Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose holds a special place in the hearts of people across the subcontinent. His vision included rescuing Mother India from colonialism's tyranny and bloodshed, as well as establishing a new country through active patriotism. He went on a quest that is still relevant today, inspired by the principles of Indian civilisation and composite cultural identity, and equipped with a scientific temperament.
The events of the last seven decades, the failure of the two-nation theory based on synthetic identities, the violence and suffering inflicted on people as a result of Partition, the ongoing instability, the ensuing struggle and genocide that resulted in the formation of Bangladesh, and the collapse of Western countries, to name a few, all confirm the relevance of his vision. These occurrences are the product of established historical failures, the relics of empire and signs of turmoil and conflicts in the future. They are increasingly used as staging areas for hostile incursions by overseas troops. In the words of Bose, "Special efforts will be needed to keep our people together…because alien rule has demolished and disorganised us…"
To remember Netaji means to become mindful of the mission he initiated and to complete the outstanding duty. It necessitates a creative strategy and dedication from both the national and community levels. The emphasis is on the people born on the subcontinent, Mother India's children, and our duty is to raise awareness, organise, and activate them based on principles, vision, and determined action. This is a historical chance to make corrections.
Netaji's observation of the failed impact of passive resistance and nonviolence need further exploration. Civilised means were viewed as a weakness. The perpetrators of tyranny and exploitation in England were not Wordsworth, Keats, or Shelley, but rather Robert Clive and his bloodline. They needed to be faced. The passive resistance of the people appears to have offered a comfortable place for the likes of General Dyer, and their aggression was ongoing, with the docile Indians on the receiving end.
Furthermore, the people worked for the British, providing labour and fighting in their battles in exchange for the Rowlatt Bill and other such laws. This became the practice and order of Her Majesty's administration in India. The pattern may be traced back throughout history. "Britain…ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually," Bose went on to say.
He hoped to approach the problem differently by taking more persuasive action. Keeping track of global happenings and with the goal of rescuing his homeland, he journeyed far and wide, gathering support and preparing an action plan. For him, young men and women provided the essential human energy required to rise and rebel against colonial powers, which manifested as the INA. It was accompanied by a call for insurrection by Indian soldiers, which proved to be a crucial cause in the British being compelled to leave.
However, before they parted ways, they inflicted significant harm. Unfortunately, it occurred when Netaji was not around, and we surrendered to a severely damaged sense of freedom. Freedom was buried under an ancient living civilisation that was permitted to be dismembered. Different flags were hoisted over the bleeding victims and dead. The negative consequences of this continue to plague the subcontinent and impede regional prosperity. With the pieces divided and the people ignored, entrenched interests and their institutions continue to grow.
Today's challenge is to actualise the full potential of people and resources in a meaningful and harmonious way. India bears a significant level of responsibility and importance. Even for its own growth and development, it will need to bring to light the forgotten, and maybe damaged and twisted, perceptions of the many components. A revitalised understanding might serve as a beacon for civilisation, liberty, and progress. There is a need to orient the minds of the subcontinent's people towards a new awareness that is relevant and necessary, via example and inventive approaches rather than appeasement.
India has the inner power to do this. The progeny of INA comrades in the region may be the catalysts in this process, having been raised around Netaji's benign vision and by parents and grandparents who participated in and sacrificed for Netaji's cause. As Netaji had envisioned, a discussion for a new order must be fostered for the greater good.
Today's communication media enable the quick generation of interest, awareness, and conversation. There is a rising awareness of previous mistakes and a desire for alternatives. People all throughout the subcontinent have the same perception—albeit as a suppressed longing. It has to be handled immediately. Referring to Netaji's remarks, "We shall have to bring different parts…closer to one another…we shall have to foster a common spirit among the entire population." This establishes the framework for future action, which might be accomplished through shows and conversations on television, radio, and other forms of mass media. Sports and cultural contact across the subcontinent can also help to initiate a fresh awareness of deeper relationships.
In 2020, India's median age was 29 years. This indicates that we have a big number of young women and men who require attention and meaningful engagement in constructive work across numerous fields, which is consistent with Netaji's ideas. Guided by rigors training and supervision of ex-servicemen, who represent a highly trained but underutilised human resource accessible throughout the country, the country may turn around on the development front and become a worldwide power to be reckoned with. There are chances for competent Indians all across the world, and to that aim, we should establish the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Youth Mission. Fortunately, specifics on the subject are being worked out.
Germany and Japan played an important role in Netaji's plans. Given the friendly relations between the two countries, it is recommended that we honour his connections with them by travels to these locations as part of the Netaji Trail on both land and sea routes. On another level, given their rapidly ageing populations, both of these countries are in desperate need of competent working-age individuals. To do this, we might work together to establish country-specific campuses of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institutes for Learning and Skills Training. This project will benefit everyone and boost international relations even further. Furthermore, in the evolving global context, there is a significant possibility for strategic collaboration with Japan and Germany.
At another level, education curricula must be redesigned to incorporate dynamic patriotism with a modern scientific outlook and attitude towards life, while also being sensitive to our civilization's values and vision, and upholding the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam' and living in harmony with nature's rhythmic energy. The timing is ideal for achieving this aim.
On the 127th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, we are seeing an intriguing historical synchronicity as modern-day India confronts Chinese imperialism head on. According to the aphorism, "In this mortal world, everything perishes and will perish, but ideas and dreams do not." Let this be a watershed point in the process of building on previous ideas to create a new future.