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These times of rising hate and communalism an attempt is made by the Indian right to appropriate other leaders as they lack leaders of their own. Similarly, they are trying to appropriate secular, socialist, scientific Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. However, maybe they don't know or they deliberately hide the rivalry between Netaji and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
Let's read about this rivalry which may give burns to some people.
Netaji vs Mukherjee
Syama Prasad Mukherjee wrote in his diary that Bose met him and told him if he went about building Hindu Mahasabha as a political body in Bengal, “He (Subhash Bose) would see to it, by force if need be, that it was broken before it was really born.”
Isn't it ironic that the same communalists hail Netaji as their icon?
Later on, Bose came true on his words that he was not adverse to using force and intimidation to put Mahasabha down.
As Balraj Madhok, a leader of Mahasabha at that time writes in his biography of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (on pages number 10-11)
“Subhash Chandra Bose with help of his supporters, decided to intimidate the Mahasabha by use of force. His men would break-up all Mahasabha meetings and beat up the candidates. Dr Mookerjee would not tolerate it. He got a meeting announced, to be addressed by him. As soon as he rose to speak, a stone hit him in his head, and he began to bleed profusely.”
Bose and Hindu Mahasabha
There is another interesting quote of Netaji bose which can give shock to some.
In an article, Netaji wrote, “Very often you read in the papers about certain organisations like the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha. The British boost these organisations because they're in their policy pro-British.” [1]
Communal organisations like the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha are pro-British and they are boosted by the British.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, at a public meeting on 12th May 1940 at Jhargram in West Bengal said a very interesting thing,
“The Hindu Mahasabha has deployed sannyasis and sannyasins with tridents in their hands to beg for votes. At the very sight of tridents and saffron robes, Hindus bow their head in reverence.By taking advantage of religion and desecrating it, the Hindu Mahasabha has entered the arena of politics. It is the duty of all Hindus to condemn it. Banish these traitors from national life. Don't listen to them.” [2]
It's very painful that many communalists nowadays are using Netaji Bose as a shield for their filthy agenda.
Bose and Savarkar
Many people claim one more thing. They claim that Savarkar and Netaji were great friends and Bose admired Savarkar. However, after meeting Savarkar, Netaji was deeply disappointed and wrote the following in his book, 'The Indian Struggle',
“He (Savarkar) seemed to be oblivious of the international situation and was only thinking how Hindus could secure military training by entering Britain’s army in India.”
He further wrote, "Nothing could be expected either from either the Muslim League or the Hindu Mahasabha." [3]
At another instance from a broadcast from his Azad Hind Radio, on August 31, 1942, Netaji compared Savarkar with Jinnah - took their name in the same breath and said the following, “I would request Mr Jinnah, Mr Savarkar and all those leaders who still think of a compromise with the Britishers to realise for once of all that in the world of tomorrow there would be no British empire.” [4]
Subhash Babu and his secularism
I would like to also point out the flag of Shubhash Chandra Bose's Indian national army. It had the roaring lion of Tipu Sultan in the middle.
I would end this up with just the last quote of Subhash Chandra Bose, in a speech titled, 'Vision of Free India' he said, “In order to facilitate cultural reproachment a dose of secular and scientific education is necessary. Fanaticism is the greatest thorn in the path of cultural intimacy and there is no better for fanaticism that secular and scientific education.” [5]
This is what Netaji said. I don't see the right-wing which seeks to appropriate him and some communalists who use Netaji as a shield and call themselves followers of Netaji quoting these words and imbibing them.
Conclusion
It is in this context of an erosion of political ethics that life as a message of both Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Bose acquires renewed salience. Just as Gandhian values could not be reduced to a cleanliness campaign, extolling Netaji's military heroism sounds hollow if divorced from his unequivocal commitment to religious harmony. Both exemplary lives need to be rescued from vacuous and state propaganda and the distortions of fake history.
Netaji had left us, but he left us a rich inheritance of ideas, ideals and dreams. The most precious item of his legacy is his generous and imaginative approach towards achieving unity by respecting difference. Just as Gandhian values could not be reduced to a cleanliness campaign, extolling Netaji's military heroism sounds hollow if divorced from his unequivocal commitment to religious harmony. Don't Let His Message of an Inclusive India die.
Bapu while talking about bose said, “Hinduism regarded all religions as worthy of respect and Netaji was such Hindu who knew no provincialism and communal differences.”
In memory of the great patriot, he called upon Indians to cleanse their hearts of all communal bitterness. To truly honour Netaji today it is essential to imbibe Mahatma’s call.
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> References
1. Essential Writings of Subhash Chandra Bose page number 321
2. Anand Bazar Patrika 14 May 1940
3. Collected Works Of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose volume 2, The Indian Struggle, page no. 344
4. Testament of Subhash Chandra Bose page number 24
5. Selected speeches of Subhash Chandra Bose page number 5