The First Among Equals. Review on Indian Pilgrim - Subhash Chandra Bose

I don't know how or who forwarded this request. I salute you my friend for showing some interest in someone who should probably go down in History as India's most prominent son- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. I'll try to gice you what little a can of this great man and his autobiographical work named "The Indian Pilgrim"

We should feel ashamed. We Indians have hardly ever given this patriot any credit at all. Netaji is the first among equals who did all in his mortal powers to ensure an Independant India &  never expected anything in return as he sacrified his entire life. But that's another Historical saga. I will make a short intro here that leads us to the inception of this memorable autobiography

Bose was born into a well off Bengali family in Cuttack which was a part of Bengal in British India in 1897. He attended Presidency College at the University of Calcutta but was expelled in 1915 for  beating of a racist British professor who had maligned Indians. A year later Bose was admitted to Scottish Churche College, at the University of Calcutta, and graduated with highest honors in philosophy in 1919. Bose then went to England, where he studied at the University of Cambridge and prepared for the prestigious Indian Civil Service examination. He ranked 4th in the examination but resigned from the service to join the Indian nationalist movement. Bose was personally friendly with many British people, but from his early years he passionately hated the British rule in India), and his chief concern throughout  life was to free India from the Raj

In 1921, Bose met Mohandas Gandhi, and under his aegis worked with the Congress for Bengal.  Soon he was jailed for suspected involvement in acts of violence against the British Raj. No formal charges were made and no trial ever took place, yet Bose served about three years in jail, two of them in British-controlled  Burma(now Myanmar). He was released in 1927 for health  reasons. Soon Bose became the leader for the Congress in Bengal . In 1928 he became a general secretary of the Indian National Congress and pressed Gandhi to move quickly and forcefully for complete Indian independence. Bose advocated a socialist program for India. But Gandhi with his own unique ways of non-violence failed to reason with Bose that  an armed revolution was the just and only answer to bring the Raj down . Both men chose different paths.

Bose was jailed again from 1930 to 1933. he was released in 1933 on the condition that he leave India. Bose spent most of the next four years in Europe travelling and studying geo-politics and cultures while restoring his health. During this European sojourn Bose absorved many things and that gave him the insight of the two following books-

" The Indian Struggle-1920-34" & "**An Indian Pilgrim- a short autobiography"

The first book published in 1935 details Bose's views and the socio-politcal situation of India during that phase. The other book reflects Bose's ideologies and opinions based on all the things he had gleaned by bstudying the Eurpoean systems and their pros and cons. Obviously it doesn't include too much of Bose's exploits and achievments 1941onwards. It is a very insightful and well drafted book by a quite capable person. The book, wasn't  published till 1948. Needless to say it is a rare book and a work of sheer brilliance.

For any History lover and True Indian dare I say that both works are a gem of a collection in what they offer. The possession of such books should make one proud. Unfortunately I have many books on Netaji but not these two. Trying the online bookstores have been futile. Need to hunt thru the 2nd hand markets. College street in calcutta normally doesn't allow one to go bakc unsuccessful. Best of luck and Jai Hind.Netaji amar rahe.