What is the Indian Struggle?
The Indian Struggle is a book about the Indian struggle for independence written by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He was an Indian nationalist leader and freedom fighter. This book describes the events of the Indian freedom struggle movement. It covers all the freedom struggle movements which took place between 1920 to 1942. The book has two parts, Part I (1922 - 1934) and Part II (1935- 1942).
It was published in India in 1948 after India became independent. Before that, Part I was published in London in 1935. In 1942, Part II was published in Italy. This book gives us a detailed analysis of the crucial period of the Indian freedom struggle.
Two Parts of The Book
This book includes all the major events of India’s independence movement between 1920 to 1942. It has two parts. The first part describes the period of 1920 to 1934 of the Indian freedom struggle. The second part covers the events between 1935 to 1942.
The first part of the book was published in 1935 by Lawrence and Wishart in London. Bose was arrested by the British colonial government for his several acts of violence and association with the Bengal Volunteers. He had been in exile in Europe following the arrest and detention. When he started writing this book in Vienna, he had to completely rely on his memory because no documents were accessible to him at that time. In 1934, Bose arrived in Karachi. The colonial government banned his entry into India and arrested him. The original manuscript was seized with his arrest. In the next year, the manuscript of the book was well-received by the British press and critics. It was published in London in that year and the British banned the book in India. This justified that the book was encouraging terrorism.
The second part of the book was written during World War II. This part tells us the history of the Second World War along with the revolutionary Indian freedom struggle movements during that period. When Bose was in Europe (1941-1943), a German edition of the second part was planned to publish, which was not published ever. However, an Italian edition was published in 1942. Emilie Schenkl assisted Bose in writing this part.
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Themes of The Indian Struggle
As this book includes a brief history of the Indian freedom struggle from 1920 to 1942, many freedom movements and events are described in it. The book contains Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution to the independence struggle of India. Bose has included his evolution of Gandhi's role in the freedom struggle in this book. Also, the book contains Bose's vision for an independent India and his political approaches. Bose also predicted the rise of a new political party due to the left-wing revolt in the Indian National Congress.
In 1935, Bose met with Benito Mussolini in Rome on his way back to Vienna. Bose gave him a copy of the first part of his book. In the second part, Bose has written about some crucial events of the Indian struggle for independence. In this part, the history of World War II is described along with the situation of several political parties of the world. As England was a significant part of the Second World War, India was indirectly involved in the war. Bose has also mentioned the contribution of India to World War II.
Important Events of Indian Freedom Struggle 1857 To 1947
Let us learn the important events of the Indian freedom struggle 1857 to 1947.
1857- The first war for independent India, Sepoy Mutiny.
1885- Indian National Congress was established, which led the nation towards freedom.
1916- Lucknow Pact was signed between INC and the Muslim League.
1917- The Champaran Satyagraha
1919- The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
1920- Mahatma Gandhi led the non-cooperation movement, which embodied the idea of “Ahimsa”. It continued for two years (1920-1922).
1930- Purna Swaraj Movement and Dandi March took place.
1942- Quit India movement took place on 8th August during the Second World War.
1947- Indian independence league was formed. The Indian independence act partitioned the British Kingdom into India and Pakistan. India achieved independence on 15th August 1947.
Conclusion
The Indian Struggle is a great mirror of the Indian freedom struggle. Bose has written his views on the political incidents and freedom movements. You can get a detailed analysis of a particular period of the Indian freedom struggle. This book plays a vital role in the history of the Indian freedom movement.
FAQs on The Indian Struggle
1. What is the book 'The Indian Struggle' by Subhash Chandra Bose?
'The Indian Struggle' is a historical account of the Indian independence movement from 1920 to 1942, written by the nationalist leader Subhash Chandra Bose. The book is presented in two parts and offers Bose's unique perspective on the strategies, leadership, and pivotal events of the freedom struggle, including his analysis of the Indian National Congress and the role of Mahatma Gandhi.
2. Who wrote 'The Indian Struggle' and why was its publication controversial?
The book was written by Subhash Chandra Bose. Its publication was controversial because it was penned during his exile and contained a critical analysis of British colonial policy and certain strategies of the Indian National Congress. Consequently, the British government banned the book in India, and it was only published there in 1948, after independence.
3. What are the main periods and themes covered in 'The Indian Struggle'?
The book is divided into two parts covering distinct periods and themes:
- Part I (1920–1934): This section covers the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements, analysing Mahatma Gandhi's leadership and the internal dynamics of the Congress party.
- Part II (1935–1942): This part discusses the political climate leading up to World War II, the formation of the Forward Bloc, and Bose's arguments for a more assertive path to independence.
4. Is 'The Indian Struggle' an autobiography of Subhash Chandra Bose?
No, 'The Indian Struggle' is not an autobiography. While it reflects his personal political views and experiences, it is primarily a historical and political analysis of the freedom movement. An autobiography would focus on his entire life story, whereas this book concentrates on a specific period of India's political struggle for independence.
5. How does Bose's perspective on achieving independence, as shown in the book, differ from Mahatma Gandhi's?
The book highlights a key ideological difference. While Bose respected Mahatma Gandhi, he critiqued the effectiveness of purely non-violent methods. In 'The Indian Struggle', Bose advocated for a more pragmatic and assertive approach, suggesting that India should seek alliances with any nation opposed to Britain to secure its freedom, a view that diverged significantly from Gandhi's principle of Ahimsa (non-violence).
6. What is the significance of 'The Indian Struggle' for students of Indian history?
Its significance lies in providing a crucial counter-narrative to the mainstream history of the freedom movement. It offers a firsthand account from a major nationalist leader who had fundamental disagreements with the dominant Congress strategy. For students, it reveals the ideological diversity within the independence movement and provides deep insights into the political rationale behind the actions of Subhash Chandra Bose and the formation of the Forward Bloc.
