Jan 23, 2022 , Netaji’s views and socio-political visions …..
This article is contributed by Mr. Sugato Roy..
Netaji’s views and socio-political visions …..
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose as the President of The Indian National Congress, as the Supreme Commander of The INA, and as the Mayor and CEO of the Calcutta Corporation left an exemplary and dazzling mark in all his policies, tasks, implementation of the activities and last but not the least, strategies and the power to think miles ahead of his time. Netaji was deeply influenced by his parents, Beni Madhab Das, his principal at Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Rishi Aurobindo Ghosh, Garibaldi, Mazzini, DeValera and Kemal Pasha. As an exceptional socio-political thinker, he will be remembered for generations to come.
Let us consider some of the important visions he had for his dearest Motherland.
Religion – Netaji had a spiritual frame of mind and was influenced by his parents in this regard. He was also inspired deeply by the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda. He used to carry a small copy of Gita always even while he was in the INA uniform. While in Singapore he used to visit the Ramakrishna Mission there late at night and used to practice meditation. Even while taking the oath as the Head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind or as the commander of the INA Forces, he took the oath in the name of God. Nevertheless, he was a staunch secularist to the core and had an impartial view of all religions. INA had officers as well as soldiers from all religions and one of his most trusted lieutenants was none other than Shahnawaz Khan. Maintenance of communal harmony was of top-most importance in the echelons of INA. Netaji was also very much against the caste system and its implementation.
Role of women in society – Netaji always believed that women in our society should be given their due respect and recognition. He always believed that women must be liberated from all the chains of an oppressed society and he used to refer to the great deeds of Gargi, Maitree, Khonaa and Lilabatee. Basanti Devi, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan’s wife and his sister in law, Bibhabati Debi had an enormous influence on his views on women and their emancipation. Women emancipation was topmost on his agenda and he favoured widow remarriage, abolition of the Purdah system, removing the obstacles on women illiteracy and their all-round improvement and education. Netaji stressed the need for physical and vocational education for women. He created the Rani Jhansi Vahini in the INA which was an integral and a vital part of the Azad Hind troops and was headed by Laxmi Saigal.
Economic vision – As the President of the 51st session of the Congress at Haripura in 1938, Netaji stressed the need for national planning for Independent India as he felt that rapid industrialisation and reconstruction will be the need of the hour. A Planning Committee was set up in that session under the chairmanship of Pandit Nehru. Netaji could also foresee that the new India free from the shackles of British rule would need more equality, liberty, social, economic and political freedom. His view was of a socialistic pattern of society with the abolition of the zamindari system and more concerted efforts on both agriculture and rapid industrialisation. Eradication of abject poverty, unemployment, food shortage and abysmally low standard of living were the main hindrances. He envisaged that on one hand large and heavy scale industries would also be required and on the other hand growth of cottage industry will be of utmost importance. Netaji’s role model country at that time was the Soviet Union.
Vision on education – On the question of education, Netaji relied on and believed in the vision of his spiritual mentor Swami Vivekananda that education is crucial and necessary for self-discipline and character building. Netaji believed in universal education and mass primary education for all so that the basic criteria of education is fulfilled at the grass-root level. He also believed in the kindergarten system of education and proper training for the teaching staff.
SUGATO ROY
GRADUATE FROM ST XAVIER’S COLLEGE AND POST GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA, SPECIALISING IN MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF 24 YEARS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING INDUSTRY. HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY MANAGEMENT.