"Patriot of Patriots", this is what Mahatma Gandhi described Subhash Chandra Bose. Subhash Chandra Bose was a brilliant young man. Subash Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, occupies an honoured place in the history of Indian independence movement. he was a man of great courage, a single minded and dedicated leader who burned with patriotism. He wanted to free India from British yoke, not by peaceful agitation or petitioning, but by waging open war.

He had the good fortune to do so by escaping from India, collecting a big army of Indians abroad and fighting like Mazzini and Garibaldi of Italy which is rarely met with in the annals of liberation movement all over the world.

Bose was born in Cuttack, Orissa, on January 23, 1897. He went to Presidency College, Kolkata, in 1913, where he spent four tumultuous years before going to England. In 1920, Bose stood fourth in the Civil Service open examination, but left the service in April 1921 to join the Congress. 

In 1932, Bose visited Vienna for medical reasons and there he was deeply influenced by Vithaldas Patel, another Indian freedom fighter. They recognised the need for collaboration between Indian nationalists and countries opposed to Britain and in their joint manifesto they proclaimed, "Non-co-operation cannot be given up but the form of non-co-operation will have to be changed into a more militant one and the fight for freedom waged on all fronts." In October 1933, Vithalbhai Patel died and left Bose with lot of money for spreading the knowledge of India abroad.

On his return to India, he joined the Congress and devoted himself to the service of his motherland. He was several times sent to jail. In 1930 he was elected Mayor of Kolkata. In 1938 he was elected President of the Congress. He sought re-election and was selected again. At this, differences arose between Gandhi jee and Bose, and the latter formed a new party within the congress - The Forward Block.

In 1941, he was interned in his home, but he so cleverly made his escape that the British Government could not trace him. Reaching Malaya, he organised the Indian National Army with the help of the Japanese. He is said to have lost his life in an aeroplane crash in 1945. Subhash Chandra Bose was a first rate orator and a fiery youth leader who could captivate his audiences. Subhash Babu will go down in history as a hero.

He was one of the greatest freedom fighters of India and the "Pride of Bengal".
Bose is believed to have died in August 1945 in a plane crash.