Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose, born January 23, 1897, in Cuttack to a wealthy Bengali family, excelled academically at Calcutta University and Cambridge but resigned from the Indian Civil Service in 1921, declaring "Bande Mataram" upon return, dedicating life to independence. Imprisoned multiple times for protests, he rose as Congress youth leader alongside Nehru, becoming general secretary in 1927 and president in 1938–1939, advocating complete swaraj over Gandhi's non-violence.​

Split from Congress and Exile

Elected president again in 1939 against Gandhi's wishes, Bose resigned amid ideological clashes, founding Forward Bloc for socialist, militant independence. House-arrested in 1940, he escaped in 1941 disguised as Pathan, traveling via Afghanistan to Germany, forming Indian Legion from POWs. Disillusioned with Axis support, he reached Japan in 1943 via submarine, reviving Rash Behari Bose's INA in Singapore with 40,000 troops including Rani of Jhansi Regiment led by Capt. Lakshmi Swaminathan.​

Azad Hind and Military Campaigns

On October 21, 1943, Bose proclaimed Provisional Government of Azad Hind in Singapore, recognized by nine Axis states, issuing currency and stamps, headquartered on Andaman-Nicobar islands renamed Swaraj and Shaheed. INA advanced with Japanese forces to Imphal-Kohima in 1944, marking first Indian forces fighting British on Indian soil since 1857, though defeated by Allied superiority. Bose's radio addresses from Azad Hind urged sacrifice: "Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi dunga".​

Death and Immediate Impact

Bose died August 18, 1945, in a plane crash in Taiwan from burns, per official inquiry, though controversies persist. INA trials in 1945–1946 sparked naval mutinies and riots, eroding British resolve, hastening 1947 independence. His secular, socialist vision influenced post-independence planning