Shyama Prasad Mukherjee 'ignored': Why India's rulers try to appropriate Netaji legacy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*
“Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose would have been truly proud of India and its military might”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a programme organised to commemorate his 125th birth anniversary, which falls next year, 2022. But then the current regime is 'expert' in political profit and loss. Leaders acquire importance in accordance with their 'public image value'.
It is indeed ironic that the Hindu right is trying to grab the legacy of Netaji and his Azad Hind Fauj, whose composition reflects how he was proud of India's multicultural, multiethnic heritage. Yet, the right-wing is glorifying him without reading and understanding his work and ideas. This is how the Brahminical elite seeks to appropriate every icon, cleverly sidestepping progressive ideas.
The right-wing did it with Dr BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh. But somehow they failed because the ideological legacy of both of them has been very powerful and fascinating to ignore. Those who know the real contribution of these leaders have successfully rebuffed government attempt to use their name for political end.
As for Netaji, historians feet a bit shy because of his association with the German and Japanese fascists. The fact is, Netaji’s efforts to mobilise support from Germany and Japan at that time was purely for the sake of liberating India, as he felt strongly about the British exploitation of India. His differences with the Congress leadership or even communist leader MN Roy became evident when he opposed their support for the war efforts against fascists, as he felt these parties and leaders were compromising.
However, Netaji’s book 'The Indian Struggle 1920-1934’ is a great representation of his ideas about India. In this book, he asked VD Savarkar and MA Jinnah to leave their political association with the British and instead join hand with him in the struggle for independent India. However, both refused.
Even when Netaji took support from the Japanese to liberate India to counter the British power, it is important to understand his idea about India. He genuinely felt that the Congress was not speaking about the honourable release of those Indians who were incarcerating in the jail for their act of 'militancy'.
Among them, he mentioned the heroic Garhwalis (of the Garhwal Rifles fame) who did not fire upon their own fellow countrymen simply because they happened to be Muslims. It is strange that the Congress leadership, including Gandhiji, refused to speak for them.
The most interesting part of Netaji's idea of India is his insistence that all privileges, distinctions and vested interests would need to be abolished to bring social, economic and political equality. He emphasised, a free India will not be a land of capitalists, landlords and castes. Free India will be social, economic and political democracy, he said. He also spoke about depressed classes and their representation.

Hindu right is trying to grab the legacy of Netaji and his Azad Hind Fauj, whose composition reflects how he was proud of India's multicultural, multiethnic heritage

Will today’s rulers read Netaji, especially his ideological leanings, and not worship his military uniform? The problem with them is that they are against socialism and equality, and worship 'weaponisation' and 'militarism'. How would Netaji be proud when people are being divided and segmented? How would he see a community being targeted just because of its identity? How would he feel farmers committing suicide and being termed as anti-national?
Azad Hind Radio reflected India's diversity. It used to broadcast its messages in Hindi, English, Bangla, Telugu, Tamil and Pashto. Will today’s rulers stop imposing Hindi and respect diversity of different languages of India?

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

It is amusing to see Hindutva votaries seeking to grab Netaji’s image in Bengal while completely ignoring Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, one of their top ideological mentors from Bengal. Let the BJP seek vote in the name of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in Bengal and find out how much support will they get. They must know: Netaji is an icon of inclusive India and one can’t use him for divisive ideas and actions.
Indeed, Netaji’s 'Jai Hind' was the salutation for an ideal, modern India which consists of all communities, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, others. Those who speak about unilateralism can’t claim the legacy of the man who was completely modern and felt India will only be strengthened by encouraging scientific thinking, fair representation of all, including peasants, depressed classes, trade unions etc.
Netaji favoured intellectual discourse. It is time one studies and disseminates his ideological legacy among common people to understand what kind of India he wanted. This is the only way one can counter those who are trying to use him for their ulterior motives.
---
*Human rights defender

Comments

Anonymous said…

Election time in Bengal. You name it the BJP will say it as long as it helps them win elections.

January 25, 2021

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor* Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा* जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए।

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment. The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents. The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor* A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor* This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor* In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.

Search This Blog