On 23 January 2026, India will commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a visionary whose contribution to the freedom struggle stands unmatched in intensity, strategy and determination. His life continues to inspire Indians to uphold courage, resilience and unwavering love for the motherland.

Born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha, Bose grew up in a disciplined and academically strong environment. With a lawyer father, Janakinath Bose and a compassionate mother, Prabhavati Devi, he was encouraged to pursue excellence from an early age. However, the rising national movement stirred brilliant in his studies and a student of Presidency College, his heart. Influenced deeply by thinkers like Swami Vivekananda, he developed a strong belief in India’s cultural strength and the need for self-governance.

Bose entered national politics in the early 1920s through the Indian National Congress. Yet, his vision for India’s freedom was far more assertive than the moderate approach of the leadership at that time. As Congress President in 1938, he pushed for a stronger, more direct form of resistance against colonial rule. When ideological differences widened, he stepped away in 1939, choosing a path that aligned with his urgent call for complete and immediate independence.

His most defining contribution was the creation and leadership of the Indian National Army (INA). After a daring escape from house arrest in 1941, he travelled through Afghanistan to Germany and later to Japan, seeking international support against British rule. Bose’s efforts were not conventional, he leveraged global wartime alliances, believing that India’s liberation required bold diplomatic and military strategies.

Under his leadership, the INA transformed into a disciplined, passionate force made up of Indian prisoners of war and volunteers in Southeast Asia. His call, “Give me blood and I shall give you freedom,” electrified the nation, strengthening the desire for independence. In 1944, when the INA advanced into India’s northeast, it became a turning point proving that Indians were ready to fight as a united military force for their homeland.
Although the INA’s campaign could not overcome the might of British power, its courage shook the foundations of colonial confidence. The loyalty, sacrifice and unity displayed by the INA influenced public sentiment across India and accelerated the demand for independence.

Netaji’s life also represented a global understanding of the fight against imperialism. His travels, alliances and negotiations during World War II reflected the complexities of international politics. While his associations with Axis powers remain debated, his intention was unwavering – freedom for India at any cost.

The mystery surrounding his reported death in the Taiwan plane crash of 18 August 1945 has intrigued generations. Yet, regardless of theories and speculations, his legacy remains powerful and undisputed. “Jai Hind,” the greeting he popularized, still resonates as a symbol of national pride.
As we remember Subhas Chandra Bose on 23 January 2026, we honour a leader who expanded India’s freedom movement beyond geographical, political and ideological boundaries. His journey from a young student in Calcutta to the Commander of the INA reflects extraordinary determination and a spirit that refused to bow down.

Netaji believed that true freedom requires courage, unity and relentless effort. His words, “Freedom is not given, it is taken,” continue to guide a nation that builds on the values he fiercely championed: self-reliance, dignity, discipline and national pride.

On this anniversary, India salutes a leader whose dream for a strong, united and free nation remains timeless and whose legacy continues to illuminate the path of patriotism and justice.

By: Mr. Pawan Mahawar (Senior Executive – Kolkata)