NATIONAL LIBRARY OF INDIA BLOG: February 2021

National Library organized an International Conference on “Revisiting the Legacy of Netaji Subhas in 21^st Century” on 23 January, 2021: Conference Report

The Chapters of History in several occasions even today continues to regard and reiterate– Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as one of those rare leaders of India's struggle whose thoughts and endeavours had earned a distinctive place in the national liberation discourse of India. In order to commemorate 125^th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose also to reminiscence and inspire generations with aspirations of the nation's great leader. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, National Library Kolkata, Netaji Subhash-INA Trust, and The Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS), India- that as a part of their imperative along with contemporary thoughts for over a decade had also been addressing reams of history and waves of nationalistic ideas. Collaboratively organized an International conference on the Birth Anniversary of Netaji on 23^rd January, 2021- titled “Revisiting the Legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the 21^st Century” at the historical Belvedere House, National Library, Kolkata.

The inaugural session witnessed the presence of distinguished personalities and eminent guests like –

· Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Secretary, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India

· Shri Raghvendra Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India

· Shri Padma Lochan Sahu, Director, National Library Kolkata

· Air Chief Marshal (Retd.), Arup Raha, Indian Air force

· Dr. Purabi Roy, former Professor, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata

· Shri Arindam Mukherjee, Director, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies India

Shri Raghvendra Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India who commenced the International conference with his deliberation highlighting how the charismatic leader with strong determination tried to accomplish his endeavour to emancipate the nation from British rule. The distinguished speaker added that Netaji’s determination to achieve national liberation often led him to go against the tide of then contemporary attributes consistently. Shri Singh also stated that Bose’s resoluteness to uproot the British insubordination took him to Germany from where he undertook an arduous journey to Japan in East Asia where he received active Japanese assistance to form Indian national army to fight against the British regime. The distinguished speaker said that though a series of unfortunate circumstances prevented the Indian National Army to play an instrumental role in achieving Indian independence yet their valor and heroic sacrifice inspired Indian masses which soon led to Indian independence.

As Letter writing then thought to be entwined with the culture of civility even in presence of political and military importance. Like many others who conveyed their deep love for motherland and urge to free her from the colonial domain over letters and documentations. Netaji too like them chose letters as a medium to describe his trepidations and demands for a collaborative movement inflaming the spirits of youth towards the liberation of their nation from the reign of British orderals. Sri Singh stated that the compilations of some of those inspirational letters which are under the possession of National Library will be released by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The welcome speech was followed by the Keynote address delivered by Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) Arup Raha who served as an air warrior presented his views on Subhas Chandra Bose depicting the inspirational role played by Netaji to arouse national sentiment among the Indians to sacrifice their life in the national liberation struggle. Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) Radha Wonderfully narrated the political life of Netaji back in times where he was elected as the president of Indian national Congress for two consecutive terms. He highlighted his ideological difference with Mahatma Gandhi which forced him to step down from his position as Congress president and create a new political party called Forward Bloc, and finally his famous exodus from his house arrest in Elgin Road to Germany and later his fly to Japan and his establishment of The Indian National Army. Identifying Netaji as a visionary and an excellent administrator, the distinguished speaker expressed his gratitude towards this great leader for his innovative and modern ideas like gender mainstreaming by forming a women regiment within the INA. Also, organizing the small boys and girls through Balak and Balika Senas. He added that Netaji through his endeavour proved that leadership and morale go hand in hand. Air Marshal Raha ended his deliberation by stating that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose believed in discipline, regulation of power and managerial capacities which till date manifests especially when nations national security faces a plethora of challenges in form of fragile borders and non-traditional security threats. In the contemporary situations of pandemic it is necessary for the country to draw inspiration from Netaji’s uncompromising endeavour to combat such emerging challenges, much efficiently.

Subsequently an inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Purabi Roy, former professor, Department of International Relation, Jadavpur University. She commenced his discourse by analyzing the term Parakram Divas which the government of India declared on the occasion of Netaji’s Birth Day every year on 23^rdJanuary. In the course of her discussion she highlighted the role of the academicians and scholars to unfold the legacy of Netaji to the masses. Expressing her frustration and discontentment for inadequate preservation and destruction of valuable archival documents related to Netaji. Added that the narrative of Netaji’s endeavour has witnessed suppression and misinterpretation in the mainstream academic discourse of independent India. She therefore focused her discussion on the evolution of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in various stages of life where Netaji transformed from a Neo-Vivekananda Spirituality to a radical patriot and finally to a soldier. The final part of her discussion cantered round the endeavours of the Indian National Army where her ideas featured the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers after they were captured by the British imperial army. Finally Dr. Roy Summarized her discussion by laying the onus on the government and demanding for proper inquisition of the INA soldiers who were thought to be shot dead while in imprisonment.

