Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose & Press
The life of Netaji Suhas Chandra Bose inspired numerous journals & newspapers in India to publish special issue on him, much to ire of the British government. The daily- ‘Aaj’ newspaper from Banaras published an issue on ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ (INA) & devoted it to soldiers who were fearlessly fighting for Indian Independence in foreign land. It was unacceptable to Indians to accept atrocities of solders on Netaji. ‘Aaj’ published a series of reports on the proceeds of court case against INA soldiers.
Abhudaya, under editorship of Pandamakant Malviya published not one but five issues on INA. The slogan- “Live like a lion or die” was highlighted on its front page as its motto, which reflects its commitment towards Netaji. This paper published revolutionary article and poems in its issue dated 14 January 1947. The editorial threw a challenge to the British- “..The pole stars of Azad Hind! Today, we welcome you on occasion of new year with new hope. Comic luck has placed you in the same place at Red Fort where Bahadurshahi flag of revolt of 1857 was raised…We want brave commander-in-chief! Today, you show blow the same war trumpet that we are not begging for Azadi, we don’t believe in shameless agreements, we don’t believe in lowering our heads. We are soldiers of Azadi & our aim is to die fighting”. In the same issue, a poem -‘To soldiers of Azad Hind’ was published, according to which the fierce burning bravery is always immortal:
Oh fiery red! Oh fiery red!!
Nation bows, salvation moment!
Who can kill you? That force doesn’t exist on earth!
Enemy will get self destructed!!
The flame will burn drops of oppression!
In bye lanes Jalliawalabagh will be seen!!
Again festival of August 1857 be celebrated!
Oh fiery red! Oh fiery red!!
Aaj reminded the British of patriotism via its editorial- ‘Jai Hind’:
“Sir Morris & rest of the British who are dreaming the leaders and soldiers of INA and are calling them traitors should again read history and then view - who really they are”. (12 November 1945)
‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in military attire’ along with slogans- ‘Jai Hind’and ‘Chalo Dilli’- appeared on the cover page of special issue of weekly paper- ‘Sansar’. This was published on 25 October 1945 to honour Netaji & his army. The editorial- “On the face of volcano” challenged the British & told them that every Indian child is proud of the soldiers of INA that the they had imprisoned.
“We wish to warn you. The time for oppression and atrocities has passed. Still if you use this way then not one but several ‘Azad Hind Sena’ will emerge”.
Though on record, the British had taken back oppressive press legislations that had been enforced during world war, the British government warned ‘Sansar’that it should show restraint in future issues. It also punished the paper by confiscating a bail of Rs. 6000. During this time, many newspapers & periodicals such as like Adhikar, Barat, Sainik, Sandesh, Lokmat, Pratap, Vartaman from big, small towns published special issue on INA and its leader Subhas. The British were taken aback at their support.
Did you know?
When the editor of daily- ‘Janmabhoomi’ & weekly - ‘Pravasi’- Amritlal Seth was on tour of Burma & Bangkok to collect reports of world war, he received a secret message from Netaji. He was asked to take with him important documents of INA to India- safely. When the British spies seemed omnipresent, the fearless editor accomplished this tough assignment successfully.