Political philosophy of Subhash Chandra Bose

-         Randhir Gautam

                  

 A thinker never dies. History keeps him alive.  A thinker can be misunderstood and misinterpreted.  We live in a time when political parties create illusion by misinforming of history.  Recently subash Chandra Bose suddenly came into Media. His political projection is being done for the benefit of right wings. 

As we know Bose was an extremist and too radical thinker. Shri subhas chandra Bose neither belongs to "left" Nor "right". He does not belong to Congress anymore.  Rather he was an opponent of Gandhi's congress.

 Netaji was born on January 23 ,1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. He believed in shakti cult (Hinduism). He practiced yoga and prepared himself for self – renunciation. He graduated from the Calcutta university with Philosophy Honours.

When Bose was in Cambridge in 1919. He once stated that I feel happy when I see white people serve me and brush my shoes. He was deeply influenced by   Bengal revolt. He appeared, at the

 ICS examination to please his father Janakinath Bose and resigned from the service to fulfill the mission of his life (Indian’s freedom).

Subhash Chandra’s political life was solely inspired by his own conscious ideal. He studied the history of successful revolutions in the world. He became a firm realist in politics.  His philosophical orientation was more close to Hegel because he believed in synthesis of ideas. In this way he was philosophical opponent of Marx. 

As we known Subhas political Guru was Deshbandhu C R Das.   Deshabandhu believed in the practice of extreme politics. He thought that there was no taboo on diplomacy and the principle of; end justifying the means’. Deshbandhu teachings dominates the mind of Bose throughout his life. I think this is the seed which creates opponent views between him and Gandhi. Gandhi’s clash with Bose was the clash of two different ideals – the ideal of Reformation and ‘ideal of revolution. The differentiation between two is based on means – ends philosophy.

 Some social scientists argue Bose was like Machiavelli without his vices. Bose in many times thought of his political incompleteness with Gandhian politics. satyagrashs, KHADI and chakra were becoming popular among Indian masses.

 Irish political revolution gave him insight of complete independence. He approached Hitler just being an enemy of enemy. His philosophy has nothing to do with " Right wing”. He was a great fighter of evils of his time. His fight should be looked in to context of those time.

A true Anti-imperialist and radical leader. He himself preferred "leftism" To describe his own ideology in politics on that time.  on that time leftism and anti-imperialism was interchangeable.  Though he believed in socialist vision not socialist politics.

Shri subhash chandra nationalism was in no way was opposed to internationalism. He likes Deshbandhu das who always cherished the hope that India would take the lead in forming an Asiatic federation of free –nations as concrete move towards a world federation.

He spoke at Ramgarh conference (1940) "when freedom comes, the age of national reconstruction will be the socialist phase of our movement. "His programme of socio-economic reconstruction was the same as that of the socialist. Once he said ‘India freed means Humanity saved ‘

He was elected Rashtrapati in congress. He was Rashtrapati of Tripuri congress. it shows how popular leader was on that time. But congress high command dislike him with his strong move. Even Gandhi once said ‘sittarammya’s defeat is mine. Replying to Gandhi Bose said,’ I always want to win the confidence of Gandhi. Bose went to wardha to meet Gandhi.

        Later Bose free himself from congress and went to Europe. From 1933 to the beginning of 1938. Bose was lived in Europe, He worked was making India known to Europe. He also understood Europe. He wrote an articles ‘Europe to-day and tomorrow’ in which he differentiates the world in two categories ‘Haves and Haves not.

 When he came back in India. He decided to form forward Bloc. His aim was to collect all radical groups to fight against imperialism. He adopted violence method.

 On the other hand, the congress has repeatedly declared its entire disapproval of the ideology and practice of fascism and Nazism.   Nehru, who condemned the ‘forward Block as an evil’. He was a lonely warrior. Anti-imperialist was soul of his fight.   freedom of Indian was his life’s goal. He thinks whatever favored the achievement of that goal was him quite welcome. when Lenin helped capitalist country like Ireland that was against socialist ends but for him anti-imperialism should be the first priority.

  Politically he does not belong to any category of contemporary politics. He does not belong to any "ism" Because he believed in idea of change. Progress corresponds to change.  Change should also be reflected in terms of mentality.