“Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Azaadi Dunga” (You give me blood, I’ll give you freedom)
Subash Chandra Bose
One of the true freedom fighters who sacrificed himself and did more than what we could expect from any person to see his motherland free of slavery and injustice. The freedom without him would have been even more difficult. Here, we’ll be looking at some of Books by Subhas Chandra Bose that every person should know about to invoke a sense of nationalism.
I have studied Indian Politics and Indian History in quite a detail. Being the proud Indian I am, I was very touched to see Netaji Bose’s enthusiasm and greed for independence. He raised the first Indian National Army, the Azad Hind Fauj, to fight bravely against Britishers. However short-lived his fauj might have been, it is believed to be one of the most significant steps that left an impact that independence is not much far away. He was rightly awarded the title ‘Tiger of Bengal’.
Subhas Chandra Bose ‘Netaji’ was an Indian politician and freedom struggler. He played one of the greatest roles in leading India towards its gradual independence from British rule. He was a great writer and public speaker too. Many of his letters, speeches, and other noticeable works have been preserved and compiled into several books by scholars here and there. As a result of his significant defiance of colonization, we live in a free and independent India.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was indeed an inspiration and so are his works, speeches, and letters. His words touched my heart, and some even managed to bring tears into my eyes. So, without wasting any more time, let’s look at those books.
9 Books Written by The Great Subhas Chandra Bose
Not just Indian but foreigners, even Britishers, admired and praised the nationalism of our Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Let’s look at a few of his works that will give you goosebumps.
1. An Indian Pilgrim
Full Title: An Indian Pilgrim
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Autobiography
Publishing date: 2013
Description:
This book, written during his Europe trip towards ending 1937, traces Bose’s life story from birth until he resigned from the Indian Civil Service. It demonstrates his ideological growth. It mentioned how meeting Swami Vivekananda changed a lot of things for him. He was a middle teenager when he met him and how that meeting brought about a revolution in his then young mind.
It recollects the spirit and stories of sacrifice, zeal, and service towards the nation. When this book was written, an Indian pilgrim traced Bose’s life journey, hence the title.
2. Dreams of a Youth
Full Title: Dreams of a Youth
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Polity
Publishing date: 1928
Description:
This book is a collection of some of Bose’s letters and articles, which appeared from time to time in various periodicals. Though this compilation was done by Netaji himself, he couldn’t collect all his letters, articles, and speeches, scattered in bits over many periodicals, in one single book, but what is present is worth reading. He even wished to make more compilations if this one was found to have a high demand.
Titled originally ‘Taruner Swapna’ (Dreams of a Youth), this compilation aimed to make Indian youth acquainted with the ideals that once inspired the Indian heroes.
3. Letters to Emilie Schenkl, 1934-1942
Full Title: Letters to Emilie Schenkl, 1934-1942
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Political
Publishing date: 1994
Description:
Apart from belonging to an exceptionally wealthy family, being excellent at studies, and having greed for freedom, there’s another aspect of his life that not many people know. His love life between him and his Australian wife, Emilie Schenkl.
This book is a compilation of 162 letters between the two. Of course, Netaji Bose wrote these letters, but he wasn’t the one to compile them. This compilation was done with the help of Netaji’s family, which he left behind.
This book lets the readers explore another one of his personality and another less talked about aspect of his life.
4. Azad Hind
Full Title: Azad Hind: Writings and Speeches, 1941-1943
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: History
Publishing date: 2004
Description:
So this one has a little story behind it. On the night of 16th-17th January 1941, Netaji secretly left his Elgin Road in Calcutta along with his nephew, Sisir. They drove up to Gomoh railway junction, Bihar.
But before they left, Netaji Bose wrote a few letters which were post-dated and were to be mailed by Sisir when he returned to Calcutta. This would give the British the false impression that Bose was still at home and wouldn’t come lurking around, looking for him.
This book opens up with one such letter and ends with a heartwarming letter written by him to his elder brother while his journey from Europe to Asia, asking him to take care of his wife and daughter.
5. On to Delhi
Full Title: On To Delhi: Enthralling Speeches Of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Indian politics
Publishing date: 1946
Description:
One of the most famous slogans given by Subhas Chandra Bose is “Delhi Chlo” Or, as translated in English ‘, on to Delhi’, the title of this book. This dialogue holds its significance for motivating the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) in 1944 during a military campaign against Burma. This book holds accounts of incidents of that period from Netaji bose’s perspective.
6. A Beacon Across Asia
Full Title: A Beacon Across Asia
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Biography
Publishing date: 1996
Description:
This work of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is a trilingual biography. This one, in particular, is the English edition, while the other two are German and Japanese. This is a biographical work that aims at placing Bose in a correct perspective historically, keeping in mind his revolutionary activities which were publicized quite a bit.
It also aims to provide and broken-down analysis of a man as complex as him, who was even misunderstood by his allies.
7. Ideas of a Nation
Full Title: Ideas of a Nation
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Politics
Publishing date: 2010
Description:
This book perceives Indian independence from Netaji’s perspective, which isn’t often done. Compiling some of his articles and speeches, this book conveys that Netaji’s idea and way of gaining independence didn’t match with others. He believed that Gandhi’s policy of non-violence would never be sufficient to secure complete independence and even advocated violent resistance.
He even established a separate political party, the All India Forward Bloc, and continued to call for immediate independence from Britishers.
8. The Indian Struggle
Full Title: The Indian Struggle, 1920-1942
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Indian History
Publishing date: 1948
Description:
This book has been divided into two parts by Netaji himself. One part covers Indian history from 1920 to 1934, and the other one ranges from 1934 to 1942. The colonial government banned this book in India, so it was published officially in India only after independence in 1948.
This book analyses some of the struggle movements of the country, from Non-cooperation to the Khilafat movement to the early Quit India Movement and Azad Hind Movement but from a different perspective, that is, Subhas Chandra Bose’s perspective.
9. Jaruri Kichu Lekhā
Full Title: Jaruri Kichu Lekhā
Author: Subhas Chandra Bose
Genre: Politics
Publishing date: 1977
Description:
This book is in the Bengali language, which translates to English as “Writing something urgent”. As the name, there are some essential and urgent articles, letters, and writings that he wrote as a nationalist leader during the nation’s freedom struggle and was eager to bring to public notice.
This one, unlike many others, has been written in his regional language, that is Bengali, despite him being exceptionally educated and well in English which shows his love and attachment towards his homeland and nation.
Conclusion
These were some of the books that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose wrote and compiled for the world to read. He has set an excellent example of being a true nationalist, a spirit that should exist not just inside Indians but every person in their country.
I would highly recommend all of you, whether Indian or not, to try and read at least a few of them.
Apart from this, I have much more for you to dig into:
