LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles International Netaji Center (INC), a non-profit and non-political group, organized its first dinner-seminar program to remember Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Saturday, August 2. The program started with a welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, Dr Amitabha Kumar, who promised the program would provide a glimpse into the life and workings of a hero. Next, speaking about the aims and objectives of the INC group, its president, Dr Sanjib Mukherji stated the group intends to (a) actualize the socio-economic plans of Netaji, eg, youth rehabilitation, (b) to re-establish Netaji's significant role in wrecking the British colonial rule and (c) to uncover all historical events concerning Netaji that are not fully known yet.

The keynote speaker of the evening was Dr Leonard A Gordon, author of "Brothers against the Raj," a detailed biography of Netaji. Prof Gordon presented a slide show covering his personal experiences as a biographer while conducting about 150 interviews around the world. He traced the course of Netaji's life and achievements in India and analyzed Netaji's work outside India. At the end of his talks, Dr Gordon answered a number of interesting questions from the audience.

In response to a question from Dr Huda on the two distinct processes followed by Netaji and Gandhiji to uproot the colonial rule, Dr Gordon said the goals of both were identical, except the course of events favored Gandhi and choked Netaji. Finally, Dr Gordon suggested INC research Netaji's activities in Italy and the history of INA's 'Rani of Jhansi' Brigade. Prof Gordon is an authority on Netaji and during the course of his speech, he provided valuable insights to Netaji's life and times.

It was Netaji Subhash Chander Bose who realized the significance of the Second World War. Britain was at war with Germany and Japan and Bose knew that this was the right time to forge an alliance with the Axis powers to evict the British from India.

It was his vision that created the Indian National Army that made a valiant albeit foolhardy attempt to invade India.The INA comprised of about forty thousand troops drawn out of the prison camps of Singapore. Different historians have cited other reasons for the INA's recruits volunteering to serve with the Japanese enemy. These included both the high ideal of patriotism, the inevitable desire not to be interned in the POW Camp, as well as ambition.

A number of INA veterans present at the ceremony have said that, for the Indian troops, this also fed a feeling of devaluation (handed over like cattle, as Shah Nawaz Khan later put it), abandonment and of dishonour on part of the British high command that they perceived to have served loyalty. In the days and years to come, a number of INA men cited this act of abandonment a major reason to join the first INA. Others, especially the officer coprs including the Indian Commissioned Officers (ICOs) and Viceroy's Commisioned Officers (VCOs) have said that they initially joined the first INA to prevent any possible ill-treatment of their subordinate Indian soldiers.

When Singapore fell, eyewitness reports suggested "rows of Indian POWs were shot" by the Japanese[7]. However, all authors agree that Subhas Chandra Bose's charismatic leadership and persona was probably also amongst the most significant factors that drew the recruits of the second INA and was key in transforming it into a cohesive fighting force.

Bose was a practical man who understood that Gandhi's gimmicks alone were not enough to liberate India. Interestingly, Gandhi was recommending satyagraha to Europe's jews to counter the Nazis. Bose of course had no time for this and it is widely believed that Gandhi did not endorse him because he was afraid the Bose would steal the show from him.

It is also believed that this was the precise reason why eminent barristers like Nehru and Gandhi made no efforts to secure the release of Sardar Bhagat Singh and his fellow patriots.What followed is history…the military fiasco, the capture of the INA soldiers and the Red Fort trials. However, after the war, the trials of captured INA officers in India provoked massive public outcries in support of their efforts to fight the Raj, eventually triggering mutinies in the British Indian forces.

These events in the twilight of the Raj are accepted to have played a crucial role in its hasty end.Sadly, neither History nor India has given Bose his share of the credit that is due to him. He played a monumental role in India freedom struggle putting his life on the line in his daring escapades. Independence came to India due to a number of reasons and Bose was a key factor in the demise of the British Raj. Gandhi alone did not get India her freedom.

It came due to the combined efforts of heroes like Sardar Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhashchander Bose and a whole bunch of dedicated patriots, and Gandhi.It must also never be forgotten that whilst Gandhi was indulging in gimmicks like picking salt or satyagraha, these heroes were facing British bullets.A dinner and a video show on "Netaji" released by Netaji Research Bureau in Kolkata followed Dr. Gordon's presentation. At the end, Dr. Mukherji re-iterated the INC's goals and pleaded with the audience you to come forward and help fulfill the INC objectives.