Nehru’s tribute to Netaji in 1946: Subhas welded different communities into one

“Netaji Subhas has set an example of courage and passionate devotion to the cause of Indian freedom, which will live long in India's history. Equally important is the way in which he has demonstrated how to weld the different communities in a common unity.”

“The Indian National Army fought bravely for the freedom of India and large numbers of them died in that struggle. We honour them for their fight for freedom and for their sacrifices. Yet the main lesson they teach us is not only the love for the country and of freedom, but discipline and organisation and the unity they forged among themselves.

The communal problem that troubles us so much was solved by them in their ranks. Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs lived together as Indians, and struggled unitedly for the common cause. We honour them for this specially, and we honour their great leader, Subhas Chandra Bose. Even when we differed from him in the past, we respected him as a great fighter for India's freedom. In recent years he showed himself a great organiser and, above all, a welder of different communities of India into a single body.

The situation then was difficult and required a careful handling. Subhas Bose and his colleagues proved themselves as able leaders in those moments of great crisis and difficulty. Therefore, we have to learn from the Indian National Army how to build up our unity and how to organise and discipline ourselves.”

“The I.N.A. has become a legend and the slogan of Jai Hind has spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. The three officers of the I.N.A. who were accused in the first trial are merely the symbol of India's struggle for freedom. The release of the three officers is not so much due to the able advocacy of the lawyers who appeared on their behalf, but the result of the force of public opinion. In my opinion it is a good sign.

Some people ask me why I am now praising Subhas Bose when I had opposed him while he was in India. I want to give a frank reply to this question. Subhas Bose and I were co-workers in the struggle for freedom for 25 years. He was younger to me by two or four or perhaps more years. Our relations with each other were marked by great affection. I used to treat him as my younger brother. It is an open secret that at times there were differences between us on political questions. But I never for a moment doubted that he was a brave soldier in the struggle for freedom.

I do not expect that there would be unanimity on every issue when we have achieved freedom. There will be always differences in the outlook of the people who belong to a healthy race. Such differences are welcome. A people who behave like sheep cannot make any progress. At the same time, we should also guard against indiscipline. In the Congress forum we discuss every question and arrive at a decision by following a democratic procedure. There are differences among us on certain aspects of international questions. Even now my approach to these questions is fundamentally the same.

I am not carried away by the public sentiment which found expression in supporting the cause of the I.N.A. men. When the complete picture of the movement came before me, I formed my opinion…No Indian can withhold his praise for his countrymen who fight bravely. The manner in which Netaji faced the crisis inspires admiration. Perhaps I might have done the same thing if I were in his position. But I have always believed, and I still cling to this belief, that it is dangerous to take the help of another country for gaining freedom….”

(Selected and edited by Mridula Mukherjee, former Professor of History at JNU and former Director of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library)