PERSONAL INFORMATION
Other name: Subhash Chandra Bose
Names earned: • Netaji • Prince among the Patriots
Nickname: Rangakakababu [1] Telegraph India
Profession(s): Former Indian Civil Servant, Politician, Freedom Fighter, Military Leader
Famous for: • Being one of the most well-known Indian freedom fighters • Being the founder of the All India Forward Bloc • Being the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army
Famous Slogans: • “तुम मुझे खून दो मैं तुम्हें आजादी दूंगा” (Give me blood, I shall give you freedom) • “Jai Hind” • “Dilli Chalo” • “Ittefaq, Etemad, Qurbani” • “Freedom is not given, it is taken” • “It is our duty to pay for our liberty with our own blood”
Date of Birth: 23 January 1897 (Saturday)
Birthplace: Cuttack, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Odisha, India)
Age (at the time of death): 48 Years
Zodiac sign: Aquarius
Nationality: British Indian (1897-1945)
Hometown: Cuttack, Odisha
Religion: Hinduism [3] The Hindu
Caste: Kayastha
Food Habit: Non-vegetarian [4] ABP
Marriage Date: 26 December 1937
Beverage: Tea
Age: 48 Years
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EDUCATION
School: • Baptist Mission’s Protestant European School, Cuttack (now known as Stewart School) (1902–1909) • Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack (1909–1912)
College/University: • Presidency College (now known as Presidency University), Calcutta (1912 – till his suspension on 15 February 1916) • Scottish Church College, Calcutta (20 July 1917 – 1919) • Fitzwilliam Hall (now known as Fitzwilliam College), University of Cambridge, England (1919–1921)
Educational Qualification(s): • BA in Philosophy from Scottish Church • BA in Mental and Moral Sciences Tripos from Fitzwilliam Hall
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): in centimeters – 180 cm in meters – 1.80 m in feet & inches – 5’ 11”
Weight (approx.): in kilograms – 70 kg in pounds – 154 lbs
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Hair Colour: Black (semi-bald)
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status (at the time of death): Married
Affairs/Girlfriends: Emilie Schenkl (1934-1937) (Austrian stenographer, secretary, trunk exchange operator)
Wife/Spouse: Emilie Schenkl (deceased in 1996; stenographer, secretary, trunk exchange operator)
Children: Son – None Daughter – Anita Bose Pfaff (Austrian economist)
Parents: Father – Janakinath Bose (deceased in 1934; lawyer) Mother – Prabhabati Bose (deceased in 1943; social activist, politican)
Siblings: Brother(s) – 7 • Sunil Chandra Bose (1894 – 17 November 1953) (distinguished cardiologist) • Sarat Chandra Bose (6 September 1889 – 20 February 1950) (barrister, freedom fighter) • Satish Chandra Bose (1887-1948) • Suresh Chandra Bose (1891-1972) (barrister) • Sudhir Chandra Bose (1892 – 10 February 1950) • Shailesh Chandra Bose (1904-1984) • Santosh Chandra Bose (deceased) Sister(s) – 6 • Tarubala Roy • Malina Dutta • Pratibha Mitra • Kanaklata Mitra • Pramilabala Mitra • Saralabala Dey
Wife: Emilie Schenkl
OTHER INFORMATION
Political Party: • Indian National Congress (1921 – 29 April 1939) • All India Forward Bloc (3 May 1939 – 18 August 1945)
Political Journey: • President of All India National Congress (1923) • Secretary of Bengal State Congress (1923) • General secretary of the Congress (1927) • Mayor of Calcutta (1930) • Elected as the President in the Haripura Congress Session (October 1938) • Elected as the President for the second time Tripuri Congress Session (October 1939) • Resigned from the INC (29 April 1939) • Founded the All India Forward Bloc (3 May 1939)
Legacy: • Stamps of Bose issued by the Indian government (1964, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2016, 2018, 2021) • Several metro stations in different states have been named after him • Kolkata Airport renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (1995) • Featured on Rs. 2 coin (1996, 1997) • Gomoh Junction renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Gomoh Railway Station (2009) • Odisha government constructed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Setu (a 2.88 kilometer long bridge) (19 July 2017) • Featured on Rs. 75 coin (2018) • Ross Island in Andaman was renamed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island (December 2018) • Museum established by Indian government at the Red Fort (2019) • Featured on Rs. 125 coin (2021) • Birth anniversary declared as Parakram Diwas by Indian government (2021) • Kalka Mail renamed as Netaji Express (23 January 2021) • Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar constituted by the Indian government excellent work in Disaster Management (2022) • 28 feet tall statue of Netaji at India Gate established by the Union government (2022) • Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal in Odisha opened by the state government (2023)
Date of Death: 18 August 1945 (rumoured)
Place of Death: Taihoku Prefecture, Japanese-occupied Taiwan (now Taipei, Taiwan)
Death Cause: Cardiac arrest after sustaining third-degree burns due to a plane crash (unconfirmed) [2] The Indian Express
Hobbies: Reading, Writing
Other Relatives: Son-in-law – Martin Pfaff (German economist, politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, former member of the Bundestag) Nephew(s) – 2 • Amiya Nath Bose (20 November 1915 – 27 January 1996) (politician, member of the parliament) • Sisir Kumar Bose (2 February 1920 – 30 September 2000) (freedom fighter, pediatrician, politician) Grandnephew(s) – 2 • Sugata Bose (historian, politician, teacher, author of His Majesty’s Opponent) • Chandra Kumar Bose (politician) Grandniece – Madhuri Bose (author) Maternal Grandson(s) – 2 • Amit Mitra (economist, politician, Special Advisor to Chief Minister of West Bengal on Finance) (maternal grandson of Netaji’s elder brother Suresh Chandra Bose) • Peter Arun Pfaff (journalist, documentary filmmaker, theatre artist) (son of Bose’s daughter)
Food Joint: Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons, Calcutta
Cuisine: Bengali
Sweet: Sandesh, Rasgulla, Chamcham
Food: Daal-Bhaat (Dal and rice), Poori, Curd
Sea Food: Fish
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Subhas Chandra Bose, one of India’s most revered freedom fighters, was born into a prominent and affluent family in Cuttack, Odisha, specifically in the illustrious Janakinath Bhawan. As the ninth child among fourteen siblings, Bose’s early environment was rich in tradition and aspirations. This ancestral home, where he spent his formative years, was later transformed into a museum by the Government of India to honor his legacy following the country’s independence, preserving the essence of his childhood and the early influences that shaped his character.
