APPROPRIATING NETAJI BUT REJECTING HIS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY?

APPROPRIATING NETAJI BUT REJECTING HIS POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY?

Netaji was a socialist, yet, not along communist, atheistic, materialistic lines. He was deeply spiritual in the classical Hindu sense of the term with universal sympathies and a catholicity of acceptance of all religious views so long as they did not contravene national interest. Above all, he was a nationalist, a patriot preeminent who kept religion strictly separate from governance of nation and in this he was way ahead of contemporary communal leaders who fell into the trappings of tradition. Netaji believed in the enforcement of national discipline, the strengthening of India's military might for her able defence, pandered to no religious denomination or community nor appeased any, and believed in the cause of national unity to be attained through focusing administrative energy on fostering the economic welfare of the people for it affected all and sundry. These are some of the salient features that characterised Netaji and provide for today's leadership and the morrow's pertinent points that could act as landmarks along the road ahead. If the governments at the State level and at the Union heed them, they will have paid their due homage to Netaji in this his 125th year.

Written by Sugata Bose