An Indyan

Netaji's Contribution To Independence Struggle

International Netaji Center (INC) in USA aims to provide comprehensive information on the role played by Netaji in India's independence struggle from abroad.  However, before presenting information and analyses in this area, INC provides the following summary review of Netaji's activities in India that contributed substantially to India's freedom:  

Netaji played an unique   role in India's freedom struggle from within during 1921-1941 -- as chronicled below. 

During 1922-25, Netaji was a major leader in the Congress 'Swarajya' (or self-rule) group; this group exposed the sham post-war period (1920) British offer of dyarchy or 'joint rule,' which other Indian politicians accepted or agreed  to accept.  This led to a more favorable political concession from the British in 1928-29.

During 1925-38, Netaji was the leader in Bengal Congress Party and led Bengal in working committee of the national Congress Party.  Throughout this period, he supported national  labour movement, fought internal communal forces and fully won the trust of the minority groups in India.  No other  Indian national leader achieved all these major objectives in such a short  period.

In 1930, Netaji persuaded the Congress Party in its national meeting to adopt a resolution demanding 'complete independence ‘ from the British colonial rule . On his leadership  January 26 was declared as India's Independence Day , marking this  demand.  This progressive step pre-empted then prevalent thinking in the  Congress Party that the British, on its own, would grant independence to India in due time.  It also brought back to the Party high popular support from the Indian masses . 

In 1936, Gandhiji publicly stated that he could not think of a better person than Netaji to lead the Congress party through the prevailing critical period.

In 1937 and again in 1938, Netaji was elected to lead India as the President of the Congress Party.  He was acknowledged as the spokesman of the Party and of the nation during this period, both in India and in Europe including England.  No other leaders, except Gandhiji, reached this pinnacle of eminence during 1921-41.

2.             Netaji's contemporaries accepted Netaji as a major leader of the freedom struggle.

The British rulers accepted with serious concern  Netaji as the most dynamic and influential  political leader in all sections and religious groups of the Indian population. This realization induced them to keep  him in prison for prolonged  than any other leader during 1921-41. 

The British imprisoned  Netaji to unhealthy and notorious  prisons , inside and outside of India, even when his health was poor;  and no other Indian politicians received this harsh treatment during 1921-41 , since the British considered him as the number one enemy of the colonial interest in India and to its foundation throughout the world.

The British understood that Netaji's ideas always inspired young idealists to fight stronger  for freedom; thus, they considered Netaji as the most fearsome adversary.

Political leaders of the largest minority group, Muslims, acknowledged and appreciated  the leading role played by Netaji in India politics.  Even Mohamed Ali Jinnah, who is acknowledged by all as the Father of Pakistan,  had so much trust and regard for Netaji that he was willing to give up his idea of a religiously divided  India , if Netaji led the nation.  Muslim leaders of India's eastern states echoed the same sentiment during the thirties.  

Netaji provided directions, time and again, to all the political groups of his time to formulate their policies toward freedom struggle.

It is Netaji who formulated the two dominant battle cries in India's freedom struggle: (a)  "complete independence (1930)," and (b) "quit India (1938-42)."