Portal:India/Today's selected article/April 15, 2006



Subhash Chandra Bose, also known as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian Independence Movement against the British Raj. Bose helped to organise, and later lead the Indian National Army, put together from Indian prisoners-of-war and plantation workers from Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia. Bose travelled to Moscow on the passport of an Italian nobleman "Count Orlando Mazzotta". From Moscow, he reached Rome, and from there he traveled to Germany, where he instituted the Special Bureau for India broadcasting on the German-sponsored Azad Hind Radio. He created the Indian Legion (consisting of some 4500 soldiers) out of Indian prisoners of war who had previously fought for the British in North Africa prio to their capture by Axis forces. He criticized the British during World War II, saying that while Britain was allegedly fighting for the freedom of the European nations under Nazi control, it would not grant independence to its own colonies, including India. Bose is said to have died in a plane crash over Taiwan, while flying to Tokyo in August 1945. However, his body was never recovered. (more...)