A WORD FOR ALL WHO CARE

Netaji's honour is India's honour, his dishonour India's dishonour. This is not fanaticism but this is patriotism and detractors of Netaji cannot be allowed to deride him in the name of having casual fun at his expense or indulging in senseless thought-experiments utterly repugnant in content and motivation. At the same time devotees of Netaji also ought to remember that the supremely civilised and highly spiritually evolved Netaji does not require his followers to pour invective against other seminal leaders of the freedom movement or their admirers. Such accusations and counter-accusations prove sterile in the long run and lead to aberrations in the understanding of history which demands a free, fair and objective outlook, a perspective untainted by preference or prejudice, and a curiosity to know the truth irrespective of personal attachment or angularities of circumstance.

It is high time that the followers of Netaji take to the study of his life and works more than indulging in fruitless deliberation over idle points raised against the hero to belittle him. At the same time one must not denigrate Gandhiji and Pandit Nehru using foul language despite the grave injustice to Netaji they have caused which has cost the motherland dear. To state a point in opposition to an earlier averment by someone need not induce one to stoop low in insulting a fellow countryman however malicious may his comments against Netaji be. One may counter such comments with solid rational argument if one feels inclined to. Else, one may simply ignore them and move on with one's study of the life and attainments of Netaji who is the life-blood of this group of committed members.

In summation I say that a fuller knowledge of the achievements of our beloved leader will help retain sanity of discourse here on this page which has of late been disturbed slightly by verbal vitriol between antagonists in debate. May civility prevail and knowledge of the supreme sacrifice of so many of the martyrs and patriots of the freedom struggle inspire us all to engage fruitfully hereon in deliberation, debate and dialogue on contentious issues of the freedom movement with neither animosity nor anger playing the spoilsport! Vande Mataram! Jai Hind!