Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti 2023: Inspiring quotes by Netaji ahead of birth anniversary

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Odisha’s Cuttack and his birthday is being commemorated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ (day of valour) since last year. Bose was in Germany in the year 1942 when he got the title ‘Netaji’, which means “Respected Leader”, by the Indian soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj or the Indian National Army and by the German and Indian officials in the Special Bureau for India in Berlin.

In 1923, Bose became the President of the All India Youth Congress and also the Secretary of Bengal State Congress and was considered a vigilant and charismatic youth icon. Bose was arrested on numerous occassion, and deported to Burma, now Myanmar in 1925 as he was suspected of having links with secret revolutionary movements.

Bose took charge as the elected President of Congress in 1938, and stood for unqualified Swaraj (self-governance) and the use of force against the British which then opposed Mahatma Gandhi views.

Bose soon stepped down from the presidency and formed the All India Forward Bloc, a faction within the Indian National Congress and aimed at consolidating the political left but was arrested again, and released following a seven-day hunger strike but Bose’s house in Calcutta was kept under surveillance.

In 1941, during his house arrest, Bose made a plan of his escape to Nazi Germany via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. He is said to have died from third-degree burns when his plane crashed in Taiwan on August 18, 1945 however, there was a theory according to which some people did not believe that the crash had taken place and felt that Bose would return.

Ahead of Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti, here are some inspiring quotes by the freedom fighter:

1. “It is blood alone that can pay the price of freedom. Give me blood and I will give you freedom!”

2. “One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives.”

3. “I am not at all afraid of the uncertainty of life.”

4. “The future is still in my hands.”

5. “A true soldier needs both military and spiritual training.”

6. “Men, money and materials cannot by themselves bring victory or freedom. We must have the motive-power that will inspire us to brave deeds and heroic exploits.”

7. “No real change in history has ever been achieved by discussions.”

8. “Soldiers who always remain faithful to their nation, who are always prepared to sacrifice their lives, are invincible.”

9. “Nationalism is inspired by the highest ideals of the human race, Satyam [the truth], Shivam [the God], Sundaram [the beautiful].”

10. “Freedom is not given, it is taken.”

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