Explained: Why Congress, BJP are fighting over Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose
Nehru, despite disagreeing with Gandhi on several occasions, was ultimately happy to surrender to whatever Gandhi wanted; Bose was not willing to bend.
Written by Seema Chishti | Updated: April 28, 2015 12:35 am
Here we look back at the history of the men once aligned, but who were separated by differing approaches towards fascism
When and how did Subhas Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru start working together?
Bose was eight years younger than Nehru. Both were sons of successful lawyers. Both studied in England, returned to India within a few years of each other, and were drawn independently to the national movement.
Bose was eight years younger than Nehru. Both were sons of successful lawyers. Both studied in England, returned to India within a few years of each other, and were drawn independently to the national movement.
They first worked together in 1928. Nehru was opposed to limiting the Congress’s demand to ‘dominion status’ — which the Nehru Report, authored by his father Motilal, asked for. Bose shared Nehru’s call for a democratic, socialist India. They were drawn together on the side of the radical, left-of-mainstream opinion in the Congress at the time.
How did the personality and influence of Gandhi unite or divide the two?
Gandhi saw Nehru as his chosen one, but it is not as though he did not recognise Bose’s strengths. He could not trust Bose entirely, however, seeing him as a difficult person, whose views were not fully in consonance with non-violence. Nehru, despite disagreeing with Gandhi on several occasions, was ultimately happy to surrender to whatever Gandhi wanted; Bose was not willing to bend. As he stood up to Gandhi, he often found himself the outsider in the freedom struggle.
Gandhi saw Nehru as his chosen one, but it is not as though he did not recognise Bose’s strengths. He could not trust Bose entirely, however, seeing him as a difficult person, whose views were not fully in consonance with non-violence. Nehru, despite disagreeing with Gandhi on several occasions, was ultimately happy to surrender to whatever Gandhi wanted; Bose was not willing to bend. As he stood up to Gandhi, he often found himself the outsider in the freedom struggle.
What drove the decisive wedge between Nehru and Bose?
It was, according to scholar Rudrangshu Mukherjee (Nehru and Bose, Parallel Lives), fascism — and its potential role in helping win freedom for India. Bose believed there was nothing wrong in getting the backing of Nazi Germany or Japan, for the task was to uproot the British at any cost. Nehru reached the opposite conclusion — that fascism was to be rejected as much as imperialism. Nehru was sceptical about the Indian National Army, even though he argued in court for the INA after Bose’s disappearance.
It was, according to scholar Rudrangshu Mukherjee (Nehru and Bose, Parallel Lives), fascism — and its potential role in helping win freedom for India. Bose believed there was nothing wrong in getting the backing of Nazi Germany or Japan, for the task was to uproot the British at any cost. Nehru reached the opposite conclusion — that fascism was to be rejected as much as imperialism. Nehru was sceptical about the Indian National Army, even though he argued in court for the INA after Bose’s disappearance.
What happened in the final years before Bose’s escape from India?
Bose became president of the Congress at its Haripura session in 1938. He enunciated the path of active (not passive) resistance, re-commitment to non-violence and industrialisation, and socialism, echoing Nehru during his presidency (1936-37). However, when Bose was president, Nehru was travelling in Europe, becoming even more committed to an anti-fascist worldview. He even met British leader Clement Attlee to discuss a smooth transfer of power, while in India, Bose worked towards full independence.
Bose became president of the Congress at its Haripura session in 1938. He enunciated the path of active (not passive) resistance, re-commitment to non-violence and industrialisation, and socialism, echoing Nehru during his presidency (1936-37). However, when Bose was president, Nehru was travelling in Europe, becoming even more committed to an anti-fascist worldview. He even met British leader Clement Attlee to discuss a smooth transfer of power, while in India, Bose worked towards full independence.
After the 1937 election, Bose wanted to form a coalition government with the Krishak Praja Party and Scheduled Castes in Bengal. Gandhi said no, and wanted Maulana Azad to contest against him for the Congress presidency. Azad didn’t agree, neither did Nehru. The Congress Congress Working Committee backed Gandhi’s next choice, Pattabhi Sitaramayya. After Bose won convincingly, Gandhi said Pattabhi’s defeat was “more mine than his”. The Congress Working Committee resigned, and so did Nehru.
At Tripuri in March 1939, G B Pant moved a resolution asking Bose to appoint a Working Committee in line with Gandhi’s ideas. Bose wrote his famous 27-page letter to Nehru, expressing disappointment over how Nehru had turned against him. Bose’s talks with Gandhi failed, and he resigned. Rajendra Prasad became Congress president.
How were Bose’s relations with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
According to Mukherjee, Bose was very close to Patel’s older brother Vitthalbhai, and had nursed him in his last days in Vienna in 1933. Vitthalbhai willed him 3/4ths of his estate. Sardar Patel claimed the will was forged, took Bose to court, and won. Patel wasn’t enamoured of Bose, was ideologically opposed to his socialist stance, and called him a president “who did not know his own job”.
According to Mukherjee, Bose was very close to Patel’s older brother Vitthalbhai, and had nursed him in his last days in Vienna in 1933. Vitthalbhai willed him 3/4ths of his estate. Sardar Patel claimed the will was forged, took Bose to court, and won. Patel wasn’t enamoured of Bose, was ideologically opposed to his socialist stance, and called him a president “who did not know his own job”.
When did Bose’s death become a mystery?
Anuj Dhar (India’s Biggest Cover-Up) writes that on August 29, 1945, Americanjournalist Alfred Wagg “rudely interrupted” a press conference by Nehru to claim that Bose had been sighted in Saigon four days earlier. Dhar maintains that Gandhi encouraged the mystery — constantly saying during 1945-46 that he believed Bose was alive. Bose’s elder brother Sarat Bose said he was hopeful that Bose “is alive”.
Anuj Dhar (India’s Biggest Cover-Up) writes that on August 29, 1945, Americanjournalist Alfred Wagg “rudely interrupted” a press conference by Nehru to claim that Bose had been sighted in Saigon four days earlier. Dhar maintains that Gandhi encouraged the mystery — constantly saying during 1945-46 that he believed Bose was alive. Bose’s elder brother Sarat Bose said he was hopeful that Bose “is alive”.
First Published on: April 28, 201512:25 am
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