Subhash Chandra Bose was the real force behind India’s independence: Ajit Doval

By Sakchi Srivastva

India has a rich essence of various traditions, lifestyles and religions amalgamated into one diverse country. Her history has been a conglomeration of perspectives of people belonging to different eras. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's recent speech in Australia 'The Challenge of Global Terrorism' highlighted an uncommon version of why the British left India.

At the time of their exodus from India, the British had not only won World War II but also had an upper hand in their eastern colony. According to Doval, the Quit India Movement in 1942 was a flop show. He said, "Clement Atlee was asked that why did you (the British) leave India, after all you had won the Second World War. The burst was over since then. The Quit India Movement was a flop in 1942. So what was the tearing hurry in 1947 that you decided to leave the country immediately?"

Doval deems not Gandhiji or the Congress, but the passion and zeal of Subhas Chandra Bose was the reason that led us to our ultimate freedom in 1947.

He explains "Then British Prime Minister replied it was (because of) the spark that Subhas Chandra Bose created among the soldiers of Indian Army. Atlee said, 'It was the threat of Bose and the rise of Indian nationalism from which we understood that it was a matter of time'."

Thanks to the influence of Subhas Candra Bose, the Indian National Army (INA) was strong and a seemingly increasing threat to the Britishers. It was the spark ignited in them by Bose that led to a very visible rising nationalism. INA's fight during the siege of Imphal and Burma are unforgettable wars. Doval added, "British understood that the revolt in Indian Army was something that they couldn't have handled." He even revealed the alleged politics played by Congress when he claimed, "The soldiers of INA were neither rehabilitated nor integrated into the Indian Army."

The British soon realized that the INA won't be controlled if they are aggravated. Therefore they decided to leave the Indian shores. Ajit Doval said, "Of the entire strength of 60,000, two-third soldiers of the INA died fighting the British. But the soldiers still kept on fighting for an Independent India."