Sunday, January 22, 2006

Saluting the Ultimate Patriot

"We should have but one desire today- the desire to die so that India may live- the desire to face a martyr's death, so that the path to freedom may be paved with the martyr's blood."

These are the words of a man who set out to create a destiny out of despair. The words that inspired a whole generation to rise out of oblivion and into the annals of history as one of the most daring and ambitious forces ever. Be it the legendary "Khooni Hastakshar" or the celebrated "Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Aazadi Doonga", all his actions were hallmarks of an Indian to the core.

Did he really pass away in a crash in Taiwan? Did Stalin really refer to him in present tense, long after his supposed death, in an intercepted military communication?

Maybe defying even the inevitability called death seems fair on Netaji, who had already transcended quite a lot of boundaries and defied quite a lot of foes in his quest for an Independent India. But, more significantly, if he did live to see an independent India, is this the one he would have given his life for?

And do even a percent of Indians remember 23 Jan as the day this great son of the Motherland was born?

Some Other Quotes

"Give me blood and I shall give you freedom" was one of the most popular statements made by him, whereby he urged the people of India to join him in the nationalist movement. Spoken at a rally of Indians in Burma, July 4, 1944

"No real change in history has ever been acheived by discussions."

"As soldiers, you will always have to cherish and live up to the three-ideals of faithfulness, duty and sacrifice. Soldiers who always remain faithful to their nation, who are always prepared to sacrifice their lives, are invincible. If you, too, want to be invincible, engrave these three ideals in the innermost core of your hearts". - TO DELHI, TO DELHI
Speech at a military review of the Indian National Army, July 5, 1943.

"We should have but one desire today- the desire to die so that India may live- the desire to face a martyr's death, so that the path to freedom may be paved with the martyr's blood."

"Indian nationalism is inspired by the highest ideals of the human race, satyam (the true), shivam (the god), sundaram (the beautiful). Nationalism In India has... roused the creative faculties which for centuries had been lying dormant In our people...'.

"I have no doubt in my mind that our chief national problems relating to the eradication of poverty, illiteracy and disease and the scientific production and distribution can be tackled only along socialistic lines... ." February 1938

"Gird up your loins for the task that now lies ahead. I had asked you for men, money and materials. I have got them in generous measure. Now I demand more of you. Men, money and materials cannot by themselves bring victory or freedom. We must have the motive- power that will inspire us to brave deeds and heroic exploits."

....'It is our duty to pay for our liberty with our own blood. The freedom that we shall win through our sacrifice and exertions, we shall be able to preserve with our own strength.' ....."

"Jai Hind" was his slogan.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous11:14 AM

    "No real change in history has ever been acheived by discussions."

    Well, independence of India, for one ?

    But I'll give it to him, all the changes in history achieved by discussions happened after he disappeared....

    ReplyDelete