Bharat Ratna for the unsung hero Subhash Chandra Bose

If the buzz is to be believed, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose who remained an unsung hero will be conferred with the highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna this year. It is learnt that Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India will be making an official statement on August 15, 2014 during the Independence Day Celebrations.

Subash Chandra Bose who was born January 23, 1897 has remained an unsung hero of India. Netaji with his defiant patriotism turned to be one of the most celebrated freedom fighters of India. However, he has been criticised equally for his attempt during World War-II to divest India of British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Japan.

The honorific patriot led the radical wing of the Indian National Congress in 20’s and 30’s of the twentieth century. He even became Congress president in 1938-1939. The palpable differences with Ghandiji and other prominent leaders of congress party, he was kept under house arrest by the British rulers. Subsequently, he escaped from India in 1940, a few years before India attained her independence.

Bose’s life took many turns thereafter. Bose established a Free India Centre in Berlin with aids from Germany. Later, a Free India Radio was also had also been set up. Bose and his better half Emilie Schenkl were blessed with a baby girl by that time.

Subhash Chandra Bose believed in a weaponry fight back with arms and ammunition, while Mahatma Gandhiji believed in peace as the only weapon for obtaining independence. The purpose was one but their paths differed.

So many twists took place in the life of Bose and he went untraceable after the year 1943. The Indian National Congress, the main instrument of Indian nationalism, praised Bose's patriotism but distanced itself from his tactics and ideology, especially his collaboration with Fascism. Certainly, a very long back such a vital decision to confer the highest civilian order could have been taken up by the previous ruling governments.