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In the majestic company of Subhas Bose
G. Hanumaiah narrates a few stirring moments with Netaji to Sumit
Bhattacharjee
The recent movie by Shyam Benegal, 'Bose - the Forgotten Hero',
brought to life many moments pertaining to the Indian freedom
struggle. It is always a refreshing fair to be transported to that
era at times when leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose, M.K. Gandhi and
Jawaharlal Nehru walked on earth.
Here is a vivid description of an Andhra, then in his teens, who
happened to have had a few close encounters with leaders like
Netaji, Gandhiji and Rajaji.
I was a student in Madras when Bose visited the city after resigning
from the Congress. Subhasbabu was isolated by the party after his
resignation and none of the Congress leaders and workers, including
Rajaji, had gone to receive him at Madras Central Station. Learning
of his visit and being a diehard fan of Netaji, I herded over 40
students from my college to the station. Seeing a batch of young
students the great leader was thoroughly impressed and we could see
tears welling up in his eyes. He simply said: "That's young India."
After garlanding him we made him sit on an open car and moved in a
procession through Ripon Building and Mount Road. When we neared
Royapettah junction, ten horse-mounted policemen came charging at us
and without any provocation rained lathis on us. The student behind
Netaji, who was holding the flag, was felled by a blow on his head.
Seeing this I took up the flag and started shouting slogans. I was
also not spared and hit on the head. Seeing me injured Netaji jumped
to the back seat and took the flag from my hand and told the English
policemen to stop. Instantly the lathicharge stopped and the police
left. We slowly re-grouped and proceeded towards the house on
Royapettah High Road where he was to be lodged.
After alighting the car Netaji asked me to take some first-aid and
made me promise to come to his meeting on Marina Beach in the
evening. Though he was in a pensive mood, there was a radiant smile
on his face that motivated us despite the incident. In the evening I
attended his meeting where a huge crowd had gathered to listen to
his oration. He blasted the Congress for siding with the British
Government to help them in World War II. After the meeting he called
me aside, placed his hand on my shoulders and enquired about the
wound. I was floored by his radiant personality and could visualise
the fire in him.
Subhasbabu returned to Madras on January 12, 1940. This time except
for me and his advocate friend, Menon, there was none to greet him.
After a day's stay he left Madras for the last time, as he embarked
on his historic journey to Germany and Japan to form the Azad Hind
Fauj, but destiny did not give him the opportunity to return to his
motherland later. I still remember the words he spoke to me that day
when I had come to see him off. His face was glowing like a sage in
deep penance but yet he was conscious. He was visibly upset when I
asked him to compromise and rejoin the Congress. "No way! I have
high regards for the Mahatma but I am totally unhappy with the
working of the Congress. The British best understand the physics of
force and I am going to give them a taste of it and there is no
compromise on it."
When I asked about the country's future, he said: "This country has
got a great future. We are too high a race to be subdued by some
Englishmen. It is only a temporary phase. Do not worry, the time has
come to shun the British out of India by force. Get prepared!"
At that time I did not understand what he meant by saying 'get
prepared', and casually asked him for an autograph, he smiled and
said: "I am not a celebrity." When I insisted he ripped a paper from
his notebook and signed on it. We were so engrossed in the
discussion that none of us noticed that the train had started. Soon
Netaji realised that we were stuck, and insisted on pulling the
chain. But I decided to get down at the next station. That was the
last time I had met him, but I still cherish those moments.
file=20050625009803
In the majestic company of Subhas Bose
G. Hanumaiah narrates a few stirring moments with Netaji to Sumit
Bhattacharjee
The recent movie by Shyam Benegal, 'Bose - the Forgotten Hero',
brought to life many moments pertaining to the Indian freedom
struggle. It is always a refreshing fair to be transported to that
era at times when leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose, M.K. Gandhi and
Jawaharlal Nehru walked on earth.
Here is a vivid description of an Andhra, then in his teens, who
happened to have had a few close encounters with leaders like
Netaji, Gandhiji and Rajaji.
I was a student in Madras when Bose visited the city after resigning
from the Congress. Subhasbabu was isolated by the party after his
resignation and none of the Congress leaders and workers, including
Rajaji, had gone to receive him at Madras Central Station. Learning
of his visit and being a diehard fan of Netaji, I herded over 40
students from my college to the station. Seeing a batch of young
students the great leader was thoroughly impressed and we could see
tears welling up in his eyes. He simply said: "That's young India."
After garlanding him we made him sit on an open car and moved in a
procession through Ripon Building and Mount Road. When we neared
Royapettah junction, ten horse-mounted policemen came charging at us
and without any provocation rained lathis on us. The student behind
Netaji, who was holding the flag, was felled by a blow on his head.
Seeing this I took up the flag and started shouting slogans. I was
also not spared and hit on the head. Seeing me injured Netaji jumped
to the back seat and took the flag from my hand and told the English
policemen to stop. Instantly the lathicharge stopped and the police
left. We slowly re-grouped and proceeded towards the house on
Royapettah High Road where he was to be lodged.
After alighting the car Netaji asked me to take some first-aid and
made me promise to come to his meeting on Marina Beach in the
evening. Though he was in a pensive mood, there was a radiant smile
on his face that motivated us despite the incident. In the evening I
attended his meeting where a huge crowd had gathered to listen to
his oration. He blasted the Congress for siding with the British
Government to help them in World War II. After the meeting he called
me aside, placed his hand on my shoulders and enquired about the
wound. I was floored by his radiant personality and could visualise
the fire in him.
Subhasbabu returned to Madras on January 12, 1940. This time except
for me and his advocate friend, Menon, there was none to greet him.
After a day's stay he left Madras for the last time, as he embarked
on his historic journey to Germany and Japan to form the Azad Hind
Fauj, but destiny did not give him the opportunity to return to his
motherland later. I still remember the words he spoke to me that day
when I had come to see him off. His face was glowing like a sage in
deep penance but yet he was conscious. He was visibly upset when I
asked him to compromise and rejoin the Congress. "No way! I have
high regards for the Mahatma but I am totally unhappy with the
working of the Congress. The British best understand the physics of
force and I am going to give them a taste of it and there is no
compromise on it."
When I asked about the country's future, he said: "This country has
got a great future. We are too high a race to be subdued by some
Englishmen. It is only a temporary phase. Do not worry, the time has
come to shun the British out of India by force. Get prepared!"
At that time I did not understand what he meant by saying 'get
prepared', and casually asked him for an autograph, he smiled and
said: "I am not a celebrity." When I insisted he ripped a paper from
his notebook and signed on it. We were so engrossed in the
discussion that none of us noticed that the train had started. Soon
Netaji realised that we were stuck, and insisted on pulling the
chain. But I decided to get down at the next station. That was the
last time I had met him, but I still cherish those moments.
More details on www.missionnetaji.org
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