§  Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

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Diptota Dey, The Daily Hints: On January 16, 1941, a man disguised as Muhammad Ziauddin—an insurance agent—stepped out of his residence in Calcutta under the cover of darkness. This wasn’t a fictional spy thriller; this was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose making his legendary escape from British house arrest. Within 15 days, he reached Kabul. Within four months, he landed in Berlin. And from there, he would orchestrate one of the most audacious challenges to British imperial rule—not from Indian soil but from enemy territory during World War II.

Subhas Chandra Bose, born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha, represents a different strand of India’s freedom struggle. While Mahatma Gandhi championed non-violent resistance, Netaji believed that “men, money and materials” alone could not achieve liberation—what was needed was “motive-power that will inspire us to brave deeds and heroic exploits.” His life story reads like an adventure novel: disguises, submarine journeys, secret meetings with world leaders and a military campaign to reclaim India through armed struggle.

The Great Escape: How Netaji Outwitted British Intelligence

After his arrest during a march in Calcutta in July 1940, Netaji launched a hunger strike with a dramatic ultimatum: “Release me or I shall refuse to live.” The British government, fearing his death in custody would spark outrage, released him after just one week—but only to place him under house arrest.

Netaji, however, had already devised an escape plan. He contacted communist organizations in Punjab, who guided him on a route through Afghanistan to reach Germany via the Soviet Union. On January 26, 1941, dressed as a deaf and mute Pathan man (he couldn’t speak Pashto, so this disguise was essential), he crossed the British-controlled border near Peshawar with fellow freedom fighter Bhagat Ram Talwar. They pretended to be pilgrims journeying to the shrine of Akhtar Sharif in Afghanistan.

The British discovered his absence twelve days later—only after a court appearance went unfulfilled. By then, Netaji had crossed into Afghanistan. The British intelligence attempted to track him, even suspecting he was on a ship to Japan but they were always two steps behind. As Netaji had told his nephew Shishir Kumar Bose, “If the news of my escape can remain secret for 4-5 days, it will be impossible for them to catch me after that.” He was right.

Berlin: Building Azad Hind While Hitler Watched

When Netaji reached Berlin on April 2, 1941, he encountered a paradox: Nazi Germany was fighting the British but Hitler himself admired British rule over India. In his notorious book Mein Kampf, Hitler had praised British administration in India and even dismissed Indian freedom fighters as “Asiatic jugglers.” Yet Hitler was pragmatic—if Bose could cause trouble for the British, why not support him.?

Netaji established the Free India Centre in Berlin on November 2, 1941 with crucial support from Adam von Trot, the head of Germany’s Special India Division. Within months, he launched Azad Hind Radio on February 19, 1942, broadcasting messages of resistance to Indians across the world. “Brothers and sisters, the struggle for freedom that we have started, we need to continue it until we get complete independence,” was his stirring message.

He also began recruiting Indian prisoners of war held by the Germans. From over 10,000 captured Indian soldiers, he convinced approximately 5,000 to join his Indian Legion (the German government refused to recognize it as an independent army, hence the name). These soldiers, despite coming from different castes and religions, united under Netaji’s vision for a free India.

On May 29, 1942, Netaji met with Hitler personally at the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. The meeting was cordial but ultimately disappointing. Hitler, while encouraging Bose to relocate to Japanese-controlled territory closer to India, made it clear that Germany would not formally recognize Indian independence or make it a war aim. Hitler even advised Bose to “bank on the Japanese” for concrete military support and proposed something extraordinary: transferring Bose to a Japanese submarine so he could continue his mission from Southeast Asia.

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The Submarine Journey: A First for Any Indian

What followed was one of the most dramatic episodes of World War II. On February 8, 1943, Netaji (traveling under the alias “Matsuda”) boarded the German U-180 submarine from Kiel with fellow freedom fighter Abid Hasan Safrani. The submarine’s mission: travel around Africa and rendezvous with a Japanese submarine in the Indian Ocean.

