Netaji..

The history of India has seen great Heroes who laid down their lives for the Liberation of the Country from British Tyranny. Beyond doubt, the role of Subash Chandra Bose in reviving India's lost Freedom, is highly significant. Rightly called the "Netaji", Bose was highly feared by the British Rulers. Subhas Chandra Bose's eloquence and unmatched Courage had won him thousands of followers. His words- "Remain faithful to India, and do not, for even a moment, waver in your faith in India's destiny", even today, cause great sensation in the young and the old, alike.

Born on 23rd Jan, 1897, Bose was strongly influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, like many of his contemporaries, and he accepted him as his Spiritual Guru. In 1916, Subash Chandra Bose thrashed a British Professor by name, F E Otten, who had made racist comments against Indians. This marked his entry into India's freedom struggle. Though he stood Fourth in the civil services exam, which enabled him work as a civil servant of India (under the British, though), he had, by then made up his mind to not serve the British in any way. He immediately returned to India and joined the Indian National Congress. He was strongly influenced by C. R. Das, another freedom fighter, whom he accepted as his Political Guru.

When in Vienna, he happened to get acquainted with Vittalbhai Patel, who was very much impressed with Bose's plans for India. Together they chalked out schemes of bringing the British tyranny to international notice and gaining the support of anti-British Nations. He then visited various foreign nations, and held discussions with eminent political leaders. While still abroad, he was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress(INC). As Bose would resort to aggressive methodologies, he was often in altercations with the non-aggressive leaders, who, unfortunately, formed the majority. Despite Gandhi's opposition of his re-election as the President, he got successfully re-elected as the President of the INC defeating the Gandhi-supported candidate Dr. P. Sitaramayya. Considering the possibilities of a world war breaking out, he brought out a proposition forcing the British to grant India independence within 8 weeks. But, owing to protests from Gandhi and his supporters, he resigned from the post of the President, saying that he didn't have any desire to be a "dummy president". He then founded the Forward Bloc party, and as world war broke out, he was arrested by the British and then put under "house-arrest". In spite of the tight security, he escaped to Germany. It is in Germany that Bose founded the Azad Hind Fouj, which later on came to be known as the Indian National Army(INA). He was wrongly labelled as a Nazi by the western media. However, it is clear from the evidences of history that his support to the Germans was limited to their fight against Britain. He not only 'Not supported' the Nazis but was also involved in Anti-Nazi activities. Seeing that defeat was inevitable to the Germans, he moved to South East Asia, on the lookout for better options of liberating India. He joined hands with two other influential leaders, Ras Behari Bose and Captain Mohan Singh in Singapore, and with their help strengthened the INA. He allied with the Japanese, and succeeded in acquiring the Andaman and Nicobar islands to the Provisional Govt. of India, setup by him. In 1944, the INA, commanded by Bose attacked India from the Burmese border and successfully captured a significant part of Indian Territory. However, owing to extreme climatic conditions prevalent, the INA had to retreat. Following the defeat of Japan to the allied forces of the British, the INA was left with no choice. History has it that, on August 17, 1945, the plane with Bose on board, crashed, thereby killing him. On the contrary, many historians claim that it was not Bose who was aboard. Many even allege that he lived incognito, for many decades after independence. However, owing to lack of evidence, nothing is certain in this issue.

Bose played a very important role in awakening the youth of the country and moulding them into great leaders. He shall always be remembered as a man of infinite Courage and will. It is highly unfortunate that Bose could not live to see India Independent (assuming the official statement of his death to be true, as a last resort), but his ideals shall eternally live in the hearts of every Indian. Hats off to Netaji!!!

The cyclonic monk of India...

"Sisters and Brothers of America".....This magical assortment of words, solely with the aid of which, a great Indian Sanyasin had conquered the hearts of the not-so-easy-to-conquer Americans, at a time, when the the people of India, which is considered the mother of religions, themselves had lost hope in religion. This great man, Swami Vivekananda, who, even a century after his exit from "our-world"(Mahasamadhi), continues to motivate millions of people, directly or otherwise and therefore needs no introduction. Any blog on India is not complete without delving into the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, who was rightly called the "Cyclonic monk of India" or the "Patriotic Monk of India". Today being the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, it is time to fulfill my long-awaited wish of penning a post on this sage. Therefore, the next few posts (in addition to the current) shall be dedicated to Swami Vivekananda.