Bose’s educational journey began in 1902 when his father enrolled him and his brothers in the Protestant European School run by the Baptist Mission in Cuttack. The school’s British syllabus aimed at providing better employment opportunities in colonial India, starkly contrasting with Bose’s growing fascination for his cultural roots. While his peers engaged in sports, he found solace in gardening, demonstrating an early inclination for introspection. His passion for Hindu traditions blossomed during his time at Ravenshaw Collegiate School, where he delved into Sanskrit and absorbed the spiritual teachings of figures like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. This academic journey culminated in Bose securing the second position in his 10th grade exams, which paved the way for scholarships during his 11th and 12th grades.
Bose’s trajectory took a significant turn when he enrolled at Presidency College in Calcutta, where he encountered renowned freedom fighter Hemanta Kumar Sarkar. Their friendship led them to travel to North India in 1914, seeking spiritual enlightenment without their parents’ consent. Upon his return, Bose faced disappointment from his father, creating a rift that would later be reconciled. However, his fiery spirit led to a tumultuous episode in 1916 when he was expelled from Presidency College after confronting a professor over racist remarks, resulting in a ban from the University of Calcutta. Though his father attempted to leverage their family’s prominence to reverse the decision, it was ultimately unsuccessful. Nonetheless, in 1917, Bose was permitted to continue his studies at Scottish Church College, where he graduated with honors, placing second in Philosophy at the University of Calcutta before pursuing further education at Cambridge University on a scholarship.
While at Cambridge in 1919, Bose’s intellectual fervor was ignited by his disdain for Western scholars who belittled Indian heritage. His aspirations shifted in 1920 when he attempted the Indian Civil Services Examination, initially failing but subsequently passing on his second attempt in 1921, ranking fourth. Disillusioned with the prospect of serving the British government, he resigned shortly thereafter, seeking a path that aligned with his burgeoning nationalist ideals. Returning to India, he was introduced to the Indian National Congress (INC) by his friend Chittaranjan Das. Over the next few years, Bose emerged as a dynamic figure in the independence movement. In 1922, he launched the newspaper ‘Swaraj’ to amplify the voices of the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee and became known for his strong advocacy through various mediums, including his role as the editor of the newspaper ‘Forward.’
Bose’s leadership qualities became evident when he served as the CEO of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation in 1924 and later led protests against the British Raj. His imprisonment in Mandalay in 1925 due to alleged political activities left a mark on his health, leading to tuberculosis, and he was released in 1927 following deteriorating health conditions. In 1928, he announced the formation of the Bengal Volunteers Corps, garnering both support and criticism from within the INC, including Mahatma Gandhi. Despite the opposition, Bose’s unwavering commitment to Indian independence remained resolute. He was deeply committed to advocating for socialism as part of India’s future political landscape, believing that a balance between ideologies would benefit the nation. His radical vision for India led to tensions with established leaders, ultimately resulting in his resignation from the INC in 1939 amid ideological conflicts, forming the All India Forward Bloc soon after.
As Bose maneuvered through various geopolitical landscapes during World War II, he sought alliances that he believed would lead to India’s liberation, even if that meant collaborating with questionable regimes. His travels to Europe, meetings with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and the establishment of the Azad Hind Radio to spread his message exemplified his relentless pursuit of freedom. Nonetheless, the INA’s eventual retreat and struggles against British forces led to a tragic decline in morale among Indian troops. The last chapters of Bose’s life remain shrouded in mystery, especially surrounding the circumstances of his death in 1945. While official accounts suggest he perished in a plane crash, various theories—including the possibility of him surviving and living incognito—continue to provoke intrigue and debate among historians and biographers. The legacy of Subhas Chandra Bose endures, inspiring generations to reflect on the complexities of patriotism, sacrifice, and the relentless quest for justice and
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.