The journey was perilous. British naval ships patrolled the seas and the voyage took over two months. On April 26, 1943, when the U-180 reached the coast of Madagascar, a Japanese submarine I-29 appeared on the horizon. But a storm was raging. For two days, the submarines moved in parallel, waiting for calmer weather. Finally, when the sea cleared, Netaji emerged from the German submarine on a small raft and paddled through the water to the Japanese submarine, where he was welcomed by Captain Masao Teraoka.

This moment made Netaji the first Indian to travel in a submarine—and it remains the only civilian transfer between two submarines of different navies during World War II.

On May 16, 1943, after stops in Indonesia, Netaji reached Tokyo and met Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo twice—on June 10 and June 14. Unlike Hitler, Tojo was unequivocal: Japan would support Indian independence unconditionally. On June 16, 1943, Tojo delivered a historic address to the Japanese Diet declaring that Japan would assist India’s bid for freedom. Two days later, Netaji recorded a statement on film—one of the very few existing video records of him.

Singapore: The Provisional Government & “Chalo Dilli”

Netaji arrived in Singapore on July 2, 1943, where he took command of the Indian National Army. The INA had originally been formed by General Mohan Singh in February 1942 after Singapore fell to Japan but had deteriorated due to disputes with Japanese leadership. Netaji revived it with renewed vigor.

On August 21, 1943, Netaji formally established the Provisional Government of Azad Hind in Singapore with himself as its head. This was not a territorial government—Netaji had no land yet—but it declared war on Britain and the United States and the Axis powers formally recognized it.

The army swelled to approximately 13,000 soldiers initially organized into five regiments named after national heroes: Gandhi, Nehru, Maulana Azad, Subhash and Rani of Jhansi. Yes, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment was an all-women combat unit—a revolutionary concept for that era.

The INA’s motto consisted of three Urdu words: Ittefaq (Unity), Itmaad (Faith) and Qurbani (Sacrifice). Soldiers from Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and other communities fought side by side—a living demonstration that armed resistance to British rule transcended religious divides.

Then came the slogan that would echo through history: “Chalo Dilli” (Let’s March to Delhi). Netaji used this battle cry to inspire soldiers and civilians across Southeast Asia to join the struggle for freedom. It became the rallying call of the Azad Hind movement and decades later, it remains one of the most iconic slogans in Indian history.

The war cry also had a companion: “Give me blood and I will give you freedom.!”—Netaji’s stirring call to sacrifice and commitment.

The Imphal Campaign: A Glorious Failure

By December 1943, the Japanese had liberated the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from British control and Netaji took charge of the territory. On December 30, 1943, he hoisted the Indian tricolour in Port Blair—the first time India’s national flag flew over Indian soil wrested from British rule since the days of the East India Company.

Emboldened, Netaji relocated his headquarters to Rangoon, Burma in January 1944. His objective was clear: capture the towns of Imphal and Kohima in northeast India, then march towards Delhi. Between March and July 1944, the INA and Japanese forces launched what would become one of the toughest land battles of World War II.

Initially, the campaign succeeded. Netaji’s troops advanced deep into Manipur and on April 14, 1944, they hoisted the Indian flag in Moirang—the first tricolour to fly over mainland India during the campaign. But the dream was short-lived. The monsoons arrived early in May 1944, turning the terrain into muddy swamps. Supply lines collapsed. Japanese forces, simultaneously losing ground to Americans in the Pacific, could not provide adequate air support. British forces, entrenched in superior positions and continuously resupplied by air, counterattacked with overwhelming firepower.

The Japanese Fifteenth Army, 85,000 strong, eventually lost 53,000 soldiers dead or missing. On the British side, casualties totaled 12,500 at Imphal and 4,000 at Kohima—but these were losses the British could sustain and replace. By July 1944, Netaji was forced to acknowledge failure. The INA troops, starving and exhausted, retreated to Burma.

Netaji’s Admiration for Gandhi: A Complex Bond

One of history’s most fascinating paradoxes is that Netaji, despite his ideological opposition to Gandhi’s non-violence, deeply admired and respected the Mahatma. The two had clashed repeatedly—Gandhi removed Netaji from the Congress Working Committee in 1939 and Netaji had even called Gandhi “old useless furniture” in 1933. Yet by 1942-1943, as the Quit India Movement unfolded, their visions converged.

