I meet many a people with wildly different view points. A common point of contention among a majority of them is the validity of the ideas of Gandhi. Stemming from this idea is the long held belief that if Netaji Subhash were alive and had been the the principle leader of our nation, India would have been a much better place. Netaji's passion and commitment to our country were phenomenal. His courage and conviction to build a free India was revolutionary. With this objective, he recruited POWs and created an Indian National Army to defeat the British and tried to collaborate with the fascists and the nazis. Unfortunately, his plans did not bear fruit and he was ultimately defeated. To make matters worse, he died in a mysterious plane crash which, till today, is perceived as a major conspiracy.
With all due respect, I believe, in the ideologies expounded by Netaji. I also agree with the vociferous critiques of Gandhi who view him as a tainted leader. A leader who made major errors in judgement. That he persuaded, rather forced Netaji to resign from the chair of INC President, although he had won in a fair election, is definitely a point to ponder over.
Yet, I do not believe that the means justify the end. How, in all honesty, can I support the collaboration between Netaji and some the worst dictators of modern history? How can it ever be right? I believe that the British exploited India but how were they different from any other ruler in the history of the world?
I shudder from the thought that if the Nazis had won how that would have meant an early death to the ideas of liberal democracy, which evolved post WW2 and which we all cherish. And even if this would have meant the victory of the INA under the leadership of Netaji, I firmly believe that it would have meant the defeat of humanity.
With all due respect, I believe, in the ideologies expounded by Netaji. I also agree with the vociferous critiques of Gandhi who view him as a tainted leader. A leader who made major errors in judgement. That he persuaded, rather forced Netaji to resign from the chair of INC President, although he had won in a fair election, is definitely a point to ponder over.
Yet, I do not believe that the means justify the end. How, in all honesty, can I support the collaboration between Netaji and some the worst dictators of modern history? How can it ever be right? I believe that the British exploited India but how were they different from any other ruler in the history of the world?
I shudder from the thought that if the Nazis had won how that would have meant an early death to the ideas of liberal democracy, which evolved post WW2 and which we all cherish. And even if this would have meant the victory of the INA under the leadership of Netaji, I firmly believe that it would have meant the defeat of humanity.
