"Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!" These are the words by Subhash Chandra Bose sparked the fire of patriotism in the hearts of many Indians during the fight for independence. Even today, these words don't fail to inspire and move us. He seems one man army with his different thoughts and ideas for freeing India from the British.
On Subhash Chandra Bose's 120th Birth anniversary today, let's revisit our Alternative Hero's Struggle for Freedom.
"...It is our duty to pay for our liberty with our own blood. The freedom that we shall win through our sacrifice and exertions, we shall be able to preserve with our own strength......" Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to the Indian National Army in Malaya/Singapore
"One individual may die for an idea; but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives. That is how the wheel of evolution moves on and the ideas and dreams of one nation are bequeathed to the next."
An Inspirational story of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose:
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a brilliant student in college and the teachers pet for his unconditional love towards the poor, sick and the needy.
Once cholera broke out in Kolkata and all the rich people left the city for a safer shelter. Medical treatment for the poor and grief stricken Indians was not even a submerged promise then. So young Bose armed himself for the great service. He went to the poorest section of the town to treat the sick.
However Netaji's service was not welcomed with open arms. Many hooligans in that part of town did not like his friendly approach, they taught that there must be some hidden trickery behind his kind gesture. So, they threatened him and said, "Don't come here to bother us. We don't need anybody. And moreover our ignorant mind cannot understand the treachery of rich and educated people who coat themselves with such warm love. So, you please leave us alone." To this he bravely replied, "Do whatever you want. If you want to kill me, kill me. I have come here to help the poor and sick. I'll continue to bring money and food and try to help as much as I can."
As he continued his service for many days, the only son of the hooligan leader was stricken with cholera. So Netaji went to his house and cared for the little boy by feeding him and giving him medical treatment. The hooligan leader was deeply moved and with his wet eyes he said, "I threatened you and warned you not to come here, but you never stepped back. Today you have walked inside my house to breathe in life to my son with your love. You're a brave man."
To this Netaji replied with great humbleness, "Do not term my service as bravery; it's just a matter of necessity. When I see someone suffering, I feel it is my duty to help. And it has always been taught to me from childhood, one must help one's brother when he is in need."
The hooligan chief bowed down to the young man and said, "Your face shines with an aura of divinity, your simple act has made you divine."
Inspiring facts about Subhas Chandra Bose:
1. Subhas Chandra Bose was born in the year 1897 as the 9th child of his parents at Cuttack in Odisha. He ranked 4th in the prestigious Indian Civil Service (ICS) exam in 1919, which he later resigned to join freedom fight.
2. Bose was married to an Austrian origin woman named Emilie Schenkl. They have a daughter Anita Bose who is a well known German economist.
3. One of our most popular slogans of India “Jai Hind” is coined by Bose.
4. He is called as Father of Indian National Army as he is the one who started Azad Hind Fauz an armed force to fight against British. He is popularly and fondly called as “Netaji” by his followers
5. He has been elected as President of All India National Congress for two times
6. He was the editor of “Forward” newspaper, started the newspaper Swaraj, elected as President of All India Youth Congress, secretary of Bengal State, CEO of Calcutta Municipal Corportaion and then elected as Mayor of Calcutta in 1924.
7. He has been imprisoned for more than 10 times during 1921-41. In 1941, he escaped from the house arrest and then went to Gomo from Kolkata by a car and then to Peshawar (Which now is in Pakistan) by train, then to Kabul and finally to Germany to meet Adolf Hitler.
8. Bose met Adolf Hitler in 1942, where in Hitler offered to arrange a submarine to Bose. Bose travelled from Germany to Madagascar in two submarines which is considered highly hazardous and it is considered one of his heroic acts.
9. While Netaji was offered India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, his family members rejected the idea because it would considered Posthumous by the government and the family members wanted to probe into his plane crash and know the facts.
10. Subhas Chandra Bose believed that the Bhagvad Gita was a great source of inspiration for the struggle against the British. Swami Vivekananda's teachings on universal brotherhood, his nationalist thoughts and his emphasis on social service and reform had all inspired Subhas Chandra Bose from his very young days.
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