Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945), widely known as Netaji (Respected Leader), was an Indian nationalist whose defiant stance and leadership during the Indian independence movement made him one of the most celebrated freedom fighters in Indian history. Unlike Gandhi's non-violent approach, Bose believed in armed struggle to achieve independence from British rule. Born in Cuttack, Odisha, Bose was a brilliant student who ranked fourth in the Indian Civil Service examination but resigned to join the independence movement. He became president of the Indian National Congress in 1938 but resigned in 1939 due to ideological differences with Gandhi. In 1941, Bose escaped from British surveillance in India and traveled to Germany and then to Japan, seeking support for India's independence. He formed the Indian National Army (INA) — also known as Azad Hind Fauj — with the help of Japan, recruiting Indian prisoners of war to fight alongside the Axis powers against the British. His rallying cry "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom" and "Jai Hind" became iconic phrases of the independence movement. Bose's INA launched the Imphal and Kohima campaigns in 1944, which came close to driving the British out of India. He is believed to have died in a plane crash in Taiwan on 18 August 1945, though the circumstances of his death remain debated. His legacy continues to inspire Indians, and he is commemorated with statues, memorials, and his birthday is celebrated as "Parakram Diwas" (Valor Day).