The next distinguished speaker Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble minister of culture and tourism, government of India in his address discussed about Netaji’s relation with his native town of Jabalpur .Where the leader has not only spend his imprisonment days in the central jail in 1932 but in 1939 received support towards his nomination, enabling him to contest for the presidency of Indian National Congress for second consecutive term. In the course of his discussion he applauded Netaji’s uncompromising spirit to fight for the cause of the Nation. He ended his speech by thanking the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi for announcing 23^rd January as Parakram Divas as a mark of respect for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The session ended with the vote of thanks from Shri Arindam Mukherjee, the Director of Institute of Social and Cultural Studies India, who expressed his gratitude to all the dignitaries present in that session. He delivered his heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi for his interest and consent to attend the conference.

First Academic Session

Title: “Subhas and India’s Freedom Struggle”

Time: 10.50 a.m.-12.20 pm

Chair: Professor Nirban Basu, Mahatma Gandhi Chair Professor, Department of History, University of Calcutta

Speaker:

Dr. N. Lokendra Singh Department of History, Manipur University

Md. Ashraful Islam, Founder chairman, International Centre for Netaji Shubhas Ideology (ICNSI) & Editor in Chief Bahumatrik.com.

Dr.KhinZaw from International Medical School (IMS) of Management and Science University (MSU), Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Prof. Kapil Kumar former Director, Centre for Freedom Struggle and Diaspora Studies and former chairman of History faculty, IGNOU.

The first academic session titled “Subhas and India’s Freedom Struggle” commenced with the introductory address of the chair Professor Nirban Basu who introduced the distinguished speakers with the august audiences and further requested Dr. N Lokendra Singh Singh to place his presentation. Dr. Singh deliberation focused on the role of INA-Japanese Forces and Local Participation during the Imphal-Kohima campaign between 1943- 45. He stated that there is a paucity of literature on the above topic especially about the participation of the local Manipuri people when the three division of the Japanese imperial army’s 33^rd, 31^st and 15^th division along with the INA divisions engaged the British army and penetrated to Kohima and Imphal through the Burmese frontier. The distinguished speaker in his discourse highlighted the activities of three important ethnic communities of Manipur namely the Meities, Kukis and the Thangkul Nagas who assisted the Indian National Army in their effort to achieve national liberation. He also discussed how British activities during the Second World War in Manipur led to widespread famine igniting anti British sentiments among the local community who revolted against the puppet king installed by the British authorities in the princely state of Manipur.

He ended his deliberation by denying the myth of Subhas visiting Manipur and Nagaland. According to the speaker and his research forays that Netaji visited Rangoon and came upto Mandalay, however after the Indian National Army retreated Subhas had to leave Myanmar. He stated that Manipur contributions in the national liberation movement still remains unexplored and urged the historians to initiate their academic inquisition in this regard.

The next speaker, Md. Ashraful Islam in his presentation highlighted the patriotic endeavour of Netaji towards achieving the national liberation of India. In his discourse he analyzed the outstanding leadership quality of Subhas Chandra Bose and the significance of the speeches stirred about the emotions among the Indian soldiers of the British imperial army who were captured as the prisoners of war in South East Asia. He thereafter compared the oppression carried out by the British with that of the west Pakistani military dictator who carried out its ruthless suppression to thwart the demands of the Bengali speaking community of East Pakistan. At the end he presented how the uncompromising struggle of Netaji had profound influence over the leaders and masses of Bangladesh who drew inspiration from his uncompromising efforts to resist the tyranny of the west Pakistani leadership.

On the same note the following speaker, Dr. Khin Zaw in his deliberation presented the unflinching patriotism of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his relationship with Myanmar. In his speech he divided Netaji’s association with Myanmar into two distinct periods first of which started after Netaji was sentenced imprisonment for his anti- British activities and remained in various jails of Myanmar. While the second explicated Netaji as the supreme leader of Indian National Army during his course of visit at Myanmar. Quoting from the letters written by Netaji from various jails in Myanmar he transpired how Netaji suffered during his imprisonment days in the various jails of Myanmar, and concluded resonating Netaji’s association with Myanmar during the Second World War when the Indian National Army marched through the soil of Myanmar towards India. The importance of his presentation was Bose’s close relationship with the nationalist leaders of Myanmar including the first Prime Minister of Myanmar, Dr. Ba Maw and the enigmatic military general Aung Sung. He also stated the heroic struggle of the Indian National Army against the mighty British Imperial Army summed up by remembering Netaji as the great heroic leader who sacrificed all his sweat and blood for the freedom movement and progress of his motherland.