In a radio broadcast on July 6, 1944, Netaji became the first person to publicly call Gandhi the “Father of the Nation.” On October 2, 1943, he went further: “Mahatma Gandhi’s services to India are unique and unparalleled. His name should be written in gold in our national history, forever. No single person could achieve as much in their life under those circumstances as Gandhi has achieved.”

Gandhi reciprocated this admiration, giving Netaji the title “Prince of the Patriots.” The last time they met in person, in 1940, Gandhi told Netaji: “If you succeed in freeing India, the first telegram congratulating you will be from me.”

Why this mutual respect despite their differences.? Because both understood that India’s freedom required a two-pronged assault: Gandhi’s non-violent mobilization inside India and Netaji’s armed struggle outside. As Netaji broadcast from Berlin in 1942: “Nobody has fought Gandhi so hard since 1939 as I and my party in the Congress have. But today all distinctions between Right and Left within the Indian National Congress have disappeared and the Indian people stand united in their demand for immediate independence.”

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The Legacy: How Netaji Changed India’s Course

Though the INA was militarily defeated, its impact on Indian independence was profound. When British courts martial INA soldiers after the war (the Red Fort Trials of 1945-1946), mass protests erupted across India. The British realized they could no longer depend on Indian soldiers’ loyalty. The Indian Civil Service, the police force and even Indian soldiers in the British Indian Army began questioning their allegiance to the Crown.

The INA demonstrated three critical truths:

       i.          Armed resistance was possible against the British Empire

     ii.          Religious unity was achievable—soldiers of all faiths fought together

   iii.          India’s military potential was real—if channeled differently, India could be a formidable power

These realizations weakened British resolve and strengthened Indian nationalist sentiment. Historians widely agree that the INA, combined with the Quit India Movement, made India ungovernable for the British. The Cabinet Mission arrived in 1946 to negotiate independence—a direct outcome of the upheaval caused by Netaji’s struggle and the INA trials.

Netaji died in mysterious circumstances on August 18, 1945, in a plane crash in Taiwan, just weeks after Japan’s surrender. The circumstances of his death remain disputed—some believe he survived and lived in hiding. When Gandhi learned of Netaji’s death, he expressed doubt, saying he believed Netaji would “reappear at the appropriate time.”

Why Netaji Matters Today

As we approach the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji on January 23, 2026, his legacy remains profoundly relevant. In a world where young Indians sometimes see their freedom as inevitable, Netaji’s story reminds us of the cost paid—not just in blood but in sacrifice, ingenuity and unwavering commitment to an ideal.

For CTET and TET aspirants, Netaji’s story is essential knowledge: it broadens understanding of India’s freedom struggle beyond Gandhi and Nehru, showing the plurality of approaches that led to independence. It demonstrates how history is shaped by individuals willing to challenge the status quo, often in unconventional ways.

For anyone interested in leadership, resilience and strategic thinking, Netaji offers lessons that transcend history textbooks. His ability to navigate complex international politics, build coalitions across religious and regional lines and maintain unwavering focus on a distant goal—despite setbacks and enemies surrounding him—makes him one of history’s most compelling figures.

Key Quotes to Remember

·       “Give me blood and I will give you freedom.!”

·       “Reality is, after all, too big for our frail understanding to fully comprehend. Nevertheless, we have to build our life on the theory which contains the maximum truth.”

·       “Never lose your faith in the destiny of India.”

·       “Men, money and materials cannot by themselves bring victory or freedom. We must have the motive-power that will inspire us to brave deeds and heroic exploits.”

Call to Action (CTA)

History is not merely about dates and events—it’s about understanding the struggles that shaped our present and inspire our future. Netaji’s life embodies the principle that age, geography and seemingly impossible odds are no barrier to those with unwavering conviction.

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Remember: Netaji’s legacy lives not in statues or celebrations but in every act of courage, unity and sacrifice for a greater cause.

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