Netaji: Collected Works

by Subhas Chandra Bose, Sugata Bose, Sisir Kumar Bose

This volume brings together the letters, writings and speeches from a fascinating period of mostly enforced European exile in the career of Subhas Chandra Bose. A wide array of topics are explored - imperialism, facism, communism, psychology, philosophy, spirituality, urban planning, travel,
Gandhi, Ireland, love and more.

470 pages, Hardcover

First published March 16, 1995

About the author

Subhas Chandra Bose (23 January 1897 – 18 August 1945) was a left-wing Indian nationalist of Congress whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in India, but whose attempt during World War II to rid India of British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan left a troubled legacy although he was liberal, anti-racist and supported women's emancipation.

Since 1940 he lived in Italy passing for Italian under the name of Orlando Mazzotta and had meetings with Benito Mussolini before went to Nazi Germany where he met his future wife, Emilie Schenkl and receive the honorific Netaji (Hindustani: "Respected Leader"), Bose first expressed his preference for "a synthesis of what modern Europe calls socialism and fascism" in a 1930 speech in Calcutta. Bose later criticized Nehru's 1933 statement that there is "no middle road" between communism and fascism, describing it as "fundamentally wrong." and suggested a "synthesis between communism and fascism" could take hold instead. In 1944, Bose similarly stated, "Our philosophy should be a synthesis between National Socialism and communism."

Bose's correspondence (prior to 1939) reflects his deep disapproval of the racist practices of, and annulment of democratic institutions in Nazi Germany: "Today I regret that I have to return to India with the conviction that the new nationalism of Germany is not only narrow and selfish but arrogant." as he was hoping that racist ideologies of Italy and Germany were only in anti-american and anti-british function and were not real. However, he expressed admiration for the authoritarian methods which he saw in Italy and Germany during the 1930s, and thought they could be used in building an independent India.

With the Nazi and then the Japanese support, Bose created and army for an axis' invasion of India but the war made gradually this plan untenable. Bose later chose not to surrender with his forces or with the Japanese, but rather to escape to Manchuria with a view to seeking a future in the Soviet Union which he believed to be turning anti-British trying to get support by Stalin. He died from third-degree burns received when his plane crashed in Taiwan. Some Indians, however, did not believe that the crash had occurred, with many among them, especially in Bengal, believing that Bose would return to gain India's independence.

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, although idiosincratic, with fascism.

Reviews

[Aryan Prasad · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the works in the volume were written is a period when Netaji was exiled from India (expect a brief period when he returned for his father's last rites and was but in jail for violating the terms of exile.) The period is before breaking out of first world war and when Nazi Germany was trying to court UK for an alliance and a few years before WWII would break out.

At first I thought I would skim through the letters and read only the articles and speeches in detail for the letters wouldn't be of much interest. However after reading a few of them, I ended up reading all of them. This volume is aptly titled 'India's Spokesman Abroad' for Netaji was ever looking for friendly press to write an article or two in and for British Propaganda that needed to be refuted. He took on himself to to meet anyone and everyone who could be of help to India from local city govt employees to head of states.

The edition also brings out not much talked about facets of his personality, his interest in architecture, Religion, Psychology, Public Works et cetra. His analysis of then current international politics is also vary mature and on varied topics (I think these have been much understudied and needs to be researched more on.) His analysis is mostly from an impassionate realist's point of view but it does not stop him from passing criticism where it is due (like he calls Japan the Britishers of Far East and says while we must admire Japan in a lot of areas, our heart must be with the Chinese people in their struggle agsint Japanese imperialism and his criticism of Racial polies of Nazis.) He also comments a lot on economy and composition of trade.

One thing I noticed is that he was very much disappointed by Delhi/Gandhi–Irwin Pact and calling off of Civil disobedience movement. He also seem to use a lot of references to military history and strategy even in purely civilian matters.