Many opined that the heroic endeavour of INA under Netaji has been remarkable. Even though significant efforts have been made to deny, falsify and distort the historical records associated with this revolutionary struggle. This fact remained eminent in the speech of Professor Kapil Kumar. He commenced his discourse by accusing the British of suppressing and crushing the legacy and contribution of Netaji and regretted that several successive governments of independent India had followed the path shown by the British. He stated that the British feared the immense popularity of Netaji. He also opined that there are numerous archival documents available in public domain which shows that it was the determined efforts of Netaji which forced the British to leave India. In the due course of his discussion he negated the controversial plane crash hypothesis which led to Netaji’s, analyzed the rationale behind Bose’s clarion call of Purna Swaraj during the Calcutta session of Indian National Congress in 1928, his anti- partition views and the necessity behind allying with Nazi Germany and imperial Japan. He ended his discussion by calling Netaji a visionary who became the first Indian leader to constitute a women regiment in INA and urged that his legacy should be promulgated to the youth of India so that they can learn about his ideology and practice in reality.

The chair of the session professor Nirban Basu thereafter thanking the distinguished speakers summed up the session by analyzing the deep influence of C.R.Das, Swami Vivekananda and Aurobindo Ghose had on Netaji and briefly pointed out his activities in field of student politics, labour politics, provincial politics and municipal politics. He also mentioned the philosophical ideas of Subhas specially his idea of India after independence.

Second Academic Session

Title: “Netaji Overseas and the Saga of INA and It’s Supreme Leaders”

Time: 12.20 a.m.-01.45 pm (IST)

· Chair: Major General (Retd.) G.D Bakshi, Indian Army

Distinguished Speakers:

· Prof. Jyoce Lebra, former faculty, Department of History, University of Colorado.

· Major (Retd.) Ishwar Lal Singh Bhatti, INA veteran

· Major General (Retd.) P K Chakravorty, Indian Army, Former Indian Defence Attaché to Vietnam.

· Prof. Dr. Do Thu Ha, Dept. of Indian Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, USSH, VNU.

The second session titled “Netaji Overseas and the Saga of INA and its supreme Leaders” commenced after the chair Major General (Retd.) G.D Bakshi introduced the distinguished speakers with the audience present at the conference. In his brief and passionate introductory note he justified the government of India’s decision to declare 23^rd January as the Parakram Divas in honour of Netaji. He also acknowledged the highest valour exhibited by the sepoys of the Indian National Army which sacrificed almost 26,000 lives that constituted 44 per cent of the entire INA strength. He handed the podium to Jocye Lebra by urging the Indians to remember the supreme sacrifice of these unsung war heroes of India.

The first speaker of the session Professor Joyce Lebra initiated her presentation by thanking the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies India for inviting him to this international conference. As a part of her brief presentation reminisced the indomitable bravery of Iwaichi Fujiwara, Mohan Singh, Laxmi Sehgel and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon. She reckoned that it was Iwaichi Fujiwara who managed to fuel anti British feelings among the Indian settlers in South East Asia. Later on Subhas Chandra Bose came to Singapore in 1943 and strengthened INA who remained inactive with the departure of Fujiwara. Her presentation featured the famous submarine journey of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, as an example of his exemplary abilities of uniting world powers like Japan-Germany despite their innate mutual suspicions. Whereas the rearmost part of her deliberation represented the undeemed efforts of this popular leader to ascertain equal participation of men and women in the decision making process and in order to explicate the speaker in many occasions also towards the concluding note mentioned about the women regiment and their activities at the INA those days.

The next speaker of the session was Major (Retd.) Ishwar Lal Singh Bhatti is a close associate of two revolutionary icons of India namely Rashbihari Bose and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. As the nonagenarian speaker in his short deliberation shared with the audience his memories with Rash Bihari Bose. Also an emotional approach shared how his name was changed from Isharto Iswar after he met Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Later narrated his activities as the member of Balak Sena which was founded by Netaji as a sister wing of the Indian Independence Army.

The legendary speaker was followed by Prof. Do Thu Huawho in her presentation meaningfully analyzed the rationality behind Netaji’s endeavour to secure foreign political and military help to emancipate India from the centuries old British dominance. She stated that Vietnamese people who for centuries have shredded their blood in combating external aggression could well understand the motto of Netaji's violent resistance against the imperial authorities. In the course of her insightful discussion she narrated the rationale and trajectory of Netaji’s revolutionary endeavour that took him to Japan where he met the Japanese Prime Minister and foreign minister to secure their assistance for national liberation. While discussing the philosophy and ideology of Subhash Chandra Bose professor Hua pointed out the role of hindutva and cultural nationalism in shaping Bose’s revolutionary endeavours by specially mentioning how Netaji drew inspiration from Vedanta, Shrimad Bhagwat Gita and teachings and writings of Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo Ghosh and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Thereafter she focused on Netaji’s relation with Japan from a contemporary perspective. Discussing the long historical relation between India and Japan she stated how Bose as a determined patriot had taken up efforts and secured Japanese help. In the final part of her deliberation she compared the revolutionary icon of Vietnam Phan Bhoi Chau and Subhas Chandra Bose and the rationality behind their decision to ally with Japan to gather foreign political and military assistance to achieve their national liberations.

