Subhas Chandra Bose’s relationship with Gandhi

Subhas Chandra Bose’s relationship with Gandhi

Subject – History

Context – 125^th birth anniversary of SC Bose

Concept –

• In 1915, soon after his return from South Africa Gandhiji became the unquestioned leader of India’s freedom movement and Indian National Congress.
• Subhas Chandra Bose, ‘the stormy petrel of Indian Renaissance’ younger to Gandhi by 28 years who had resigned his brilliant career in the much coveted heaven-born Indian Civil Service with the resolute aim and determination to devote himself entirely to the fight for India’s freedom.

Bose’s views about Gandhi

• To Subhas Bose, Gandhi always remained ‘India’s greatest man’. He recognised and admitted Gandhi as the undisputable, unrivalled leader of the masses.

Gandhi’s views about Bose

• To Gandhi, Bose was like a son whose ‘self sacrifice and suffering, drive, integrity and commitment to the national cause and the capacity to bind all Indians into one people were unsurpassed.

Similarities between them

• Both Gandhi and Bose were totally honest men. They were internationalists and humanists.
• They were secular in approach and anti-racial in outlook.
• The whole life of both the leaders was an epic struggle for India’s independence.
• In fact, the life long “Tapasya” of both, ended with the ultimate sacrifice of their very lives.

Differences between Gandhi and Subhas

• Young Netaji was a firebrand nationalist who believed in the tradition of Tilak and Aurobindo.
  • Gandhiji, on the contrary, was a reluctant nationalist who belonged to the tradition of his mentor Gokhale and Tagore.
• Bose’s strong revolutionary urge for the emancipation of his motherland made him critical of many of Gandhiji’s techniques.
• In 1920, at the age of 23, Subhas joined the Non-cooperation Movement which was going on with all its fury in Bengal under the leadership of Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das. He took prominent part in the agitation against the Prince of Wales’s visit.
  • In protest against the decision of Gandhi in calling off the Non-cooperation Movement as a sequence to the ChauriChaura incident in 1922, Bose felt highly dejected.
• For Subhas, the demand of Dominion Status appeared to be too short of his dream of full freedom when Simon Commission was appointed.
• The year 1927 brought Subhas closer to Jawaharlal Nehru at the annual session of the Indian National Congress, which was held at Madras. They formed the Independence of Indian League and under their joint effort, resolution for ‘Complete Independence’ was passed. In the next year due to the opposition of Gandhi the resolution to reiterate the demand for Complete Independence could not be approved. Thus Bose’s proposal was defeated.
• Despite opposition both from Nehru and Gandhi declared 1929 to be the year of preparation for a massive civil disobedience movement.
• Subhas praised Gandhiji for Dandi March and Salt Satyagraha (1930).He particularly admired Gandhiji success in involving women into the freedom movement. At the same time Subhas severely criticized Gandhiji’s participation in the Second Round Table Conference in London.
• In the 51st session of the Congress held at Haripura in 1938, Subhas was unanimously elected as the President. Subhas not only condemned Gandhi’s favourite Charakha but gave a call to modernise India. He called upon the people to get united for an armed struggle against the Britishers.
• At the presidential election in January 1939, Subhas was vigorously opposed both by Gandhi and Nehru. Nevertheless, he has achieved a decisive victory over his opponent Dr.PattabhiSittaramayya, Gandhi’s nominee. Gandhiji openly declared that Sitaramayya’s defeat was his defeat.
  • At the Tripuri Congress, Bose as the president made a clear proposal that the Indian National Congress should immediately send an ultimatum to the British Government demanding independence within six months. It was opposed by the Gandhian wing and Nehru.
  • In the midst of the hostile situation Subhas resigned the Presidentship of the Congress on 29th April, 1939, and immediately proceeded to form a radical party bringing the entire left wing under one banner.
  • Bose’s innate devotion and respect for Gandhiji remained as firm even though his path was diverging.
• Subhas had his ‘last long and hearty talk with the Mahatma on 20th June, 1940.’ He had pressed Gandhi to launch the struggle taking advantage of the critical position of the British in the Second World War.
• The whole nation was aroused when Subhas Bose made his spectacular escape on 17th January, 1941 (it was the day fixed for his trial for sedition) while under house detention at Calcutta and finally reached Germany in order to lead struggle for freedom from outside. Gandhi, on his part, could never endorse Subhas Bose joining with the Axis powers.
  • Even outside India, Bose remained unshaken in his deep allegiance to Gandhiji.
• Even Gandhiji, while differing from the extreme methods of Subhas Bose, had utmost admiration for his unique effort for India’s freedom.
  • On the eve of launching the Quit India Movement, Gandhiji defended Bose as ‘a patriot of patriots’.
  • While addressing the INA prisoners he paid unreserved tributes in hailing Bose as ‘Netaji’. He also paid unqualified tribute to the INA.