This sage who had not a penny in his possession, nor a "popular-name", upon repeated persuasion from his devotees in India, the Maharaja of Rameshwaram being notable among them, sailed to the USA, to attend the "Parliament of World Religions" to be held in Chicago.
Swamiji, who was stolen off all his little possessions, soon after his arrival in Chicago, was invited by the few kind-families of America, in turns, to take shelter in their homes. The organisers of the Parliament of Religions, had plans of letting only delegates with bonafide credentials to participate. Little did they know that here was an effulgent man ready to conquer the world with love. An eminent professor from the Harvard university, who, awestruck with his association with the monk, is said to have exclaimed (and written to the Chairman), "Here is a man who is more knowledgeable than all our professors put together. To ask Swami Vivekananda for credentials is no different from asking the sun, its right to shine". Thus Swamiji was entitled to participate in the World Parliament of Religions.

Initially nervous, as he had never addressed a public gathering before, he opted to be the last of the delegates to deliver his speech. In response to his starting words, "Sisters and Brothers of America", believe it or not, the crowd, over 7000 in number, responded with a full three-minute-long standing ovation with thunderous clapping. It is indeed amazing that Swamiji earned such a rapturous response, that too, having uttered less than half a dozen words. Moreover, it is a clear indication of the abilities of Swamiji. Many claim that it is merely the usage of the words "Sisters and Brothers" which made the crowd rise in joy. Little do they understand that the same words had been used extensively in the earlier part of the parliament of religions, by almost every other speaker. What then, made this crowd give the kind of the applause they did, that too for the mere 5 words uttered by this man, that all the remaining speakers put together had not earned for their complete speeches? The answer lies in the deep-love and the compassion Swamiji had for humanity. This historic event made Vivekananda a (True) Hero, overnight! The newspapers, the following day, were flooded with lines in praise of this "Orange Monk". The Newyork Times remarked thus, "Vivekananda is indeed the greatest figure in the parliament of religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish we had been in sending missionaries to this learned land." As a result of the amazingly huge number of followers that he had gained, he had to spend four years, lecturing in America.

Swamiji used to say, "The west has solved the problem of how much a person can have, and we (in India) are trying here to solve the problem of how little a man can have". Very much true indeed!. On one occassion, referring to the Christian missionaries funded by the British government, he burst forth, "Let England teach us the fine art of government, for in that art Britain is the leader of the nations, let America teach us agriculture and science and your wonderful knack of doing things, for here we sit at your feet; but let no nation presume to teach India religion, for here India shall teach the world."

Till his last breath, Swamiji tried to revive the lost glory of India. His fire-like words greatly inspired the youth of India, to plunge into the freedom struggle. No wonder, leaders like Subash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi dedicated their lives for India's freedom from the british, having been motivated by the teachings of Vivekananda. Perhaps, Swamiji's love for the country, shall never have a match, nor shall he. Upon returning from the west, he brushed the Indian soil on his head and exclaimed, "India I loved before I came away. Now the very dust of India has become holy to me, the very air is now to me holy; it is now the holy land, the place of pilgrimage, the Tirtha!".


Swamiji had immense love and respect for his Guru, Shree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He describes his Guru, in a discussion with Shree Yogananda thus, "Thousands of Vivekananda's may spring forth through one gracious glance of his (Shree Ramakrishna's) eyes". Indeed, it is harder to even estimate the greatness of this holy master, who was totally responsible for blessing this world with Vivekananda.

Lord Shree Krishna asserts in the Gita,

I come, and go, and come. When Righteousness Declines, O Bharata! when Wickedness Is strong, I rise, from age to age, and take Visible shape, and move a man with men,

(http://sacred-texts.com/hin/gita/bg04.htm)

Swami Vivekananda's life stands in support of this. India is blessed a million-times-over by the birth of Swami Vivekananda. Vivekananda's life itself is a vindication to the world, of the fact that "India is the only country which never went outside of itself to conquer" and that the contribution of India to the world shall always be, great teachers who conquer by love rather than barbarians who conquer by power.