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Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi

Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and
Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (200 words, 12 M)

Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose were two legendary personalities, gigantic in their political, moral and ethical stature. Both of them were two worthy sons of Mother IndiaIwhose only dream was to free India from the British. Even though the end was same for them, they quite differed in the means they wanted to adopt for achieving this end.

Difference in Approach:

         There were glaring differences between Gandhi and Bose and in political life both posed against each other. Their approaches were highly inspired by the environment and perception they got.

Young Netaji was a firebrand nationalist who believed in the tradition of Tilak and Aurobindo. He was deeply influenced by the Russian revolt and rise of Japanese empire. Gandhiji, on the contrary, belonged to the tradition of discussion and talks with British as that if his mentor Gokhale and Tagore.

Bose was a modern left oriented leader, while Gandhi had a moralistic approach towards nation building. Bose even criticised Gandhi when he withdrew the Non-Cooperation movement after Chauri Chaura massacre. He also criticised Gandhi when he accepted the British offer to go for second round table conference.

Biggest diversion was about India's stand with respect to the world politics. Gandhi had a moralistic stand of opposing the Nazi regime. Bose, on the other hand was more pragmatic and wanted to work with Germany and Japan to destabilise British.

Bose was not averse to the idea of violence for independence unlike Gandhi. Therefore, though Bose went to form Indian National Army to challenge British regime with arms, Gandhi, till the end resorted to the ideals of Non-Violence and Satyagraha.

The tools of Satyagraha and Non-Violence used by Gandhiji were of the kind which bound the masses together. He knew that only mass participation can bring the British down. Bose, on the other hand had a very different understanding of mass participation. Being, a radical in his own right, he wanted to resort to the idea of mass armed struggle.

It can be said that while Bose was a deep believer of aggressive nationalism, Gandhiji was a reluctant nationalist. Given all their differences, both Gandhi and Bose were totally honest men. They were internationalists and humanists. They were secular in approach and anti-racial in outlook.

 In whatever situations they were and whatever they were doing, their minds were always diverted towards the liberation of their motherland.

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