How Subhash Chandra Bose Outsmarted the British and Built an Army

How Subhash Chandra Bose Outsmarted the British and Built an Army

Subhash Chandra Bose, one of the most dynamic leaders of the Indian freedom struggle, took an unconventional route to secure independence for India. His life was a fascinating blend of audacity, international diplomacy, and military strategy, which shaped his legacy as a charismatic leader. The period of the early 1940s was particularly significant, as Bose’s pursuit of foreign support led him to Germany, Japan, and eventually, his controversial death in a plane crash.

Bose’s Early Struggles and Friction with Gandhi

Subhash Chandra Bose began his political career within the Indian National Congress but had stark differences with Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence. Bose, driven by the urgency for full independence, felt that Gandhi’s methods were too slow. After winning the presidency of the Congress in 1938 and 1939, Bose resigned due to opposition from Gandhi’s faction and sought other means to achieve India’s freedom. This search would take him beyond India’s borders.

The Outbreak of World War II and Bose’s Vision

The Second World War (1939–1945) provided Bose with an opportunity to exploit the situation for India’s cause. While India, under British colonial rule, was dragged into the war on the side of the Allies, Bose saw the Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan—as potential allies in India’s quest for independence. He believed that if Britain were weakened or defeated in the war, it would hasten the collapse of British rule in India.

Escape to Germany: Bose’s Dangerous Journey in 1941

In January 1941, Subhash Chandra Bose made a daring escape from British surveillance. Disguised as a Pathan, Bose evaded arrest and journeyed from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Kabul. From there, with the help of Italian and German agents, he was smuggled to the Soviet Union and eventually arrived in Berlin, Germany, in March 1941.

Upon reaching Germany, Bose was welcomed by the Nazi regime. Adolf Hitler saw the potential of using Bose to disrupt British control in India. Though Bose did not fully align with Nazi ideologies, he was pragmatic in seeking German assistance to liberate India. He founded the Free India Centre and organized the Indian Legion, consisting of Indian prisoners of war captured by German forces during campaigns in North Africa. His plan was to eventually lead this army into India to wage war against the British.

Bose’s Disappointment in Germany

Despite initial optimism, Bose found his stay in Germany increasingly frustrating. Hitler’s focus was largely on Europe, and support for Bose’s mission remained lukewarm. Furthermore, the German military campaign never reached close enough to India to make any real impact. By 1943, Bose shifted his attention to Japan, where he found a more enthusiastic ally.

The Quit India Movement and Bose’s Move to Japan

While Bose was in Europe, back in India, the political climate was heating up. In August 1942, the Quit India Movement, led by Gandhi and the Congress, was launched, demanding an immediate end to British rule. The movement resulted in widespread protests, strikes, and eventual mass arrests. However, Bose, being abroad, saw this moment as an opportunity to further intensify his efforts from the outside.

Bose made a dangerous submarine journey from Germany to Japan in 1943, travelling through the Indian Ocean. Japan, keen on expanding its influence in Asia and weakening British colonial rule, supported Bose’s vision.

The Formation of the Provisional Government of Free India

Upon reaching Japan, Bose took command of the Indian National Army (INA), which had been formed by Indian prisoners of war under the Japanese in Southeast Asia. With the support of Japan, Bose established the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore in October 1943. This government was recognized by Japan, Germany, and a few other Axis powers.

Bose’s government declared war on Britain and the United States, and the INA, alongside Japanese forces, advanced into India from Burma (now Myanmar). However, despite initial successes, the INA faced severe setbacks due to supply shortages, disease, and the overwhelming strength of the British-Indian forces. The INA’s military campaign ultimately failed, but Bose’s leadership had rekindled the spirit of revolution.

The Controversial Death: Plane Crash or Mystery?

As the Axis powers began losing the war in 1945, Bose made plans to escape to the Soviet Union to seek assistance. However, on August 18, 1945, it was reported that Bose had died in a plane crash in Taipei, Taiwan. According to reports, the overloaded plane caught fire after a crash landing. Bose allegedly died from severe burns.

However, Bose’s death remains one of the biggest mysteries in Indian history. Many of his followers refused to believe the official version, and conspiracy theories abound to this day. Some believed he had survived and lived in hiding, while others thought he had been captured by the Soviets. Multiple inquiries were launched in post-independence India to investigate the matter, but none have conclusively resolved the mystery of his death.

Legacy of Subhash Chandra Bose

Subhash Chandra Bose’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle is undeniable. He was a leader who believed in taking bold steps, often choosing the path of militaristic action when diplomacy failed. His international diplomacy, particularly with Germany and Japan, was a unique aspect of his approach to achieving India’s freedom.

Although the INA’s military campaign did not achieve immediate success, it played a crucial role in inspiring Indians to challenge British rule. After India gained independence in 1947, many saw Bose as a martyr who laid down his life for the nation’s cause, while others continued to search for the truth behind his disappearance.

Bose’s legacy continues to inspire debates, research, and respect for his relentless fight for India’s independence. Whether or not the mystery of his death is ever resolved, his impact on India’s freedom movement remains etched in history.