Due to ideological differences with Gandhi, Bose leftcongress and found a new party, ‘the Forward Bloc’.
• The purpose was to consolidate the political left and major support base in his home state Bengal.

5. Civil disobedience movement:When World War II began, he was again imprisoned for participation in civil disobedience and was put under house arrest.
6. Indian Legion: Bose founded the free India centre in Berlin and created the Indian Legion out of the Indian prisoners of war who had previously fought for the British in North Africa prior to their capture by Axis forces.

• In Europe, Bose sought help from Hitler and Mussolini for the liberation of India.

Bose’s Role in Germany:-

In Germany, he was attached to the special bureau for India which was responsible for the broadcasting on the German sponsored Azad Hind Radio.

• On this radio, Bose on 6thJuly 1944, addressed Mahatma Gandhi as the ‘Father of the Nation’.

• Indian National Army: He reached Japanese-controlled Singapore from Germany in July 1943, issued from there his famous call, ‘Delhi Chalo’, and announced the formation of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National Army on 21st October 1943.
• The INA was first formed under Mohan Singh and Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara and comprised Indian prisoners of war of the British-Indian Army captured by Japan in the Malayan (present-day Malaysia) campaign and at Singapore.

Conclusion:-

Bose’s struggle for freedom served as an example for all Third World nations, not just India. Bose’s war of independence and the fight for Indian independence had a significant influence on those nations. Because of his position, Netaji is recognised as the world’s “hero of freedom.”