The subsequent speaker, Major General (Retd.) P K Chakraborty thereafter brought up the most desired topic, why Subhas Chandra Bose had to leave India to gather foreign support? He also highlighted the effort undertaken by Netaji to pursue the Japanese government to include India in their plan of action and secure military help from the imperial government of Japan. In the course of his discussion he exhibited the profound influence Subhas had over the general mass of independent India. He ended his speech by acknowledging the fact that though Bose was not a trained soldier, history will remember him as one of the greatest military general and strategists ever.

After the deliberation of the distinguished speakers, the chair of the session Major General (Retd.) G.D Bakshi summed up the session by acknowledging Bose as one of the greatest military leaders of all time despite not having any formal military training. He said that Independent India must thank Subhas Chandra Bose and his martyrs of INA without whose efforts it would had been hard to uproot British rule from the soils of India.

Third Academic Session

Title: “Philosophy of Subhas”

Time: 02.30 a.m.-03.45 pm (IST)

Chair: Prof. Radharaman Chakraborty Former Vice Chancellor, Netaji Subhas Open University

Speakers:

· Shri J.B. Prashant More, eminent historian and author

· Dr. Abhijit Choudhury, Former Professor, Department of History, Edmund College, Shillong, Meghalaya

· Dr. Mohammad Salim, Dept. of History, Jagannath University, Dhaka.

The third session titled “Philosophy of Subhas” initiated with the brief introductory note of the chair of the session professor Radharaman Chakraborty where he stated that the philosophy of Subhas grew out of his direct interaction with reality. He added that Subhas' philosophical urge directly came from a specific motivation. He proceeded towards the deliberation of the other spealershigh lighting the multidimensional character of Subhas philosophy. Thereby taking the thread forward he requested Shri J B Prasant More to address the august gathering.

J B Prasant More being the first Distinguished Speaker of the Third Session focused on the political activities of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Indo-China and especially in Saigon. He vividly discussed the activities of the Indian settlers in Indo- China and their participation in the movement initiated by Netaji on behalf of the Indian Independence League and the Indian Independence Army. His deliberation mentions a French Indian named Leon Puduchandy, referred as an associate of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and happened to be the last man to take over the leadership of Indian Independence League after the Japanese surrendered to the allies. The distinguished speaker with the help of rich archival records of France, London and Vietnam tried to reconstruct the activities of both Bose and his movement in French Indo- China between 1943-45.

The following speaker, Professor Abhijit Chowdhury in his discourse discussed the evolution of Subha’s philosophy of life, his ideas on Nationalism and Culture predominantly. As he believed and shared that all political actions initiated then were a result of the ideas and philosophies Netaji had beheld and transmuted over letters amongst friends and his family members. Speaker pointed out the sharp contrast between the philosophies of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, further terming Netaji as a modernist. As he explained why Netaji’s economic views were directly in contrast with Mahatma Gandhi. Lastly rested by pointing out the presence of Netaji in the north-eastern region of India during the INA’S military struggle against the British Army and the profound influence he had over the people of Nagaland and Manipur region, which the denizens still recall.

The last speaker of the session, Professor Mohammad Salim shared his observations as a result of the careful study of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s activities, letters, writings and speeches at different phases of the freedom struggle, indicating a process of evolution of thoughts, ideas and objectives the leader had at various time as a consequence of varied situations. He proclaimed that the zeal of this inspirational leader was to gain the theoretical foundation and a constructive plan of action for Indian freedom movement. Which without any diversions evolved around the freedom of India from the British rule. In the due course of his deliberation the speaker discussed various philosophical aspects of Netaji like view on Nationalism, Socialism and in-depth Spiritualism. He discussed how the uncompromising struggle and philosophy of Netaji even years later influenced and motivated the people of Bangladesh to initiate their struggle to overthrow the oppressive West Pakistani leadership and emerge as a free nation and a pillar of New Independent Bangladesh.

Conclusion

The International conference in itself served as an enriching platform for all its participants as the saga of the most popular leader, his sacrifice, strength and vision not only enabled its participants to rejuvenate intense love for their motherland but yet another time inspired the youths to join hands and develop a progressive road map for their nation with positivity, love and perseverance. The presence of The Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal Sri. Jagdeep Dhankar, eminent Dignitaries and especially The Prime Minister Sri. Narendra Modi himself paid tribute to the National hero. Thereafter interacted with Distinguished Speakers and participants reckoning how invincible faith and deep love and self-sacrifice of the Leader for his motherland had stimulated strength, action and spirit of nationalism even in the remotest corner. The vibes of which even today continues to ignite a feeling of conviction of protecting motherland among our youths and generations widely.