This piece (< https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/past-forward-why-subhas-chandra-bose-called-gandhi-father-of-our-nation-5619187.html>) appears to be quite exhaustive in its treatment of the tangled and intense relationship between Gandhi and Bose (up to early '32). They were, all at the same time, close comrades and, in a way, irreconcilable rivals too.
In fact, Bose was the only (somewhat) credible challenger to Gandhi and his leadership from within the camp of "Indian nationalism" - keenly embracing a wide array of diversities to represent Indians of all hues and promoting such multi-hued composite nationhood, as opposed to exclusivist "Muslim" or "Hindu" nationalism or, for that matter, the camp concerned exclusively with the self-assertion and liberation of the oppressed castes. Jinnah would, of course, emerge as the principal challenger to Gandhi after agreeing to join the excluvist Muslim League as its leader. Savarkar - his Hindu counterpart, would remain just a puny figure. *This piece, obviously, is designed to focus on the substantial and substantive differences between Bose and Gandhi, not on their undying and unshakable common commitment to the ideal of "composite nationalism", in the teeth of all odds - stupendous at times. While Gandhi went about it in his somewhat understated and yet utterly determined manner - arguably best captured in his barefoot Noakhali march exhibiting incredible physical and moral courage, Bose was, arguably, even fiercer about it*. *It's this common ground, and the fierce commitment, that made Bose anoint Gandhi - the one who had virtually pushed him out of the Congress, as the Father of the (Emerging Indian) Nation - at an extremely critical moment of his life.* *Bose could have not entertained any illusion as regards the military capability of the Army that he was leading - despite its enormous determination and dedication. He had obviously banked on the prospect of India rising in great revolt under the impact of the Azad Hind Fauj arriving at its doorstep.* *It's with that prospect in mind he was too keen to demonstrate that he shared very much the same page with Gandhi - the supreme leader of the Indian masses fighting for independence. * *Hence the anointment at that point of time.* <<Nobody would be more happy than ourselves, if by any chance our countrymen at home should succeed in liberating themselves through their own efforts, or if by any chance the British Government accepts your ‘Quit India' Resolution and gives effect to it. We are, however, proceeding on the assumption that neither of the above is possible and that an armed struggle is inevitable. India’s last war of independence has begun. Troops of the Azad Hind Fauj are now fighting bravely on the soil of India, and in spite of all difficulty and hardship they are pushing forward slowly but steadily. This armed struggle will go on until the Britisher is thrown out of India and until our Tricolour National Flag proudly floats over the Viceroy’s House in New Delhi. Father of our Nation! In this holy war of India’s liberation, we ask for your blessings and good wishes.>> (Excerpted from 'MESSAGE TO GANDHIJI', Broadcast from Azad Hind Radio, July 6, 1944, p. 216-18, at < https://archive.org/stream/selectedspeeches00subh/selectedspeeches00subh_djvu.txt >.) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/greenyouth/CACEsOZiPaq24ec3vbzXMfPnkKjzgFK%3Dm5PdeG4aP3R4BuWxR-Q%40mail.gmail.com.
