Guest AuthorPresenting a deeply-researched, archival perspective on the contributions and legacy of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a new book ‘Netaji: India’s Independence and British Archives’ was launched by Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at the Up-Rashtrapati Nivas. Ratified by the Netaji Subhash Bose – INA Trust, the volume is written by Dr. Kalyan Kumar De and published by Garuda Prakashan.
Referring to the prominent role played by Bose in the freedom struggle, the Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu said that his dynamic and courageous leadership during the freedom movement will continue to be a major source of inspiration to the people, particularly the youth. Stating that the revival of INA made it a force to reckon with, he said as the documents in this book indicate, the British were quite alarmed at the rising tide of public sympathy for INA. It was one of the main contributing factors in the country’s freedom struggle.
He also observed that the book contains some interesting documents that throw light on the great contribution made by Netaji to India’s freedom movement. I am sure it will be useful to researchers as well as the general public. I compliment the author and the publisher for bringing out this useful publication.”
Informing the core of the newly-launched book, authentic documents from the British Archives have been brought out into the public domain by the author. His research and analysis proves beyond doubt that Bose’s militant nationalism and its influence on the public psyche of India was the key factor behind India’s liberation on August 15, 1947.
The book is a seminal work of historical research and is based on authentic documents from the British archives, declassified in 1971. These documents are in the form of carefully selected letters, reports and minutes exchanged between the main protagonists of the British Raj in India – the Viceroy Field Marshal Viscount Wavell, the Commander-in- Chief of the British Indian Army General Sir Claude Achinleck and other functionaries, such as the Governors of various states and the Intelligence Department on the one hand and Secretary of State for India, Lord Pethick Lawrence and other functionaries of the British administration in London on the other.
“These documents are especially important as the proof of the INA’s impact comes from top British authorities who were directly concerned with the final decision. They also describe in detail the irony of British unpreparedness and inability to deal with the situation arising out of their decision to try the three senior most commanders of the INA – Shah Nawaz, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Prem Sehgal on charges of war crimes and betrayal of the oath of allegiance to the British Crown. These documents thus provide a ring-side view of the decision making process for their early exit from India to avoid having to face an 1857 like situation jeopardizing the lives of 43000 European people on the sub-continent at the time,” said Brig. R. S. Chhikara (Retd), Chairman, Netaji Subhash Bose – INA Trust.
“Garuda is pleased to partner with Netaji Subhash Bose – INA Trust to bring out this book on Netaji. Garuda Books was founded on the vision of being able to tell our own stories and get to an authentic history,” said Sankrant Sanu, CEO of Garuda Prakashan. “Dr. Kumar De’s painstaking work on primary sources in the British Archives solves many of the mysteries around India’s independence and will be a reference book for scholars and laypersons alike.”
Aravind Sundaram
Guest Author
