Article: Netaji Subhas and Press in India

 

Netaji Subhas and Press in India

Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee

Like most of the prominent freedom fighters in India Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was also actively involved in writing in newspapers and publication of newspapers. In his life time Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was editor of three newspapers. In 1921 as he was working under the    mentorship of         Deshbandhu Chita Ranjan Das , he became editor of  Forward’, a newspaper started by Deshbandhu.  In 1923 Subhas Bose was  elected  as the President of All India Youth Congress and also the Secretary of  Bengal State Congress. In this year he also started  his own newspaper ‘Swaraj’. He also took charge of  publicity of the  Bengal Provincial  Congress  Committee.

Swaraj did not last long as Bose arrested  in 1925 in a round up of nationalist and sent  to prison in Mandalay, present day Myanmar.  After release from the prison he devoted himself with renewed vigour to the freedom struggle. By 1938 he became a force to reckon with within Congress. He stood for unqualified Swaraj (self-governance), including the use of force against the British. This meant a confrontation with Mohandas Gandhi, who in fact opposed Bose's presidency. However, Subhas won the election and  became the president of the Indian National Congress. But circumstances compelled him to resign from the presidency. He formed a political party- Forward Bloc in 3 May 1939 as a faction of Congress. It was announced to the public at a rally in Calcutta (present day Kolkata).

In August 1939, Bose began publishing a newspaper titled Forward Bloc to propagate his ideology and the vision of the newly formed party.

On 21^st October, 1943, at the Cathay Theater in Singapore, Netaji proclaimed the establishment of the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (The Provisional Government of Free India) and, three days later, declared war on the British Empire and the USA. He had planned its flag, army’s insignia, anthem, bank, official language and the cabinet. The official newspaper, named the ‘Azad Hind’, was published in Hindustani, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil and English.

Netaji in Indian Press

In Indian press, Netaji was treated like a hero. His life and fight against  the British especially the armed struggle through INA had been widely covered by the newspaper in India often to the  ire to the British  administration. It almost became a folklore and a rallying point of protest against the British rule.

Benaras based nationalist Hindi daily Aaj under the editorship of Baburao Vishnu Paradkar published an issue on Ajad Hind Fauj (INA) and devoted it to the soldiers “who were fighting for Indian independence in foreign land” Aaj  published a series of reports on the proceeds of the court case  against INA soldiers.

Abhudaya under the editorship of Padmakant Malviya published as many as five issues on INA. The slogan “live like a lion or die” was highlighted on its front page as  its motto which reflects the commitment of the paper  towards Netaji. It published revolutionary articles and poems in  its issue dated 14 January 1947.  The editorial titled “The Pole Stars of Ajad Hind! said “today we welcome you on occasion of new year with new hope. Cosmic luck has placed you  in the same place at Red Fort where Bahadurshahi  flag of revolt of 1857 was raised . We want  brave commander- in- chief. Today you blow the  same war trumpet  that we are not begging for Ajadi, we don’t believe in shameless agreement, we don’t believe in lowering our heads.  We are soldiers of Azadi & our aim is to die fighting. In  the same issue a poem  titled  ‘To soldier of Ajad Hind’ was published with a theme that  bravery is always immortal.

Aaj reminded  the British  of the core concept of patriotism through its editorial titled ‘Jai Hind’: “Sir Morish and rest of the British  who were demeaning the leaders and soldiers of INA and are  calling them traitors should again read history and then view  - who really they are (12 November 1945).

Weekly newspaper  Sansar published on 25 October 1945 in its editorial titled “ On the face of volcano “ wrote that  every Indian child was proud of the soldiers of INA.   “We wish to warn you. The time for oppression and atrocities has passed. Still  if you use this way then not one  but several Ajad Hind Sena will emerge”. The paper had  Netaji Subash Chandra Bose in military attire along with the slogan Jai Hind and  Delhi Chalo on the  cover page of  the special issue. The British Government warned Sansar that it should show restraint in future issues. It also punished the paper by confiscating a bail of Rs.6,000/-

During this time many newspapers and periodicals  i.e. Adhikar, Barat, Sainik Sandesh, Lokmat , Pratap Bartaman from big and small towns in North India published special issues on INA and its leader Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.

Netaji received adulation, respect, reverence and idolization from newspapers in India across the country, despite his tiff with Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru and his seeking help from Axis power to fight the British for freedom of India. His popularity soared as INA marched towards India. The tragic defeat of INA and Netaji’s mysterious disappearance- made him the protagonist of a folklore, whose appeal would never fade. 

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